ICT in Education : Malaysian Perspective Chairperson Panel 1: Assoc.

Prof, Faculty Education Panel 2: Education Department Director Panel 3: Principal Panel 4: Teacher Panel 5: PIBG Chairman (Parents representative) Chairperson (Introduction): Good morning ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to welcome you to our forum in this very fine day. This morning we'll have the pleasure to hear from our five panels to talk about School Disciplines Problem. Our first panel is ______________ , an Assoc. Prof at Faculty of Education, UTM. Our second panel is _______________, a Education Department from ______________. The third panel is ______________ from _________________. Our fourth panel is _______________ , Teacher from ___________________ and last but not least, the parents representative, PIBG Chairman of ________________ to be our fifth panel this morning. Q1: Before we move on further about this topic, I would like to ask Panel 1 what is the meaning of ICT in the context of Malaysian? Panel 1: First of all, it is an honour to be here and thank you for having me as well as the rest of the panels here. Well, to answer the question, in the Malaysian context, ICT or Information Communication Technology refers to tools and enablers to make learning more interesting, motivation, stimulating and meaningful to the children. Q2: Thank you Panel 1 for the definition given. The next question goes to Panel 2. As someone who have been involved in ICT from the early stage, maybe you can tell us the background of ICT in Malaysia. Panel 2: Thank you Chairman for the question. Vision 2020 is where all things started. This vision calls for sustained productivity driven growth which will be achieved only with a technology literate. In order to support this vision, the education

system has to be transformed. Thus this is where the ICT came in. The Ministry of Education sees ICT as a means, not an end to itself. Technology is not seen as a vitamin whose mere presence in schools can catalyse better educational outcomes. Q3: A very thorough explanation indeed. Back to Panel 1, what are the examples of use of ICT in the Education specifically in the classroom? Panel 1: There are many projects that have been carried out in order to implement the use of ICT in education. The Malaysian SMART school for examples. It is a government initiative and one of seven flagship applications that are a part of Malaysias Multimedia Super Corridor project. ICT also have been made as a subject refers to the introduction of subjects such as Information Technology and Computerization which are offered to students at the age of 16 and 17 years old. Q4: How about Panel 2. What else examples can be given? Panel 2: Another example is internet usage where students are encouraged to extract information from various sources from. There are many more examples and this proves that many projects have been implemented to ensure the use of ICT in classroom in success level. Q5: I would like to move to Panel 4. As a teacher, you have first-hand experience the use of ICT in your school which is one of the selected SMART school. What are the benefits gains from the use of ICT in your classroom? Panel 4: Thank you Chairman. As a teacher, I do think that this is a very good experience for us. For all this while, teaching has never been so fun. We can use various types of multimedia to attract the students attention as well as increase their time span focus. Teachers can also do many creative things using ICT and we surely sees there are improvements in our students examination results. Q6: Thank you Panel 4 for the answer. My next question goes to Panel 3. As the administrator in the school, what do you think challenges face by the school? Panel 3: Thank you Chairman and to all the panels. We do realise all the problems or challenges faces by students, teacher and the school as well. I do believe that the

government have look into this matter and comes up with the solution as well. One of it is by providing necessary training to teachers and special technician to in-charge the ICT equipment in the school. These can actually help the teachers when they have problem using the ICT.

Q7: Back to Panel 3. surely there are barriers faces by the teacher? Panel 3: Yes. We do face many barriers. One of it is not enough or limited access to computer hardware. We also face lack of availability of computer software, lack of time in school schedule for projects involving ICT, lack of adequate technical support for ICT projects. We also think that some of the teachers feel demotivated to use ICT because of not enough teacher training opportunities for ICT projects and teacher do not have access to the necessary technology at home. But as mentioned by panel 4, the school have try their best to overcome the barriers.

Q8: What do you see in the future of ICT use in the school Panel 4? Panel 4: I personally think that we still have a very long way to achieve the goal of implementing ICT in classroom and school. Sometimes, lack of fund stop us, the administrator to become more active in implementing this project but we tried to find our own initiative in order to make it a success in our school. In the future, I do think it is not impossible to achieve an ICT school but still have a very long way. Q9: Panel 5, as parents representative. What do you think of the implementation of ICT in the school or to be more specific, in the classroom? Panel 5: Thank you chairman and all panels who are here today. First of all, I would like to say that I feel so excited to see how the ICT will going to improve the education in Malaysia. I truly believe that our children, the pupils will gain lots of benefits through this implementation. Although maybe there are certain challenges faces by us the parents as well. Q10: When you mentioned challenges just now, what do you mean by that? Panel 5: I do admit that many family nowadays can afford to buy personal computer or notebook for home use. Moreover, the internet usage are more affordable now so

the pupils can use the software given to them at home or access the website from home. But we cannot forget that there area still many family who have no budget or poor family who cant afford to buy or even never touch a computer before. In addition, there are many parents who thinks that using these technology only bring harms and not good. They compared to their old times and said that they can survive without computer so why cant their children too? Q10: So, any suggestion from Panel 5 regarding the matters mentioned above? Panel 5: I honestly feel that we need to give training to the parents as well. This so that they know what are the good things they can get in learning the technology and at the same time they able to facilitate and assist their children at home. Chairman: Thank you for all the very insightful talks, comments and suggestions given by all our panels. Our former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi once quoted in New Straits Time on January 31, 2005 saying that ICT is not elitist its programme for all. Its been introduced in the rural areas. Its been introduced in schools whether the schools is in town or village. With this assurance by the former Prime Minister, there is surely an urgent need for all educators nationwide to make necessary adjustments. Towards the end, all of us, have to support each other to make this vision came true We do hope that all of us will have a more broad perspective about the topic discuss today. To all the audience, thank you for all your wonderful time for joining us today. Hope about a big round applause once again to all our panels here today.