SSI 3013- INFORMATION AND

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN
SCIENCE

TITLE- CHALENGING OF SMART

SCHOOL
NOR ERASALMIMI BINTI MAT LATIB
NUR ATIKAH BINTI HASHIM

GROUP: B

D 20161073924
D 20161073938

LECTURER: EN. AZMI BIN IBRAHIM

TABLE OF CONTENT.
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TITLE
Introduction
History of Smart School in Malaysia
Smart School in Malaysia
Challenge of Smart School
Problem Solving
Smart School And Its Impact On

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Education
Benefits of Smart School
Conclusion
Reference

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INTRODUCTION
A smart school could easily be defined as a school which incorporates the latest
technologies to organize, accommodate and optimize the student learning process. This
could involve using the latest ideas of blended learning, the flipped classroom, BYODs
and other such practices. The 21st century has seen a lot of development in technology at
an exponential rate, which has lead to technology being accessible very easily. A smart
school need not even be physically present to be a school, one could host classrooms

online using the help of various Learning management systems and havent have the
need of owning a classroom at all. The smart school also incorporates all the softwares it
can to help in the management and the learning of its students.
Smart school is a learning institution that has been systemically integrated with ICT in
terms of teaching-learning practices and school management in order to prepare children
for the Information Age. Malaysia has developed a successful platform for development
of smart school system. This coursework summarizes the finding of the current issues and
challenges of smart school system in Malaysia. Among findings, the strength of the
systems were mentioned as access to internet and network system experienced teachers
and skillful technicians enough equipment and good communication within parents and
schools.
The 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 (MalaysiaGov., 1997). To function effectively, the smart school will
require appropriately skilled staff, and well to designed supporting processes.The new
learning atmosphere encourages an active thinking process. This system must encourage
students use personal computers, the Internet and intranets as research and
communication tools.Students will also be able to access online libraries, engage in

messaging activities using electronic mail or use a combination of desktop videoconferencing and chat rooms for tutorials.The idea of the smart school is actually
to revolutionize the education system through a holistic approach to a development that
focuses on the individual, making value based education available to anyone, anytime
and anywhere. The smart school vision brings together the vital components required to
exploit technology to improve the system and delivery of education to children.The smart
schools

will

be

able

to

develop

students

physically,mentally,emotionally,and

spiritually.Furthermore,this instituation will provide opportunities to improve individual

strengths and abilities.
The smart school Project of Malaysia was developed in early 1996 with contribution of
Ministry of Education. By the end of the year, smart school had become one of the seven
flagship applications of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) project, promoted by the
Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC). In July 1997, The Conceptual Blueprint
of Malaysian smart school was produced by a project team, which consisted of industry
representatives, officials from the Ministry of Education. A joint venture company,
Telekom Smart School Sdn Bhd (TSS), was incorporated in June 1999 with the objective
of transforming the Malaysian education system into a technologically advanced process.

The main components of SSIS that have been developed and implemented are:
Teaching-Learning Materials in the form of courseware and printed materials
The Smart School Management System comprising software for management and
administrative functions
Technology Infrastructure comprising hardware, software, systems software,and nonIT equipment
Systems Integration

 Support Services comprising Help Desk services and Maintenance and Support for the
smart schools.
This benchmark has been done on smart school initiatives in Malaysia in 2003 and in that
situation they had shown Malaysian smart school is one-of-its-kind, as it has achieved all of
the following:

A fully integrated school management solution that addresses all components of the
teaching-learning process
Comprehensive courseware in two languages
A knowledge bank consisting of teachers, students and administrators who have been
empowered by ICT
Pool of local talent capable of addressing the needs of the smart schools in terms of:
Productivity-oriented and professional practices
Development of a commercial e-learning industry

CHALLENGES OF SMART SCHOOLS IN MALAYSIA

TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS
There are difficulties to attain the high quality service for IT teaching-learning process in
smart schools.There are electronic exams for assessment of students which are new

method that are implementing by computer provided questions that are prepared by
professional and experienced teacher. Electronic exams are performed in their schools but
some school cannot to hold online examintions because of insufficient electronic
equipments and out dated hardware or software should be need to upgrade.At times, the
staff in the institution is not fully trained in the use of the smart school software being
implemented. Besides, the costing factor is always a prominent challenge for the adoption
of technology in schools. Most schools do not have the funding to support the use of
technology in schools. There is an initial cost involved in the purchasing and installation
of technology.
Moreover, the cost of maintenance, upkeep and upgradation involves an ongoing
cost, which is, at times, financially unsustainable for most K-12 schools.Computers are
still very expensive and despite spirited efforts by the government agencies, NGO,
corporate organizations and individuals to donate computers to as many schools as
possible, there still remains a big percentage of the schools unable to purchase computers
for use by their people.An additional problem is the fact that computer equipment has an
average life span of 5 years. Defects are common, creating lots of downtime, repairs are
complicated and expensive, and the lack of local professionals or systems managers able
to deal with hardware problems simply compounds technical difficulties.

