Question 1 What is a smart school? Smart School is a Malaysian education system which learning institution that recostruct systematically teaching-learning and school management in order to prepared children for Information Age. Smart School had become one of the seven flagship of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) that will carry out in 2000. Early in 1996, the Ministry of Education was created laws of Smart School concept. There was teaching and learning based on creative thinking. Technology as a important component in Smart School concept when Smart Shcool project exist as one of aplication that are part of Malaysian Mutimedia Super Corridor (MSC). Learning institution of Smart School was created systemically reinvented in term of teaching and learning practice and school management in order to prepare student for Information Age. In the Information Age, a Smart School will evolve over time continuously developing its professional staff, education resources and its administrative capabilities to adapt to changing condition, while continuing to prepare student life. Teaching and learning process were included the process of curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and teaching-learning materials in a mutually reinforcing, coherent manner. The curriculum process will help student achieve overall balanced development and integrate knowledge, skills, values, and correct use of language. Then, Smart School pedagogy will seek to make learning more interesting, motivating, stimulating and meaningful. It is also involve the children mind, spirit and bodies in the learning process. The strategies in Smart School pedagogy were use an appropriate mix of learning strategies to ensure mastery of basic competencies and promote holistic development, accommodate individual different learning styles, so as to boost performance and foster a classroom atmosphere that is compatible with different teaching-learning strategies. Therefore, the benefit of Smart School assessment is teachers, students and parents will be able to access on-line assessment items. It will causes increasing of living certification, which not only attest to students cumulative accomplishments but will also be open to continued improvement on a lifetime basis. The new teaching strategies will need teaching-learning materials designed that will accommodate student differing needs and
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abilities. It is will lead students to take greater responsiblility for managing adn directing their own learning. Smart School management can be manage efficiently and effectively when the primary objective were correlation with the resources and processes that required to support the teaching-learning function. The Smart School management will need strong, professional administrators and teachers who can articulate school goals clearly, lead teaching at the school, and elicit strong parental and community support to fulfill its objective. Finally, Smart School is important in Malaysian education system in line with and in support of the nation drive to fulfil Vision 2020. At the same time, the individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonious can be well produce.
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Question 2 How is smart school differed from normal national school? Smart school had differ from national school based on their characteristics. The characteristics of Smart School does not have in normal national school characteristics. The characteristics of Smart Sschool were included in process of curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, teachinglearning material and school management in order to prepare student for Information Age. Curriculum Smart School curriculum will be designed to help student achieve overall and balanced developement. Student also have integration of knowledge, skills, values, correct use of laguage and attitudes suitable across the curriculum for the Information Age. Learning outcomes was intended explicity stated for different abilities, ensuring all students gain equal access to quality learning, and allowing for self-paced leaning across grades. Pedagogy The process in Smart School pedagogy involves specific learning goals like active learning process where learner constructs meaning continously. But, compare with normal nation school pedagogy there are not involve specific learning goals. This process of pedagogy of learning goals to ensure mastery of basic comperencies and promotion of
holistic
development by encourangement of learning activities to promote creativity and experimentation with content. The classroom atsmosphere of Smart School also different with normal national school. The classroom atmospere is compatible with different teaching-learning strategies. factor in choosing classroom environments is the need to deal with diversity of skills, abilities, and enthusiasm levels in every group of students. Some students prefer to move around while thinking about problems, but some students should be provided with additional materials that they can pursue without disturbing the class while others finish exercises. So that, diversity in students, teachers should make a point to include a variety of different types of lessons and learning experience and students’ learning styles can be helpful in managing diversity of motivation and ability in the classroom.
