1. DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS
UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN BIOLOGY
SBI 3013
ASSIGNMENT 1
STUDENT’S NAME AND
MATRIC NUMBERS
NAJAT BINTIMD MUHTAR (D20152071966)
NOOR NADIABINTI ALIAS (D20152071973)
NOR ERLINA BINTI MOHD SAHI (D20152071991)
GROUP A
LECTURE’S NAME ENCIKAZMI BIN IBRAHIM
DATE 7 MAC 2016(TUESDAY)
TITLE
“CHALLENGING IMPLEMENTATION OF ICT IN SMART
SCHOOL”
2. 1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Malaysian Smart School is a learning institution that has been systemically
reinvented in terms of teaching-learning practices and school management in order
to prepare children for the Information Age. Smart School is not just about ICT
intervention in teaching and learning.
The smart school concept is a long term plan for the national educational system
to produce highly skilled and knowledgeable human capital in terms of ICT and as a
paradigm shift in the educational system. The Smart School will play a crucial role
in providing a strong foundation for the pupils to develop and increase their abilities
as individuals. The Smart School Project will be a stepping-stone to spearhead ICT
integration and implementation not only in teaching and learning but also across the
educational system in Malaysia. Skills and knowledge of ICT will be centre stage in
Smart School and play a vital role in the school management systems.
The national curriculum and pedagogy are given the highest importance, with
the role of teachers, administrators, parents and the community enhanced in the
education of the Malaysian students. Through Smart school, creative, innovative
and competitive students are able to produce in the future. Technology is important
in today's world because it serves a variety of functions in many of the most
important aspects of modern society, like education, communication, business and
scientific progress. However, the ICT field was in critical in making the teaching
and learning process become more fun, easier and effective. This is because a lot of
things that we need to be managed in handling the ICT program. For example, we
need to be familiar with software, hardware and courseware first before mastering
the ICT field.
3. 2.0 CHALLENGES OF SMART SCHOOL
2.1 Challenging implementation of ICT in smart school
There are a lot of challenges that Malaysian need to face in ICT field which are lack
of technological infrastructure and teaching material, Smart school hardware,
software and hardware was found to be under-utilized, lack of trainings, lack of
democratization in education, time constrain and negative attitude of teachers.
2.2 Lack of technological infrastructure and teaching materials.
In this era, we still facing some problem mostly involve infrastructure that have
been provided by the government. We have lacking of technological infrastructure
and teaching material especially in rural area. The government should take the
responsibility to provide complete ICT facility and need to spend a lot of electric
facilities special for students. Then they also should prepare some new books as
reference to make them think out of the box. However, the government cannot take
that action because the cost and maintenance fees for the facilities are so high.
Besides that, the effective implementation of smart school required funding for the
building of new schools with its entire multimedia infrastructure, upgrading
facilities in existing schools, make teacher training institutions and prepared for
maintenance of new technology. All this things required a lot of fees. That is the
reason why Malaysia lacks of technological infrastructure and teaching material.
In rural area, there are limited internet connection problem facing by the
students who live there. This problem making them unable to connect with internet
and they facing problem in achieve the smart school mission. They are also facing
limitation of infrastructure, such as computer labs that lead to ineffectiveness of
technology supported teaching and learning. Managing without technological
resources leaves students at a disadvantage in comparison with peers who have
these resources at their disposal. In actuality, the educational possibilities of
success for students without technology and Internet access on a home computer
are limited. In the school setting, for example, students are instructed to access
teacher websites to acquire assistance with homework problems.
4. Furthermore, because functional computers are lacking within the high school,
teachers often require students to complete research projects at home. Teachers
also place students in groups to complete team activities, and team members are
required to communicate via electronic mail to document their interactions and
progress. As more and more states implement technology-rich programs in schools,
children in poorer areas struggle to keep apace. In many parts of the country,
internet access is still a luxury.
2.3 Smart school hardware, software and courseware was found to be under
utilized
When Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English began in 2003, the teaching
and learning facilities in every schools including non-Smart School (ordinary
school) have almost the same facilities with Smart School. The Ministry of
Education concerns about this matt and increase the budget for Smart School to
upgrade their ICT facilities better than ordinary school.