Besides,lack of internet or slow connectivity. Most schools are not able to connect to
the world wide web, due to the high costs involved in the connectivity and sometimes the
server cannot cope or server down mainly located in small communities.Another shortage
is mentioned about wireless technology seemed to be a quite good foundation and
technology, but in practice, it does not work as well as we previously thought. This

technology is not as developed as the amount of potentials it could have. It means for
example that it can take several minutes still the computers get some IP address from the
projector. The reaction-time is getting longer by wireless mode than in normal mode. It is
impossible to show some film or video in wireless mode, because the projectors wireless
module cannot transfer as many data as would be needed.Although they have capabilities
to improve e-learning in smart schools, they should have more effort than before to
acquire standard rate of quality for smart schools.

THE ROLE OF TEACHERS IN PROVIDING E-CONTENT IN SMART

SCHOOLS
The role of teachers in smart school is very important. They should determine the content
of lessons which provided by MOE. Also, they should assist students to gather right
information from the Internet. The experienced teachers are very important to form mind
of students. They know how and what to do for communicating of students and

knowledge.They preparing e-content for courses is starting point for customizing the
syllabuses based on MOE program (CD Course aware).Before the class, the teachers
prepare some information from subjects by using power points. Many of teachers can
share e-contents for courses with another schools and some group discussion.
But somehow teachers have lack experienced in conducting the session.To
successfully initiate and implement educational technology in schools program depends
strongly on the teachers support and attitudes. It is believed that if teachers perceived
technology programs as neither fulfilling their needs nor their students needs, it is likely
that they will not integrate the technology into their teaching and learning. Among the
factors that influence successful integrating. If teachersattitudes are positive toward the
use of educational technology then they can easily provide useful insight about the
adoption and integration of ICT into teaching and learning processes.Moreover,teachers
have lack confident to using ICT for educational purpose and how to far teacher
perceives success as being under his or her control.

Besides,the fresh teachers were highly skilled with technology more than older
teachers..Findings revealed that younger teachers frequently use computer technology in
the classrooms more than the older teachers.The major reason could be that the younger
teachers having rich experience gather from a and also competent in the use of computers
can easily integrate ICT into their teaching.Older learners can be discouraged because
lack of basic computer skills, lack of knowledge of computer terminology,fear of
computer technology and formal training environments .It may not always suit selfdirected, independent learners.Besides,they lack of recognition of prior experience thus

self-esteem may be affected and age-related barriers like sight, hearing and mental
agility.The older teachers focus could be on how to use ICT instead of how to incorporate
ICT in their teaching and spend most of their time in familiarizing themselves with
schools curriculum and classroom management.

PROBLEMS SOLVING
The existence problems with IT classes are financial supports, experienced and skilled
teachers, and providing equipments based on needs and wants of smart schools. The
ministry of education of Malaysia should find alternatives solutions for the smart school
problems by considering of changing technologies and new learning methods. Also, IT
skills help teachers to convey right information to the students. The quality of service as
and IT Class has an important role in the success of smart school. The quality of service

can produce many capabilities towards improving students talents. For example, if a
teacher using new tech and new methods, so teaching and learning are very attracted by
the students. Each attributes of IT class has own advantage and disadvantage that should
be controlled and managed by teachers.
The efficiency of smart schools is determined by analyzing feedback of curriculum of
students. Also, sharing new ideas between smart schools can get good results in the future
respect to the goals of schools. Communication is cornerstone of the smart school for
interacting students and parents towards managing those. As far as now the government
supports the smart schools and new ideas for alternative solutions for success of
them.Introducing ICT to teacher have been done by goverment. This program provides
workers aged 45 years and older with the opportunity to undergo nationally accredited
training in information technology. The program is designed to help older welfare
dependent people, who are in the labour force, to gain nationally accredited skills in
information and communication technology, so they can operate more effectively in
school.This would allow teachers to gain access to new knowledge and skills improved
educational resources, and overcome the traditional isolation of teachers and create
individualized training opportunities.

