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SmartScan

SmartScan: Turning Assessments into Academic Intelligence

See Wan Chee, Founder, Wong Suew, Co-founder

Assessments are becoming far more than a way to record marks and grades. For educators, they provide valuable insight into student learning, helping teachers identify learning gaps earlier, track progress more effectively and apply timely interventions that improve outcomes.

SmartScan, an assessment analytics platform, supports this shift by helping schools, colleges, tuition centers and education providers transform assessments into structured academic intelligence, offering clearer visibility into student performance patterns and learning needs.

Unlike tools that primarily manage online tests or store assessment records, SmartScan focuses on helping educators better understand assessment data to identify learning gaps earlier and support stronger teaching outcomes.

The platform supports digitization, rubric-based evaluation and analytics across both objective and handwritten assessments, enabling institutions to modernize evaluation workflows without disrupting traditional classroom practices. By combining OCR, OMR and AI-driven evaluation models, SmartScan can analyze student responses, generate diagnostic feedback and identify learning gaps over time. Designed to support varied grading structures and multi-language evaluation workflows, the platform adapts easily to different institutional and academic requirements.

“More broadly, we see SmartScan not simply as an assessment tool, but as part of a larger movement toward intelligent, measurable and improvement-focused education systems,” says See Wan Chee, founder.

As countries worldwide accelerate digital education initiatives, SmartScan is well positioned to support Malaysia’s ambition of building a more measurable, transparent and scalable education system through datadriven assessment intelligence.

Building Practical Intelligence into Assessment

Founded by See Wan Chee alongside co-founder Wong Suew in 2000, SmartScan brings together expertise across computer science, physics, mathematics and education. It was among Malaysia’s early pioneers in AI-assisted education technology. Long before the current generative AI wave, SmartScan was already developing intelligent assessment and image-processing technologies for educational environments, building years of practical experience in educational AI before such technologies became widely adopted. Its work has earned recognitions including the MSC APICTA Award, International APICTA Award and MIDA Pioneer Status Award.

Built to support diverse academic structures, SmartScan is designed to fit into the way different institutions already conduct assessments. A school managing large student volumes, a college working across multiple departments or a training center running faster evaluation cycles can adapt the platform around its existing evaluation processes and operational requirements.

More broadly, we see SmartScan not simply as an assessment tool, but as part of a larger movement toward intelligent, measurable and improvement-focused education systems.

The platform is designed to remain practical and accessible for educators who require dependable digital assessment tools that work within the way assessments are already conducted in schools and institutions, without adding any complexity.

Educators can upload both digital and handwritten assessments, review AI-assisted evaluations and access analytics dashboards without extensive technical setup. Feedback from teachers, parents and administrators has helped shape the platform around transparency, human oversight and clearer academic visibility for institutions and families. This helps educators spend less time on repetitive operational tasks and focus more on mentorship, instruction and student engagement.

SmartScan also helps institutions make better use of assessment data by bringing together information that otherwise remained scattered across papers, reports and disconnected systems. With clearer visibility into learning patterns and academic performance, educators identify issues earlier and take a more proactive approach to academic planning.

Making Evaluation Faster, Clearer and More Scalable

To validate its technology in real classroom environments, SmartScan established an Experience Centre that provides educators with free scanning, grading and reporting services. The centre allows teachers to process large volumes of objective and handwritten assessments more efficiently while also helping SmartScan refine its workflows through direct educator feedback.

Beyond grading automation, SmartScan’s larger focus is on building deeper assessment intelligence through capabilities such as topic-level diagnostics, difficulty analysis, question-quality analysis and performance benchmarking. These insights help educators identify learning gaps earlier; group students based on specific weaknesses and apply more targeted interventions to improve learning outcomes.

By improving assessment quality and increasing visibility into student learning, SmartScan also contributes to long-term human capital development, helping education systems better prepare future generations for an increasingly digital and knowledge-driven economy.

The result is actionable academic intelligence that gives educators deeper insight into student learning and academic performance. With clearer visibility and more meaningful assessment data, institutions can make better-informed academic decisions while supporting continuous improvement and measurable student progress.

State of Industry

Cultivating Change: The Future of AI in APAC's Education Ecosystem

In the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, classrooms are undergoing significant changes as AI-driven education solutions impact how learning is delivered, assessed, and experienced. Schools and institutions are transitioning towards more adaptive teaching environments, where content is closely aligned with each student's learning pace and abilities. This approach helps improve retention and academic performance.

Additionally, this shift is reducing administrative burdens by utilizing automated evaluations and streamlined workflows, allowing educators to concentrate more on student engagement. On a broader scale, digital-first learning models are decreasing reliance on physical materials, which leads to lower paper consumption and a reduced environmental footprint, ultimately supporting more sustainable education systems.

