Department of Biology

Faculty of Science and Mathematics

Sultan Idris Education University

SBI3013
Information and Communication Technology in Biology

The Smart School in Malaysia

Prepared by:

Bil. Name No. Matrix Group

1. NURUL SHATIRAH BT ABD MANAB D20162075571 B
2. AYUNI NADRAH BT KAMARUJAMAN D20162075551 B

Lecturer: Dr Azmi bin Ibrahim

Date submit: 7 March 2017

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CONTENTS

Introduction..1

Objective..2

The Smart School Component.2

The Smart School Issues and Challenges5

Conclusion...8

Reference.8

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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. Early in 1996, the Ministry of Education was involved in
intense discussion about Smart Schools: The Concept and Its Implications on the Malaysian
Education System. By late 1996, the Smart School had become one of the seven flagship
applications of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC). In January 1997, the Ministry of
Education conceptualized the vision of the Malaysian Smart School in the document Smart
Schools in Malaysia: A Quantum Leap.

The purpose of Smart Schools in Malaysia is to introduce a new teaching-learning

practice by using technology platform as a medium in teaching and learning. Other than that, the
aim of Smart School is to prepare citizens for the information age with innovative education in
the future. So that Malaysian education is able to move forward and stand firm same level as
developed countries globally. As the generation passes, from years to years we can see the
successful of Smart Schools in Malaysia since it was established. However, in order to be
success there were a few challenges and issues that teaches, student and government faced.

Malaysia intends to transform its educational system, in line with and in support of the
nations drive to fulfil Vision 2020. This vision calls for sustained, productivity-driven growth,
which will be achievable only with a technologically literate, critically thinking work force
prepared to participate fully in the global economy of the 21st century. At the same time,
Malaysias 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.

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Objective

The Smart School is a learning institution that has been reinvented in terms of teaching
and learning methods and school administration system in order to prepare the students for the
Information Age. Creativity and better management of information is facilitated through the use
of technology where students, teachers, administrators and parents are better prepared for the
challenges of the Information Age. The objectives of the Smart School, which are based on
Malaysia's National Philosophy of Education, are to produce a thinking and technology-literate
workforce, democratize education, increase participation of stakeholders, and provide all-round
development of the individual and to provide opportunities to enhance individual strengths and
abilities.

Other than that, the Smart School also responsible in helping students achieve overall
balanced development which is to integrate knowledge, skills, values, and correct use of
language, to state explicitly intended learning outcomes for different ability levels, to offer
multidisciplinary, and continuous learning and to foster the knowledge, skills, and attitudes
appropriate for success in the Information Age.

The Smart School Component

The Smart School teaching and learning environment will be shaped in four main areas,
which are curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and teaching-learning material. Each of these point
will be a critical element in defining the overall teaching and learning experience for Smart
School children.

The Smart School Curriculum will be designed according to best practices of other
successful Smart Schools, incorporating elements that will enable the education system to
achieve the goals of the National Philosophy of Education which is specially designed to help
students achieve overall and balanced development, integration of knowledge, skills, values and
correct use of language across the curriculum, intended learning outcomes explicitly stated for
different levels of abilities, ensuring all students gain equal access to quality learning, and

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allowing for self-paced learning across grades. Other than that The Smart School Curriculum
also important in multidisciplinary, thematic, and continuous across learning areas and
integration of knowledge, skills, and attitudes suitable for the Information Age.

Pedagogy student-centered learning is one of the Smart School component. Its allow for
appropriate mix of learning strategies to ensure mastery of basic competencies and promotion of
holistic development, encouragement of learning activities to promote creativity and
experimentation with content-independent subjects while maintaining sufficient rigor in content
dependent subjects. Overall, trend towards student-centered learning activities will be increase in
age and maturity aspect. In another words, pedagogy also allowing for individual differences in
learning styles in boosting performance. The classroom atmosphere is compatible with different
teaching-learning strategies. Another key factor in choosing classroom environments is the need
to deal with diversity of skills, abilities, and enthusiasm levels in every group of students. A
growing body of research suggests that many students have learning styles that are not catered
for in traditional classroom environments.

The Smart School assessment system will involve a significant departure from traditional
assessment systems, which are holistic, element-based, criterion referenced, learner-centered,
online, conducted in various forms by using multiple approaches and instruments. The
assessment is designed to give accurate feedback of students readiness, progress, achievement
and aptitude especially in the class room. The holistic as it compiles not only the
accomplishment but also the preparedness, continuity, and the ability of student in learning
environment.

