Challenge of Smart School in Malaysia

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introduction

Since independence, the country has undergone rapid changes in the educational system. In times, education policies are constantly reviewed and improved to ensure the effective curriculum implementation to develop work force which prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Smart School is one of the 'flagship' of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC). In 1996, the Ministry of Education Malaysia has enacted the Smart School concept-centered teaching and learning of critical thinking and creative. Technologies as enablers become an important component of the Smart School concept when the Smart School Project was established as one of the flagship applications of the Multimedia Super Corridor. Smart School will lead to the democratization of education entirely. This school is not just for smart people but it is a smart way to ensure that each student - strong or weak, rich or poor - to achieve its full potential in the most suitable way rates and different learning styles. Computer technology will allow diversity built into the education system.

In line with the country to achieve the goals of Vision 2020 which requires productive growth that can be achieved through technological expertise, manpower capable of critical thinking, innovative and creative, and willing to participate in the global economy. In addition, the philosophy of education focus on developing the potential of individuals in a holistic and integrated manner, so as to produce individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically balanced and harmonious. Thus establishment of Smart School supported with the

latest technology will improve the country's education system as well as fulfill the National Philosophy of Education vision.

Transforming educational system in order to establish Smart school ultimately changes the culture and practices of primary and secondary school. Teaching and learning process change from memory based learning to an education that stimulate thinking and creativity, considering the range of abilities and learning styles of students to ensure that all students have the opportunity to build self-concept.

There are three important aspects should be addressed in the implementation of the Smart School. First is providing a variety of media infrastructure. It is includes computer hardware and related equipment, video conferencing equipment and audio and communication infrastructure. The software contains a word processor, spreadsheet, crawl software, e-mail software, Internet browser, author tools and software training. Secondly is the training aspect. Training for teachers is very important. Rigorous combination of intensive training and counseling is necessary to help teachers adapt to the new environment. This is important to eliminate insecurity and useless that will arise as a radical paradigm shift in methodology and the role of teachers. The last aspects is of the course the material. The new course materials, updates, and be adequately provided. Course materials need to be developed for all subjects and a wide variety of students. Course materials should exhibit the following characteristics: Bulk diskette complete, interactive, challenging the students' cognitive, contains self-assessment, building inspection in preparation for teacher input for poor students

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advantage of smart school implementation

Malaysia Smart School is a learning institution as a whole re-designed in terms of the practice of teaching, learning, school management to prepare students for the Information Age. Smart School expanded with the formation of the professional staff, increased resources and efficient management. This will enable schools to adapt to changing conditions.

Students act as active learners in Smart Schools. Creative and innovative aspects are focus. So, school develop creative problem solving skills to meet the new situation. Students act with courage in making decisions and are responsible for the decision. Students will make information adventures around the world to find and gather data. Students will be able to reach a source of local, national and global information. Internet also allows interaction between students and teachers, teachers and teachers and other people around the world

This flexible assessment system will allow students in a physical classroom to work at different levels in the same subjects, besides allowing students to continue to another level in different subjects at any - time. In this way, students are less intelligent, which is usually ignored will be given due attention. Teacher acts as a guide on the side. Teachers provide psychological support and encouragement. Teachers will responsible to provide an environment that encourages self-paced learning towards a creative and self-reliant. Teachers will identify goals define the direction for the school, driving students' progress toward achieving these goals and allow students to learn at their own pace. Students will get individual attention from teachers. Computers will take over the routine and delivery of information and freeing teachers from the trivial administrative tasks so they can concentrate on the aspects of humane education.

A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used in Smart Schools such as innovative, technology-based strategies such as discussions with friends, distance learning, the use of data as a source of information, process information. Process information and linking the findings to the electronic reference encyclopedia, learn from electronic courseware and electronic communications and student and teacher interact either in small groups or individual is part of the teaching and learning courses.

By focusing on individual development, teachers are encouraged to develop the social skills of students and also to inculcate good moral and ethical and patriotic values. Use of information technology as a tool will enable and facilitate data storage administrators to retrieve data. It facilitates the processing and delivering results related to administrative decision-making. This will help improve efficiency, eliminate duplication and to radically improve access for all.

