DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCEFACULTY OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS

ASSIGNMENT (ESSAY PBL)SSI3013 : INFORMATION COMMUNICATION

AND TECHNOLOGY Semester I Session 2012/2013

NAME AND ID NUMBER 1. NUR WAHIDAH BT SAMI’ON D20101037525

2. NOR HASHIMAH BT ZAITONG D20101037458

3.NUR ASHIKIN BT ALIAS D20101037459

LECTURER : MR.AZMI BIN IBRAHIM

GROUP : B

DATE OF SUBMITTED : 05 OCTOBER 2012

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1.0 Introduction

MSC Malaysia, formerly known as the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), is a national

initiative spearheaded by the Malaysian Government to promote both the national ICT industry

and provide a test-bed for the global ICT industry. MSC Malaysia provides a conducive enabling

environment designed to facilitate companies to harness the full potential of ICT and multimedia

technologies. With its ideal business environment coupled with availability of talent resources,

the MSC Malaysia has attracted participation from major global ICT companies to develop and

host their leading-edge technologies in the designated MSC Malaysia Cyber cities. MSC

Malaysia also provides the ideal growth environment for Malaysian ICT SMEs to transform

themselves into world-class companies.

In late 1996, the Smart School project was introduced as one of the seven Flagship

applications of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), a gargantuan government project that

aims at building Malaysia’s capability in the ICT area. The Smart School Flagship was

conceptualized out of the vital necessity for Malaysia to make the critical transition from an

industrial economy to a leader in the Information Age. Education is the vehicle for the

fundamental shift towards a more technologically literate, thinking workforce, which is able to

perform in a global work environment and use the tools available in the Information Age.

The Smart School Flagship aims to reinvent the educational system in Malaysia in order

to ensure the achievement of Vision 2020. The Ministry of Education (MOE) implements the

Smart School Flagship through a partnership between the Government, the private sector and the

Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC). The Smart School Flagship will help children to

practice self-paced, self-accessed, and self-directed learning. Students will learn at their own

pace, learn to access information from various sources independent of the teacher, and learn to

explore topics of interest outside the curriculum.

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2.0 Smart School initiatives

The Malaysian Smart school initiative began in 1999. The intention was to equip

Malaysia schools with an impressive array of information technology (IT) facilities and to bring

about associated innovation in teaching and learning as well as to equip Malaysian children with

necessary skills to be effective in a modern society.

First, we will focus on pedagogical changes which teachers had to be bringing about and

how to enact them. Teachers needed to understand the purpose of the innovation and should give

their support to enable it to happen. The Smart School pedagogy should make learning more

interesting, motivating, stimulating and meaningful. It involves the children minds, spirit, and

bodies in the learning process by build basic skills to prepare children for greater challenges.

The pedagogy shall use an appropriate mix of learning strategies to ensure mastery of

basic competencies and promote holistic development. For example, the teacher can apply

different method of teaching and learning by put the roles of students and teachers in classroom

environment in a right way. Here are the range from those completely teacher centred to those

entirely student centred. In the learning depend on teacher centred, the learning objectives only

can be established by teacher. The determination of instructional tasks also only the teachers are

determined. The resources for learning were selected by teachers and not by the students. The

students only depend on teachers to give them knowledge.

Another type of learning is gives roles to teacher as mentor and model. The learning

objectives were established by teacher, it stills same as teacher centred learning. The

determinations of instructional tasks were suggested by teacher and students have been given to

discuss tasks that suitable to be including in their learning process. This will give students chance

to make their learning more creative and interesting. The resources for teaching and learning are

suggested by teacher and open to student to give their opinion to choose their resource for

learning.

Then, teacher plays a role as coach or facilitator. In this situation, the learning objectives

are established through discussion between student and teacher. Teacher act as a guide to

students and ensure that they understand the objectives must be achieve. For the instructional

tasks, it was determined by students with teacher suggestion and input. Teacher plays their role

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to encourage students have a guideline. The selection of resources for task also selected by

students and teacher only give suggestion and input. The teacher role in this type of learning is

almost the same as student centred learning.

The classroom atmosphere is important to support the Smart school teaching and

learning. For instance, students and teacher must create an atmosphere of respect and rapport

interaction. They also must establish a culture for learning to make balance between process and

content in learning. The teacher must be innovative to manage student behaviour by be sensitive

and give appropriate response to student misbehaviour.