One of the assessment component which is holistic for The Smart School have play its
own role. Firstly, the preparedness is the ability of learners to have different experiences and
their levels of entry in certain learning area that need to be assessed wisely. Secondly, the student
continuity in achieving certain learning missions need to be well monitored and have to be
diagnosed to their force and feebleness as well. Different learners have different ability styles of
learning and multiple intelligences which really necessary to be identified. Other than that, smart
school assessment system has the element-based assessment that are focusing on the factor that
students possess develop through various area of studies such as communication which is the
aptitude to show ideas, social-emotional development that the ability to work collaboratively in a

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team, cognitive development that acts as quantities measurement and also the science and
technology which implements the hypothesis formulate.

The Smart School Teaching-Learning Material will be designed to fully support the new
teaching-learning strategies for Smart School which are cognitively challenging and motivating
by combining the best of network-based, teacher-based, and courseware materials. Basically the
materials used will have curricular and instructional needs, which is cost effective, as well as
cosmetically and technically adequate. Besides that, teaching-learning material also cognitively
challenging, attractive, motivates students to learn, encourage active participation, and
combination the best of network-based teacher-based and coursework materials. The benefit are
accommodates student for different needs and abilities resulting in the fuller realisation of
students' capabilities and potential, student take responsibility for managing and directing their
own learning.

Conceptual selection and evaluation guidelines for teaching-learning materials will cover
five main criteria, which are cosmetic adequacy, technique adequacy, instruction adequacy, cost
effectiveness, and curriculum adequacy. Smart School teachers will be enabled, through the use
of technology, to consider students individual learning preferences in designing and
recommending instructional methods and materials because student have different learning styles
and they will need a variety of materials to maximize their learning potential. Today
conventional media, commonly used in educational settings, which still feature in Smart Schools.
They can be divided into three main categories, which is printed (paper based), 3D object and
audio/video. Conventional media will be used in an integrated manner with high-technology
media, like computer-based teaching-learning materials and software that fulfil the various needs
and capabilities of students. Teaching-learning materials will be acquired from a wide range of
sources, and will no longer be limited by resources within schools. In addition to libraries,
businesses, homes, government departments, other sources include edunet, internet and classified
printed directories.

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The Smart School Issues and Challenges

In implementation of smart school, managing resources wisely is the main emphasis

that should be given by the school administration. This is to make sure that schools and
infrastructure can well-organized. Smart school is one of Ministry of Education plans which the
goal is to realize the change in lesson content and method in delivery the content to the students
at the school. Thus, all the principals have responsibilities to change and renew the
administration and management of school system in order to ensure smart school approach is
successful. However, we cannot denied that there must be some challenges in smart school
implementation.

There are some of challenges faced since the inception of smart schools in Malaysia. The
challenges can divide to several categories which is principals, teachers, students and the school.
As a principal of a smart school, it must not be an easy duty as it was a big challenge to conduct
and organize his or her school well. Excellent and success of a school is heavily depend on the
effectiveness of principal. As the smart school is related to computing system, so the principal
has to emphasis and gives more commitment on provide technology infrastructure such as
laboratory, smart whiteboard and media mass material. It is quite challenging because the
principal has to plan the strategy wisely to ensure the procedure progress smoothly in order.

The second challenge for smart school principal is when there is problem to provide high
quality and relevant of teaching and learning materials for the students. Although there are
available packages but it only suitable for form1 students. The difficulty to obtain software for
form 4 students give trouble to the principal because the materials that provided by government
is not enough. In order to solve this problem, the school administration have to find the software
by searching from the other resources. The problem in obtain an original software also exist. The
principal also responsible to convince students parent so that they believe and give support to
the school and their children.

In line with the smart school mission and vision which is to produce students of IT savvy
the principal must complete himself or herself with technology knowledge and skills. Smart
school principals must have a good appearance in the both physical and mental, honesty,
selflessness, self-confidence and ability to communicate with others. Principals can use
collaborative management for the success of the smart school project. They are not only need to

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provide support in terms of money but also be a model and made transformation in
administration. In efforts to cultivate ICT culture in a smart school, a written policy document
should be drawn up. This policy will helps to design and manage the ICT program which enable
teachers and students become master in ICT systematically and progressive.

