What is Smart School?

     The Smart School is an educational institution with emphasis on thinking-enabled learning, student-centered, using technology and multimedia wisely, applying teaching-learning strategies appropriately and effective school management in order to create a meaningful as well as effective schooling and learning environment.

     To jump-start the establishment of smart schools, the Ministry of Education appointed the Telekom Smart School consortium to design, develop and prepare a smart school solution package. The smart school solution package includes ICT-enabled learning courseware for Bahasa Malaysia, English, Science and Mathematics. The first series of courseware was used in 90 primary and secondary smart schools in 2000. Presently, the whole courseware package has been distributed to all Smart Schools in Malaysia.

    The Smart School Projects is one of the Flagship Applications of the Multimedia Super Corridor. This school is created based on several objectives based on Malaysia’s National Philosophy of Education. The objectives are as follows:

1. To produce a thinking and technology-literate workforce. It means, our government would like to have young generations who have ability to think creatively and critically.
2. To democratize education.
3. To increase participation of stakeholders.
4. To provide all-round development of the individual.
5. To provide opportunities to enhance individual strengths and abilities.

     The efforts made by our government should be appreciated but at the same time, there are several barriers found in implementing technology use in Smart School.
1. Computer Problems.
The number of computers is limited and some of the computers are old-fashioned. The teachers always complain about this matter and sometimes, this situation hampers the teaching and learning process? Can we afford to lose hours in order to overcome this problem? Let’s think about it.

2. Internet Problems.

Smart School requires a high speed internet connection and some of the students complained about the condition of the internet connection in Smart School. Sometimes, ‘it was fast’, ‘it was so slow’ and even worst ‘it jammed’. What would happen if there is no electricity? How can the students use the computer? Next question is; what would happen if there are thunderstorms? Of course, the teachers will instruct the students to turn off the computer for their own safety later.

3. Time constraints and time consumption
The students only have 1 hour and 10 minutes to use a computer in school. The teachers must be there at least 10 minutes earlier in order to make sure everything in prepared to be used in the classroom. The students always take their own sweet time to move from one class to another class. These scenarios consume a lot of time and of course, it wastes the teacher as well as the students’ time.

Apart from these three, what are the other problems in terms of implementation technology use in Smart School? What are the recommendations in order to overcome these barriers?