The Smart school teaching and learning materials will support the new teaching and

learning strategies for Smart School. The first characteristics is meets curricular and instructional

needs, is cost effective, as well as cosmetically and technically adequate. The material use must

be clear and comprehensive to make the process of learning more effective. The materials also

must have it own manuals and guides. It can prevent from misuse of the materials. The

component use must have cost effectiveness to avoid from wasting money. The price must be

relevant to the quality of the component.

Then, the Smart School teachers will be enabled, through use of technology, to consider

students individual learning preferences in designing and recommending instructional methods

and materials. The methods and materials use have to be cognitively challenging, attractive,

motivates students to learn, and encourages active participants. It is because the students have

different learning styles and they need a variety of materials to maximise their learning potential.

For example, conventional media is commonly used in today educational settings, still a feature

in Smart Schools. It is used in an integrated manner with high-technology media such as

computer based teaching and learning materials.

Teachers can use software that fulfils various needs and capabilities of students. For

students that have Bodily-Kinaesthetic Intelligence, teacher can use software that can hands on

construction kits that interface with computers. They can use motion simulation games to attract

them learning more interesting. Another type of software is virtual and reality system software. It

can help students to experience learning in reality. For students that have Logical-Mathematical

Intelligence they are very comfortable to learning in number and logic. There are many software

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are recommended for them such as Mathematical skills tutorials. This tutorial can examine their

understanding. Other software is logic games can make students thinking creatively.

The Smart School Curriculum is designed according to best practices of other successful

Smart schools. It is incorporating elements that will enable the education system to achieve the

goals of the National Philosophy of Education. The curriculum was designed to help students

achieve overall and balanced development. This will encourage students to not only focus on

academic only. For instance in communication skills, from curriculum they can learn effective

oral and written communication in Malay and English as a second language. Students also can

emphasize multiple language, interpersonal skills and networking. Other than that, students also

can develop their emotional. It can instil moral and religious values by emphasize adaptability

team player characteristics, emotional balance and emotional intelligence. Students can develop

social skills to instil their responsibility and consciousness of health and environmental issues.

In addition, variety of skills, knowledge and values elements that get from study can form

new curriculum for Smart School. Students can learn to integrate of knowledge, skills, values

and correct use of language through curriculum. The examples of skills that can develop by

students are creative and critical thinking skills. This can encourage students thinking beyond

their knowledge that getting in class. Students can improve their knowledge of problem savings.

For example, the teacher gives them question and let them to find the answer according to the

creativity. The values can be taken from curriculum activity such as respect and love. Students

can learn how to respect other people in their organisation and love them like a family.

The curriculum design for Smart Schools also incorporate elements of vertical and

horizontal integration. Curriculum reflects vertical integration by allowing high fliers to surf

through their schooling years without being kept apart from their peers in virtual express class.

For example, each subject is divided into different learning areas. For the horizontal integration,

curriculum reflects features of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches. A

multidisciplinary approach is one in which two or three subject areas are combined in a single

learning area that focuses on a theme, issue, problem, topic and concept.

In addition, the Smart School curriculum programme can provide activities that reinforce

classroom learning, as well as make schooling fun and interesting. For example, community

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service activity will encourage them to respect and care about other people. Students can learn

how to interact with the person older than them. The cultural activities allow students to know

more about their culture and learn other culture. Recreational activities can make students feel

fun when they enjoy with their activities. They can release tension when they had faced school

day for 5 days.

3.0 Use of Technology as Enablers in Smart School Concept

The technologies and infrastructure are required for the teaching and learning,

management, the connectivity to the external constituencies and the Educational Network

connecting the Smart schools all over the country. There are the implications of using

Information Technology (IT) in the Smart School management system. In financial management,

teachers can use computer communication to link the schools databases to facilitate budgeting,

accounting and reporting. They can manage financial of school more accurately and effectively.

For school governance, students and teacher can use IT to communicate through video

conferencing to link the school to the Ministry of Education for administration and policy

implementation purposes. Teachers also can use student affairs by using databases to maintain

student profile. In the profile it contains student data about their achievement in academic and

curriculum. It is easy for teachers to access their students profile when needed. For security

management, also can use IT for helps schools databases to the District Education Officer for

security management purposes.