Beside the principal, teachers also have to face challenges in the implementation of smart
school. The teachers have to face the challenges with an open mind to make sure the smart
school can progress well and perfect. Teachers also must complete himself or herself with ICT
knowledge and skills. This is because teachers have a big responsible to teach and deliver
knowledge to the students. The teachers must be able to think creatively and critically. The
teachers need to use computer intensively in their study, presentations, teaching process and
communication to diversify the use and application of ICT.

As the teachers are using technology equipment and the infrastructure intensively
in teaching process, there must be a problem when the computers or equipment are damage or
unable to use. This problem may cause teaching process disrupted. Thus, this problem must be
solved quickly to ensure teaching and learning process progress smoothly. The best solution is
always keep in maintenance. However, the cost of maintenance is very high and this may
cause the repair and maintenance process delayed or take long time. The teachers have an
important role which is educate their students to master in using ICT. But the efforts in attract
students and fostering their interest to ICT is one of the smart school teachers challenges.

Another challenges for smart school teachers is they are not ready to change their
mindset. They are also not ready to achieve the objectives of smart school concept and learn new
ICT programmers. Besides, they are lack of exposure in how to use the technology. Thus, the
government have to overcome this problem by train the teachers to make sure that teaching and
learning process progress smoothly and effectively. The teachers themselves have to adapt with
the new concept of teaching and learning.

There is no exception for smart school students to face the challenges in implementation
of their smart school. For some of smart school students, they are not well informed about the
unique features of smart school. They also unfamiliar with technology and tools. This because
they come from non-academic family background. They preferred to learn in traditional method.
So, to overcome those students problems, the number of students in smart school has should be

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limited. Only among the excellent students can attend to smart school because the learning style
need a students who can explore by themselves to gain knowledge.

The smart school students actually should be ready to accept and adapt with the new
transformation of teaching and learning process. They should be prepared mentally and
physically so that they can accept the changes and make as initiative to improve their skills. It is
good if the exposure given by the teachers can help and increase the student interest in learning
process. In Smart School, most of student assessments are using a computer supported by an
internet. They have to learn how to gather information from the internet. Unfortunately some
student do not have an access to internet at home. The smart school students should ensure all
taught that given by the teachers is a useful knowledge. They need to give efforts to master at all.
For the sake of realize that, the smart school students should ready and understand what teachers
have taught. They must always practice and do revision continuously in order to become expert
in ICT.

The smart school itself have to face the challenges in implementation of smart school.
The smart school also lack of facilities. The computer labs not in adequate number. There are
also hardware problems related to LANs, PCs and servers. Furthermore, the breakdown of
electricity supply that may be happen also one of the challenges. This is due to inability of the
existing system in school to cope with the increase usage of electricity. Thus, the authorities
should play their roles in improving the management of smart school. Moreover, the smart
school software was not compatible with the national textbook. Thus, the school has to upgrade
the software in line with national text book. Each school need to have a system integration
engineer who has a broad range of skills including software and hardware engineering and
interface protocols.

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Conclusion

The Smart School initiative was launched in July 1997 as one of the seven flagships of
the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Malaysia. The transformation in the educational system,
was catalyzed by the technology-supported Smart Schools, entails changing school culture and
pedagogical practices. The memory-based learning designed for average students is replaced by
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 learning, while seeking more active participation by
parents and the wider community.

In essence, the Malaysian Smart School is defined as a learning institution that has been
systematically reinvented in terms of teaching-learning practices and school management in
order to prepare children for the Information Age. A Smart School will evolve over time,
continuously developing its professional staff, its educational resources, and its administrative
capabilities. This will allow the school to adapt to changing conditions, while continuing to
prepare students for life in the Information Age. The vision calls for sustained, productivity-
driven growth that will be achievable only with a scientifically and technologically literate,
critical thinking work force prepared to participate fully in the global economy for the 21st
century.

Reference

1. http://d20101037435.blogspot.my/p/2.html
2. http://nabilahyusof4683.blogspot.my/2010/10/smart-school-in-malaysia.html
3. https://www.slideshare.net/jusmanmuktar/malaysian-smart-school-15630532
4. https://www.slideshare.net/stellaooi543/smart-school-challenges-progress-29169702

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