Training teachers in computer skills and the incorporation of ICT into lessons to
improve students achievement were not major focus areas of the SSIS. This was an
obvious omission in the Smart School project.TSS and other vendors saw this as an
opportunity to propose ICT training for teachers as an additional element to the
SSIS.Ministry offering their on-line teacher training software, the Malaysian Teacher
Training Program (MTTP).FSBMs on-line teacher training software was designed by
Internexia,using as a guide the United Kingdoms Teacher Training Agency (TTA)
specification,22 to equip teachers with ICT skills and with the knowledge and
understanding to make decisions about when and how to use ICT in their teaching and to

improve students learning achievement.The aim remained the same is to equip teachers
with the knowledge, understanding and skills about when and how to use ICT in their
teaching.
Besides,to raise the standard of students achievement by increasing the use of ICT in
their learning.Teaching ICT is impossible without up-to-date equipment and
supplementary materials. Vital elements is provided include computers and acessories
appropriate software to assist in their use and application, educational databases, a wellequipped school library and Internet connections. All of these should be available in
quantities that allow every student to take full advantage of the opportunities IT provides.

SMART SCHOOL AND ITS IMPACT ON EDUCATION

When we talk about the opportunities for integrating technology in schools, we can
actually see how technology is already transforming the way teachers teach in schools- a
drift from text-based learning to something that would involve and engage students in the
best possible way. Opportunities are plenty here, we talk about opportunities that have
every potential to take education to the next level.

Books and pens have been replaced with touch screen in this day age, be it at work or
for leisure. But with the Occulus Rift coming out early next year, it would seem that
Virtual reality would be the new face of education and learning. Virtual reality could be
used to teach and provide a great environment for children and students of all ages taking
the school from being more than just a smart school. Lets discuss the impacts the smart
school is already having on education:

Schools no longer need to maintain ledgers and cumbersome paperwork as every

smart school software now helps maintain all records for the school in one place.

Schools no longer need to worry about stationary as pens and notebooks are
slowly being replaced by tablets and computers.A paperless classroom is on the
way. Cloud-based apps and tools like Google Drive, Gmail, Google Docs have a
smarter way to offer to students and teachers to carry on their daily classroom
learning. A definitely affordable option to save more time than the traditional
methods of classroom teaching.

Being a smart school allows the educators to reach out to students all over the
world and develop thriving online learning communities.A great opportunity for
technology in schools lies in the form of virtual reality (put the backlink to our
blog)in classroom. Virtual reality has the power to transform classroom into a
practical field for students to experience real life applications in a virtual world.

Students in a smart school are exposed to students from other parts of the world
via online meetings and collaborations.A global learning platform is surely one
blessing bestowed with the introduction of technology in schools. Students can

opt to learn foreign language from natives of the particular country through
videoconferencing. A lot of websites have come up with this kind of learning
sessions via video conferencing call, letting students experience educational
benefits minus the travel cost involved.

Smart school softwares include functionalities of an ERP and LMS making it

really simple for any school to run and maintain processes.

Schools now have the option of storing all their data on the cloud and stop
worrying about lost data and the time consumed to retrieve it.

CONCLUSION
In summary, students in teacher education get the best feedback on their teaching and
have access to learning tools that put the most important skills in the 21st century within
reach. Students may learn and practice in different multimedia learning environments,
and learn and teach different teaching methods (e.g. e-problem-based learning,

collaborative learning). Flexible furniture and technology also create a perfect

environment for students to obtain the skills they will need in real-life knowledge-based
digital world. Smart schools should provide effective tools for students and teachers, and
prepares students to enter and successfully compete in the ever-expanding high-tech
global marketplace.Smart Schools programme is a laudable effort by the MOE to bring
about change in our schools.Innovations of this nature are not without difficulties and
critics will claim that the technologies can only be a solution if attention is also paid to
the other issues such as teacher preparedness, curriculum and content as well as local
autonomy in the way teachers can use the technologies to enhance the quality of the
learning environment. Integration of ICT can promote significant changes in the practices
of teaching and learning and can have benefits for students who are underachieving in
school or are disaffected or excluded by school.