Furthermore, IT also gives implications on teaching and learning process in Smart

School. For example IT can enable students to have self exploratory learning. This required

every computer shall have access to the latest educational materials available locally, as well as

to external resources. It also can enable students to have distance learning. They can

communicate with outside constituencies through e-mail, video on demand and broadcast.

Student also can do collaborative learning that can facilitate them group work within the class

and across classes. This application can let them to make brainstorming within student in

different school. They can exchange experience and ideas to make their study more interactive

In addition, experiential learning will be more interesting and fun when using IT. They

use simulation software and virtual reality to stimulate learning. Students can have self

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experience in doing the experiment. Teachers can do electronic assessment to check their student

achievement. Teachers can develop the online assessment via a standard database and built

assessment courseware. They can get data faster and accurately. Other than that, inclusive

educations also included in the IT products as a tool to help students with disabilities cope with

learning more effectively.

Then, the Information Technology also cans linkages to External Constituencies. In

community, the Smart School is a community centre to enable community involvement in school

activities. This situation can attract community to know more about Smart School without

feeling awkward. The community can also use the Smart School as an on going learning centre.

At homes, IT can enable students to do distance learning to ensure them to keep track of school

work even when they are not physically in school. Parents can access the school for feedback on

their children progress. Their parents also can ask teachers about student achievement and doing

discussion if they have a problems.

4.0 Overview Of The Progress

In June 2010, smart technologies announce SMART classroom suite 2010 interactive learning

software. SMART Classroom offers an integrated solution that enablers teacher to easily manage

and asses the entire class while addressing the needs of individuals students. The software

combines Classroom management, assessment , lesson creation and assignment tools in one

offering. The latest version of SMART Classroom Suite features a number of upgrades,

including improved wireless capability, greater support for formative assessment and

enhancements to Teacher Tolls.

The Smart School's Achievements in 2007 and Outlook for 2008.

Various initiatives were conscientiously put out and implemented throughout the Financial Year 2007 to

achieve its Key Performance Indexes (KPIs) for the year. A broad target was set to transform 47 schools

in the flagship program into five star rated smart schools. The following 5 Year KPI's were addressed and

much was achieved in FY 2007.

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4.1 Increasing Usage and Adoption in terms of Utilization

a. Online and onsite monitoring program using the SSQS

A two pronged monitoring program was carried out, namely in the form of a survey based on the SSQS,

(Smart School Quality Standards) launched earlier this year, as well as monthly site visits to each of the

47 schools, since March 2007. By October 2007, 376 reports were collected.

Based on the survey, results show that 25 schools have conclusively achieved 5 star rating, while 16

schools managed to reach a 4 star rating. 4 of the remaining number of schools obtained 3 stars while the

balance achieved 2 star ratings. All 47 schools have school-based strategies and action plans in place.

b. Programmed Management of Enhancement and Deployment of Technology

The Centralized Services Desk, was set up in the Endeavour to manage the efforts in the enhancement

and deployment of technology. During the year, an inventory audit was carried out and completed on 6

pilot sites. The structure and the functions of the CSD were also identified. Due to the success of the

programmed it is envisaged that by January 2008, all 88 smart schools will have their own CSDs.

4.2. Increase usage and adoption in terms of Human Capital

A. Develop and execute international conference

The Smart School International Conference (SSIC) was organized with great success on 16-18th April,

2007. The conference was graced by 300 participants from 32 countries throughout the world. During the

conference 44 papers on worldwide practices were presented by various practitioners. During the course

of the event, new alliances and friendships were forged while existing relations were galvanized, for the

benefit of the smart school program.

B. Develop and conduct professional development programs for smart schools

For the year 2007 591 teachers have been empowered with the relevant skills to innovate teaching and

learning via these programs. During the year 6 training modules for integration of ICT-based content in

teaching and learning were developed for various subjects, namely BM, English, Mathematics, Science,

History, Islamic Education & Geography

For the year 2008 a target of 880 teachers to be empowered by this program has been set.