Despite these gains, the transition is presenting its own set of challenges, particularly around data privacy, equitable access, and the readiness of institutions to integrate these systems effectively. Uneven digital infrastructure across parts of APAC continues to create gaps in accessibility, while concerns around data protection require stronger governance frameworks. In response, stakeholders are strengthening regulatory measures, investing in secure digital ecosystems, and expanding connectivity initiatives to ensure wider inclusion. These efforts are helping create a more balanced approach, where the benefits of AI-driven education solutions can be realized without compromising security, accessibility, or long-term sustainability.

Evolving Market Landscape of AI-Driven Education Solutions

The market landscape for AI-driven education solutions across APAC is steadily expanding as institutions, governments, and private providers align their efforts to modernize learning ecosystems. Investment flows are becoming more structured, with funding directed toward scalable platforms that can support diverse academic needs across urban and rural settings. This growing financial backing is encouraging the emergence of specialized solution providers, creating a more competitive environment where differentiation is driven by adaptability, user experience, and measurable learning outcomes.

“The market landscape for AI driven education solutions across APAC is steadily expanding as institutions, governments, and private providers align their efforts to modernize learning ecosystems.”

Collaboration is also playing a defining role in shaping the market. Partnerships between educational institutions and technology firms are enabling more cohesive implementation models, ensuring that digital tools are integrated in ways that complement existing curricula rather than disrupt them. Cross-border cooperation within APAC is further supporting knowledge exchange, helping regions learn from one another’s deployment strategies while accelerating adoption in areas that are still in earlier stages of transition.

Simultaneously, the market is witnessing a gradual shift toward outcome-based evaluation, where the effectiveness of solutions is measured through student performance, engagement levels, and long-term skill development. This focus is influencing purchasing decisions, prompting providers to demonstrate tangible value rather than rely on broad capabilities. As a result, solutions that can clearly align with institutional goals are gaining stronger traction across both public and private education sectors.

Current Trends and Technological Advancements

Momentum in AI-driven education solutions across APAC is increasingly shaped by the rise of intelligent learning systems that adjust content delivery based on real-time student interaction. These systems are moving beyond static digital formats, using continuous feedback loops to refine lesson pathways and improve engagement levels. Moreover, immersive learning environments powered by virtual and augmented reality are gaining ground, offering more interactive and experience-driven approaches that enhance conceptual understanding in complex subjects.

Data-driven personalization is also becoming more refined, with advanced analytics enabling institutions to map learning patterns and anticipate performance gaps with greater precision. Natural language processing is improving communication within digital platforms, making automated tutoring, content generation, and multilingual support more effective and accessible. This is particularly relevant in APAC, where linguistic diversity requires flexible systems capable of adapting to varied educational contexts without compromising clarity or consistency.

Another significant development is the integration of intelligent assessment tools that go beyond traditional testing methods. Continuous evaluation models are being embedded into learning platforms, allowing for real-time progress tracking and more nuanced performance insights. These tools are helping educators identify skill gaps earlier and respond with targeted interventions, supporting a more balanced approach to academic development without relying solely on periodic examinations.

Future Prospects and Opportunities in AI-Driven Education Solutions

AI-driven education solutions in APAC are expected to unlock new pathways for inclusive and lifelong learning, extending beyond traditional classrooms into professional development and skill-based training ecosystems. As education models continue to evolve, there is growing potential for platforms that support continuous upskilling, helping individuals adapt to shifting workforce demands. This progression is opening opportunities for institutions to expand their reach, offering more flexible learning formats that cater to diverse age groups and career stages while strengthening the connection between education and employability.

In the coming years, future developments are likely to focus on creating more intuitive and self-improving systems that can respond dynamically to changing educational needs. Greater emphasis is being placed on interoperability, enabling smoother integration between different learning environments and institutional frameworks. This is creating opportunities for more cohesive digital ecosystems where learning experiences remain consistent and accessible across platforms. As these advancements take shape, AI-driven education solutions are set to play a pivotal role in shaping a more resilient, scalable, and forward-looking education landscape across APAC.

Leadership Perspective

Peninsula School District

AI as a Capacity Builder, Not a Classroom Distraction

Kris Hagel, Chief Information Officer

Kris Hagel is the Chief Information Officer of Peninsula School District, with more than 25 years of experience in K–12 technology. Over the course of his career, he has led technology operations, instructional technology, and district-wide digital strategy, with a focus on secure infrastructure, thoughtful AI adoption, and measurable impact on teaching and learning.