Moreover, by computing online school management, administrators will be able to plan, manage and utilize human and physical resources effectively. Internet will facilitate parental and community involvement in school programs and makes them effective partners in their child's education. Instead, availability of database, information about students and teachers are more easily available to the legitimate. Needs of the students and teachers are more easily taken into account with frequent monitoring. Systematic monitoring of student progress will remind schools to when the need for follow-up action for bright students and the less intelligent. Evaluation based on specific criteria and reference elements to give a holistic and accurate picture of student performance.

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Smart school challenge in Malaysia

a) Spending Constraints in Syllabus

From interviews with several teachers who lack or do not use computers to aid teaching and learning they found the main problem they face is a constraint to finish the syllabus because according to their use of the Internet requires a long time to navigate and accessible even in terms of their attitude ready to use the computer in teaching. While Wiburg (1997), says that to build, develop and integrate multimedia resources quite difficult even have the will to use technology in teaching, with technical skills but limited time and resources will continue to be a major obstacle in the digital world.

b) Negative attitude of teachers

From previous studies also found a teacher who has been blended with traditional methods and difficult to adapt instructional technology (Becker & Watts, 1996). The explosion of ICT technologies present new challenges to the teaching profession and the education system in secondary schools who have yet to experience a drastic change in terms of the adoption of new technologies, including computers, digital, eLearning and so on. The use of ICT in the Secondary School has opened a new perspective on learning liberalization is no longer bound to the system and classroom organization. Progress and sophistication of information and communication technology enables learning through the window adaptation in virtual learning world by using the internet, surf the web and so on.

c) Lack of Skills

Not many of educators who utilize the Internet as an alternative that provides access to information that can help enhance teaching and learning materials. However, the use of elearning in schools, particularly the use of the internet or www is still low. The study, conducted by Rosli, Zamalia and Shafiee (2001) showed that the use of ICT-related teaching and learning in UiTM lecturer is around 30%. This study if extended at the school level will be of great value lower percentage due to lack of facilities and skills.

d) Lack of Infrastructure and Support Materials

Expanding computer literacy education be an important agenda in line with the national ICT policy in the 21st century. The era of information technology requires educational systems and institutions to formulate the ultimate goal of school education in shaping young computer literate and skilled. An important challenge of education in secondary schools is to provide computer facilities for all students. This means that the computer facilities are not limited to certain groups of people but involves the entire student regardless of economic status, social, ethnic, and so on. Sophistication of the ICT facilities available in secondary schools at this time is not uniform. Some are put computers in the classroom, some of which put all the computers in the lab. There are those who owns a connection to the Internet, some are not. Teachers who use the guidance contained in this document shall first determine the level of ICT infrastructure capacity available in their schools before planning any learning activities using ICT. This is to ensure that the activities carried out yielded the optimum fit with the learning objectives. As a guide, are included under this matrix shows the relationships between the level of technology and learning.

Challenges of the present and future in the education sector is the provision of a complete computer infrastructure for the teaching and learning methods. However, the provision of Internet access alone does not guarantee effective teaching learning on-line. Attitude of teachers and students on the use of technology must be considered to ensure its effectiveness as a method of teaching.

e) ICT and Digital Divide

Imbalances in society and especially in economic terms, income, education, infrastructure. modernization and so will affect the progress of ICT and digital. School, education and the teaching profession in the country should play a constructive role to address the digital divide and ICT that happens, especially in rural areas and among ethnic groups. Schools and the teaching profession should give serious attention to bridge the gap of digital ICT and ICT education program to expand opportunities and master the knowledge and digital skills, particularly among poor and rural students. More funding and trained teachers in the field of ICT and digital should be provided to assist students and school mission and vision to build a community of IT and digital society.

f) Inadequate Financial Resources

The school does not have sufficient financial resources to finance the cost of various information technology usage will return to conventional learning. Weaknesses of the school leadership is committed to the use of ICT can also cause missed school from current premier change occurring. Schools also failed to play a positive role in developing students to computer literacy, especially in rural areas. This change will provide a big challenge for instructors. They should be prepared enhance the knowledge and skills to make computers as teaching and learning technology replaces a less conventional approach based on technological innovation.