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5.0 Challenges faced since the inception of Smart Schools in Malaysia

The idea of development of Smart School in Malaysia is one of good effort for our

country’s education system. In order to realize the concepts, there are lots of cost that

governments have spend on it for effective smart school to build a new school with well

equipped infrastructure, to upgrade facilities and to introduce the new technology. Thus, we

should appreciate all these things. However, the development will directly affects the education

in Malaysia. It can be seen when there are such problems and challenges that have to faced due

to the implementation of these system.

One of the challenges is smart school teacher development. This is because as we know

teacher is the one that will delivers smart school teaching. Being a technology-based education,

they needs a versatile teacher which expert in many area of knowledge and skills. However,

there are some of the teachers have no formal learning to use the technologies. As we know, the

teachers comes from different educational background. For the teacher who are fresh graduated

from the university, it might not a big problem for them because nowadays in the university,

most of learning process, tests and assignments based on technologies. So, they are quiet familiar

with the technology. This is different with most of the senior teacher who more prefer traditional

method ‘chalk and talk’ to teach their students. They might not interested to use technology

during teaching-learning process. This is because they are not ready to change their mindset to

learnt new ICT programmed and to achieve the objective of smart school concept. Thus, the

teacher should be given an intensive training in ICT and technology integration in classroom to

enhance thinking skills and creativity. The teacher also is allow to explore the technology and

then they can accept the reality that they have to faced as an excellent teacher. They have to take

all the challenges. The learning process is not stop until here but the teacher have to learnt it

from time to time and they have to practice in class so that they will become more confident to

use ICT during teaching-learning process.

Moreover, the students do not understand about the smart school concepts. This is

because there are already suit with existing education system since the first time they enters the

school. The teachers are responsible to inform to their student about the goals of smart school,

the unique features of smart school and try to expain to them about the different between smart

school and other national school. While, the current schooling system is the students are placed

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in the classroom which lack of individual need ands capabilities. As we know, every students

have their own strengths and weakness and they are different in their learning styles either based

on audio, visual or kinesthetic. Sometimes, the students are passive during the teaching-learning

process because they are lack of knowledge. Supposedly, in the class, the students have to open

their mind and give feedback or share any ideas with their teachers and friends. From here, the

teacher will know either they are understand or not. Thus, the environment will not so bored and

teaching-learning process wills more interesting and effective. So, smart school process will help

by changing the way of children are taught and all are based on the students ability. As we know,

one of the smart school concept are helps the students to achieve overall balances development

and integrate knowledge, skills, values, and use correct language. Besides that, these are training

the student to be independent and they enjoyed the teaching-learning process. Smart school also

encourage the students to work in group in order to solve the tasks that have been given by the

teacher.

Nevertheless, the challenges are parents are not involved. As we know, parents play an

important role in achieving the aspirations of the smart schools. Nowadays, people are like to

spend most of their time with doing their work until they forgot about their family. As parents,

they have to be more responsible and always monitor their children’s behavior. For those parents

that have no many time to keep on their children, they can send e-mail to the class teacher and

make an appointment to discuss their children progress in school. Children needs to be guide,

motivate and counsel to ensure that they always keep in their mind that their parents sent them to

school for studies and to be a good person in the future. It is not only that, parents also can take

part in school activities in order to build a good relationship among parents and teachers. Parents

also can participate in smart school conference so they can get the information about smart

school concepts and directly support or contribute to the development of their children multiple

intelligent. Parents involvement helps in children’s education.

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6.0 Conclusion

In conclusion, as Malaysia want to fulfill Vision 2020, Ministry of Education intends to

transform the education system. The transformation will change the culture of the school which

will shift from memory based-learning pattern for most of the student to the education that will

enhance students to think, to be creative, caring with others and be more rational. Here, the

students are required to be responsible on their own education while seeking more active

participation from their parents and others.

Thus, as we want to realize the Smart School Concept in our education system, everyone

have to give a good cooperation. Ministry of education have to look forward in rolling out the

Smart Schools initiatives with supports from others party. However, teachers are the one that

plays a major role in order to ensure these concepts are success because they are the one that will

deliver the teaching process. It is significant to ensure that curriculum innovation is worthy of its

implementation in order to enhance pupil progress, achievement and development of pupils

according to gender, ethnicity, social economic status and background of study.

 

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