In this feature, Hagel explains how he aligns technology with the district's instructional priorities. He discusses purposeful AI integration and the development of adult capacity, highlighting outcome-driven decision-making, adoption challenges and the growing demand for accountability in today’s evolving education technology industry

A Career in School Technology

I am in my 26th year in education technology, approaching my 27th. I began my career in 2000 as a computer operator at Bethel School District after studying computer science in college. It was an entry-level role, but it gave me a thorough understanding of how school systems truly operate.

Over time, I progressed through different roles at Bethel moving up to data management. In 2007, I joined the Peninsula School District, where I have spent more than 18 years serving as a technology operations supervisor, director of technology, executive director of technology, and now Chief Information Officer. Along the way, I have also overseen communications and school safety and security.

That range of experience has shaped how I view technology in schools. Early on, I believed the job was to introduce new tools and drive adoption. Over time, I learned that technology does not always fit and automatically have a place. The real work begins with instructional goals, not devices.

Instruction at the Center of Digital Change

For the past six or seven years, our district has centered its work on universal design for learning, and that commitment guides every decision we make. My responsibility is to ensure our infrastructure, hardware, and software align with that instructional vision so technology strengthens teaching and learning rather than leading it.

One of the most significant barriers to digital transformation is time. Schools are complex organizations, so changing directions requires effort and patience rather than force. There is never enough time to support every teacher completely. No teacher wants to stand at the front of the classroom feeling unsure. That emotional reality matters.

"Technology for its own sake is no longer sufficient. If we cannot clearly show a meaningful educational benefit, it has no place in front of students."

I used to worry about the pace of adoption, especially with generative AI. When I mapped teacher engagement against the diffusion of innovation curve, it aligned almost perfectly. I focused on those at the back end and questioned how to move them forward faster. A mentor reminded me that organizations create their own pull. Over time, momentum builds, and the system brings people along

You cannot rush the final 20 percent at the start. As the organization shifts, individuals either adapt or choose different paths. The system continues to move forward.

That perspective changed my leadership approach.

AI in Service of Educators

We are now in our 4th year of embracing AI as a district. Our teachers were participating in AI professional development on AI even before ChatGPT was released. AI itself is not new to us.

What has evolved is our clarity about where it delivers the most impact. The most powerful applications are not necessarily student-facing. They are the tools that strengthen adult performance. In some cases, that means reducing administrative load. In others, it means designing custom solutions grounded in our instructional philosophy.

With universal design for learning, adoption has been gradual. AI allows us to embed good pedagogical practices directly into the tools teachers use. Any AI system can generate a lesson plan. The difference lies in intentional design. When you anchor AI tools in a clear instructional framework, the output reflects your standards rather than generic content.

Over the past year, we developed our own AI platform to assist with much of the coding. That foundation allows us to create tailored applications aligned to district priorities.

One practical example involves principal observations. Before we formalized a solution, several principals were already experimenting informally with AI to streamline their documentation and reflection process. We expanded on the idea by designing an AI tool that allows principals to upload observation notes and receive quality feedback. The system identifies elements they may have missed and suggests potential coaching conversations.

The goal is to improve the quality of feedback principals provide to teachers. Better feedback supports stronger instruction. That is where AI becomes transformative.

Impact on Adoption in the Next Phase of EdTech

Looking ahead three to five years, I expect significant disruption in the education technology market. AI changes what districts can build internally. Tools we once had to purchase from vendors may now be developed in-house.

At the same time, parents are demanding clearer outcomes. For more than a decade, the prevailing belief was that increasing students' device access would automatically drive improvement. The dominant narrative was to put more devices in students' hands, and achievement would follow. That assumption is now being challenged, and appropriately so.

There are productive and unproductive uses of educational technology. Families are no longer satisfied with access alone; they want evidence. They want to know what students are actually doing on those devices and what measurable gains should result from that time.

As CIOs and district leaders, we must be more discerning. Every tool must be evaluated based on its impact on learning. If we cannot articulate the intended outcome, it does not belong in the classroom. Technology for technology’s sake erodes trust. We need clarity on how students are using devices and what measurable gains we expect. That accountability will define the next phase of education technology.

The pace of change today also means no one has all the answers. Early in my career, I hesitated to speak unless I had something to say. That mindset no longer works. Leadership requires comfort with uncertainty. There is credibility in acknowledging what you do not know and committing to finding the right solution. That transparency builds trust.

Ultimately, education technology is not about devices or platforms. It is about supporting educators, strengthening instructional leadership, and ensuring that students benefit from a purposeful, evidence-based use of technology.

Technology will continue to evolve. If we remain grounded in instructional priorities and honest about impact, technology will serve as a powerful enabler rather than a distraction.