For Smart School administrator, they have to overcome the problem with
Smart School Management System (SSMS). There were other systems from other
divisions and departments that had to be installed and used. Schools found these
demands overwhelming. Another problem is utilization of Software Application and
Courseware. The Smart School courseware was found to be under-utilized as
schools preferred to use the newer courseware produced to teach Science and
Mathematics (PPSMI) by the MoE. Since, Science and Mathematics were being
taught in English in Primary Years 1 to 3 and Secondary Forms1 to 3, while the
Smart School courseware was in Malay language.
The Smart Schools initiative offers an ideal opportunity to reassess the current
schooling system, identifying problems and finding potential solutions, many of
which can be abled by technology. For the Smart School system, the major inputs
are the resource that is students, teachers, technology and tools and the Ministry of
Education. Students play a pivotal role in making the Smart School vision a success.
The Smart School scenario calls for redefining the role of the teacher and the
student where students are encouraged to play a more active role in the teaching-
learning process instead of being mere passive recipients of knowledge.
5. The problem is some of smart students is Smart School are not familiar with
technology and tools. This is because some of them come from non-academic
family background. They might feel a little difficulty with this new style of
learning. Some of the student also preferred to learn in traditional methods which
are more simple and easy to understand for them.
2. 4 Lack of training
Teachers can contribute to the success of our country when they are trained to
perform their career according to education standards. Training typically consists of
several classes onsite or at a different location during orientation.
In our country, our government consider in-depth training an unnecessary
expense and expect new teachers to learn on the career from the more experienced
teachers. However, this type of training is often inadequate and creates problems for
the career. Some teacher cannot teach effectively. This is because they are lack of
training before they started their career. Including the training involving ICT
knowledge. Generally, ICT knowledge involving the computer software and
hardware. Some veteran teacher, a lack of ICT knowledge. So that, its hard for them
to deliver a knowledge to the student and the students cannot get what their teacher
had taught them.
There are several negative effect when the teacher are lack of training. Firstly,
the students feel unhappy in class because they do not understand what their
teachers was teaching. Teachers are interested in performing their career well to
advance the government, feel a sense of pride for a career well done and advance to
higher position. When there is no training, teachers do not understand how to do
their careers and none of these goals are possible. This leads to low morale among
teachers, which results in, career turnover.
Besides, it will cause a low production of teachers. The rate of production ia
low when teachers don’t know enough to perform their career confidently.
Unskilled teachers could spend considerable time seeking help to perform their
understanding, to the detriment of the teaching process. More experienced teachers
must also spend time monitoring unskilled the new teachers which detracts from
their work and increases the amount of time necessary to complete production.
6. Futhermore, it also will cause the work environment is non- condusive. In this
case, the students feel upset and got boring with the way their teacher teaching
them. The student also will did not focused and do not pay attention on what their
teacher had taught them. As a result, the decreasing of academic score owill
happen. So that, our government have to find a way to prevent this from happen in
order to achieve Wawasan 2020.
2.5 Lack of democratization in education
Words ‘democratization’ is means the transition to a more democratic political
regime it also refers to substantive political changes moving in a democratic
direction. It may be the transition from an authoritarian regime to a full democracy,
a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy or transition
from a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic political system. The
outcome may be consolidated or democratization may face frequent reversals.
Different patterns of democratization are often used to explain other political
phenomena, such as whether a country goes to a war or whether its economy grows.
Democratization itself is influenced by various factors, including economic
development, history and civil society. The ideal result from democratization is to
ensure that the people have the right to vote and have a voice in their political
system.
In this context, the students have no choice in their education. It means that,
the student have no choice on what to learn and when to sit for exam. It is because,
this is one of the pre-condition in education standard. Besides, they are also
compulsory to any people that has achieved 7 years and above. They must follow
the rule in order to pass in education level.
Furthermore, students do not have enough time to manage themselves. They
do not have enough time to study and understand the lesson as they have different
ability to learn. For example, if students is lack of knowledge in any course, they
need a longer time to cover up all the subject. It will takes time. The teachers also
have to be patient in teaching them.
7. The failure to obtain acces to quality and equal education has limited the
oppurtinity for the people in the rural areas to advance in economic and social
fields. This has widen the gap between rural and urban communities in terms of
lifestyle. Thus democratization of education was emphasized to narrow the
education gap between urban and rural areas and also to provide equal educational
opportunities for all Malaysians, irrespective of gender and race.