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ways to overcome problems related to smart school

a) Restrain Spending Syllabus

Approach to teaching using ICT to expand ICT-dimensional world that covers the use of internet, web browsing, on-line, e-mail, a coordinated education program at the school, and the software should be designed according to the specifications of the school curriculum and is used intensively and extensively in teaching and learning. Use of multimedia, in particular powerpoint and screen playback can have a positive impact on the development of students' interest. Structured learning program and monitored by teachers systematically trained and experienced in the field of IT. Teachers need to be exposed to the Internet, websites, on-line, e-mail and other methods-based approach to computer use. According to the Computer Unit In Education Curriculum Development Centre Ministry of Education Malaysia, the use of ICT in teaching and learning should be well planned, not by a "waterfall field" or as incidental activities not related to the curriculum. Appropriate use of ICT to support the curriculum and teaching and learning approaches must be select wisely.

b) Negative attitude of teachers

Teachers should leave the old ways of teaching and learning adopted for this, but think of dynamic learning in the context of information technology. Positive thinking should exist among the implementing policy on the use of ICT at all levels of the education system in this country to enable ICT adapted and expanded in culture learning. Factor of mental preparation, knowledge and skills among members is important towards a change in the organization (Steers & Black, 1994). The study found that mind preparation among members of the organization include a positive attitude towards the proposed reform agenda as well as understand the purpose or the reasons behind the changes that will be implemented. Changes in attitudes and values of IT

teachers are needed in the face of new challenges in education (Ambigapathy, 2001). Therefore, educators need computer literacy to use computers in education is not affected. In achieving this objective, teachers need to be trained in the use of new technology to be applied in the classroom. (Ambigapathy & Suthagar, 2003).

According Robiah (2003) stated that a positive teacher attitude thus be more motivating and mobilizing the use of ICT in teaching and learning in secondary schools is a smooth, fast and comprehensive. Teachers need to be a mover and a trigger to change society ICT and digital society formation in 2020. Teachers must be prepared to perform the duties of developing new ICT in teaching and learning. Teachers should leave the old ways of teaching and learning adopted for this, but think of dynamic learning in the context of information technology. Positive thinking should exist among the implementing policy on the use of ICT at all levels of the education system in this country to enable ICT adapted and expanded in culture learning. In addition, teachers also need to be prepared enhance the knowledge and skills to make computers as teaching and learning technology replaces a less conventional approach based on technological innovation.

c) Lack of Skills

Teachers need to be exposed to new ideas and career opportunities in teaching profession they like to attend short-term ICT courses. The school also needs to take the initiative to develop the teaching profession in the context of the use of ICT in education that teachers working in schools to accept the changes and progress in their careers teaching profession. Staff development program involving the teaching profession in schools should be well planned. This can lead to innovation and implementation of education reform is done. The teaching profession should always be open to change, innovation and new innovation in the use of ICT in secondary schools.

d) Lack of Infrastructure and Support Materials

The school should improve communications and multimedia infrastructure of computer facilities, high bandwidth Internet connections and integrated and computer labs. In addition, the school also needs to improve infrastructure such as networks, local content, incentives and legislation to create an enabling environment infrastructure.

e) ICT and Digital Divide

The computer must be intensified and expanded, especially in schools in rural areas. The use of ICT in teaching and learning will be extended to ensure that more students benefit. Therefore, efforts will be intensified to provide computer facilities and teaching methods of computer-aided learning, especially in schools in rural areas. Software development for Mathematics, Science, Bahasa Malaysia, English and Technical and Vocational be intensified. While the software for other subjects must be developed.

f) Inadequate Financial Resources

The school also must cope with financial difficulties that may be encountered from time to time. Therefore, the question related to cost implications often the criteria for implementing computer-based learning in schools. School planning should also take into account the changes especially the use of ICT. In addition to providing ICT-based learning, schools should develop education budgets are rising, particularly expenses involving the use of facilities, equipment and technology hardware information. Schools staffs also have to deal with financial problems that may be encountered from time to time.

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conclusion

Smart School is one of the Multimedia Super Corridor flagship that emphasizes teaching and learning in software courses. To ensure the effective use of software courses in smart schools, effective courseware production is important. Effective use of the course software will guide and shape the minds of the students' mind so that they will be creative through a more realistic picture. In addition to the flexibility contained in a software course, it will provide an opportunity for students to learn according to their ability level