2.6 Negative Attitude of Teachers
Other than money consuming, the teachers have to face the challenges with an open
mind to make sure the smart school can progress well and perfect. Teachers must
complete themselves with ICT knowledge and skills. This is because teachers have
a big responsibility in teaching and deliver knowledge to the students. The teachers
must be able to think creatively and critically. Teachers need to use computers
intensively in their study, presentations, teaching process and communication to
diversify the use and application of ICT.
Teachers of smart school especially senior teachers have been blended with
traditional methods and difficult to adapt new instructional technology. The senior
teachers think that it is much easier to use pens and books during class session
instead of computers and slides. Most of them cannot adapt with the latest
technology in teaching and learning process because has been used to the old
teaching methods. In smart school, most of student assessments are using a
computer supported by an internet. If the teachers cannot use the technology
properly, then the online blended learning of students might not achieve the
objectives.
Actually, the teachers did not ready to change their mindset. For years, they
have been teaching the students with their own way and methods. Some teachers are
not keen on using the courseware lack of ICT knowledge not comfortable with the
use of hardware and courseware, prefer traditional way of teaching which is chalk
and talk. And suddenly, everything needs to follow the new system, new methods,
and latest technology. Senior teachers might feel like they are newcomer instead of
experienced teacher in their profession. Learning new methods in teaching is also a
time consuming.
8. It is a common problem faced by everyone when using new technology; they
need to learn step by step, one by one to be an expert in their field. The teachers
already have their own workload in order to keep up with the syllabus, students
report and school management. Then, smart school system becomes additional
workload for them just to study the process and methods.
Senior teachers are also not ready to achieve the objectives of smart school
concept and learn new ICT programmes. Malaysia intends to transform its
educational system, in line with and in support of the nation’s drive to fulfil Vision
2020. The primary objectives of smart school management will be to manage
efficiently and effectively the resources and processes required to support the
teaching-learning functions. Management will help to reallocate skilled human
resources, accelerate decision making and better access to information.
As an educated person, a teacher should be ready to face the challenges in
educational system especially when involving smart school system. The teacher also
must have to learn something new to teach the students and prepare them for the
future. Their profession is undoubtedly a very challenging path but the teachers
should be physically and mentally ready for any changes in educational system.
2.6 Time Constrain
Malaysia’s National Philosophy of Education calls for “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.”
The catalyst for this massive transformation will be technology supported Smart
Schools, which will improve how the educational system achieves the National
Philosophy of Education, while fostering the development of a work force prepared
to meet the challenges of the next century.
Transforming the educational system will entail changing the culture and
practices of Malaysia’s primary and secondary schools, moving away from
memory-based learning designed for the average student to an education that
stimulates thinking, creativity, and caring in all students, caters to individual
abilities and learning styles, and is based on more equitable access. It will require
students to exercise greater responsibility for their own education, while seeking
more active participation by parents and the wider community.
9. Students felt that learning using computer is very time consuming. Other
than teachers, students also need to learn how to use the technology applied in smart
school. Some students does not exposed with the current technology in teaching and
learning process. So, they might be a little bit slow in order to understand how to
use the computer and other devises and programmes. They need to follow the order
step by step and this situation will consume time in learning period in the classes.
Teachers also have to prepare earlier if they want to use the computer lab for
teaching and it will disturb the process of teaching and learning. If the teachers need
to use the computer lab, they need to set up the computer and it will drag the time
for the subject.
CONCLUSION
The technology will enable the school to draw on a variety of external resources,
while also making the school more accessible to the community. Students and
teachers will be able to tap into public and university libraries; access companies
and industry associations; investigate museums and other achieves; keep up to date
with local authorities. Similarly, students, parents and other members of the
community can stay in touch with the school. Students can keep abreast of
coursework from outside of school; parents can monitor their children progress or
communicate with teachers from home; people in the community can use the school
as the center for continued learning.
The Malaysian National Philosophy of education underpins every element of
the smart school Conceptual Model; Education in Malaysia is an on-going effort
towards further 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, based on a firm belief in and devotion to
God. Such an effort is designed to produce Malaysian citizens who are
knowledgeable and competent, who possesses high moral standards, and who are
responsible and capable of achieving high levels of personal well-being as well as
being able to contribute to the harmony and betterment of the family, the society
and the nation at large.
10. REFERENCE
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Sham Ibrahim (2003). The use of multimedia software in instruction among
secondary school teachers in the district of Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan.
Unpublished MA Thesis. Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.
Hajar Mohd. Nor (2005). Conditions facilitating the implementation of information
and communication technology (ICT) integration in the Malaysia Smart
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