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Assessment The enclosure of assessment in Smart School is holistic in that it covers achievement, readiness, progress and aptitude. The achievement means that assessing the achievement of each intended learning outcome in a learning area is necessary to indicate whether the learner is ready to move on to the next area. Then, readiness is a learners have different experiences and their levels of entry in certain learning areas need to be assessed and progress is the student’s progress in achieving certain learning objectives need to be monitored. Student strengths and weaknesses also need to be diagnosed. Furthermore, aplitude a learners’ different styles of learning and multiple intelligences have to be recognised. The assessment also in the form of on-line means that the items for smart assessment will be stored in a computerised item bank and be made available to users on terminals through networking that are called on-line assessment. Assessment is part of the teaching and learning process, and must be on-going in nature. So, certification is a “living” process in harmony with the nature of assessment. It is very different with assessment normal national school that does not have on-line assessment. Teaching-learning materials The new teaching-learning strategies for Smart School will fully support by new quality materials. The component of quality that meets curricular and instructional needs, is cost effective, as well as cosmetically and technically adequate are cosmetic adequency like graphic and video quality, technical adequancy, instruction adequancy, cost effectiveness and curriculum adequecy. Through the uses of technology, Smart School teacher will enable to consider students individual learning preference in designing and recommending instructional method and material such as completely in cognitvey challenging, attractive, motivates students to learn and encourages active participation. The teaching-learning material and sources are that uses edunet, internet and classified printed directories. There is very more different with normal national school teaching-learning material that the teachers only use chalk and talk that rather than using technology as a teaching material.
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Smart School Management System The pimary objective of smart school management system to efficiently and effectively manage the resourses and process required to support the teaching and learning function. Smart School managemment system have nine pimary function are technology, security, school governance, student affairs, educational resources, external resourses, facilities, human resourses and financial management. The characteristic of Smart School is very different with normal national school. The characteristic of school governance is empowering rapid relay of relevant information to and from all stakeholders and manages curriculum so that it is appropriate to the local teaching and learning environment. It is also involve communication, school policy, making, curriculum, management, community and involvement. Student affair means that student profiles, performance, evaluations, test administration, counseling, health, insurance and others will give advantage like ease of registration for students, parents and administrators and ability to effectively and efficiently manage attendance and respond to problem situations. The characteristics of student affair is comprehensive Student Record System for the storage, retrieval and reporting of all student data so that student data available on-line to those who need it and when they need it just on restricted access. There is more benefit in characteristics of education resources are comprehensive resource database including audio and video for quick and easy access by teachers and students that will reduces cost of managing resource information. While, external resource characteristics is comprehensive database designed to help index all external resources useful for teaching-learning and management activities. So that, all characteristics of Smart School management is very different with normal national school.
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Question 3 What are the goals and objectives of smart school? The goals and objectives of Smart School contain five important agenda that need to be fulfil which is provide all-round development of the individual (intellectual, physical, emotional,spiritual), provide opportunities to enhance individual strengths and abilities, produce a thinking and technology literate workforce, democratise education and increase participation of stakeholders. One of
the goals is to provide all-round development of the individual like
intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual. Intellectual or cognitive is focus on acquiring knowledge. It is also focus on searching, generating, and using knowledge with an emphasis on problem-solving and creativity. Then, about the physical its instil social responsibility and consciousness of health and environmental issues. In that cases, it will causes emphasise a global orientation and inculcate work place skills and attitudes. Emotional and spiritual are one of the subpoint for the goals of smart school that instil moral and religious values and causes emphasise adaptability, team-player characteristics, emotional balance and emotional intelligence. Moreover, communication skill is also important for student that more effective oral and written communication in Malay and English as a second laguages. Its also emphasise multiple, interpersonal skill and networking. Through the another goals are to provide opportunities to enhance individual strengths and abilities. The strategies of this goal, are to provide elective in the curriculum and allow for vertical integration. The vertical integration means that grade levels students for all subject in the school curriculum. Curriculum design for smart schools will incorporate element of vertical integration that to allow high fliers to surf through their schooling years, without being kept apart from their peers in virtual express classes. Therefore, the another goals are to produce a thinking and technology-literate workforce and the strategies are teach thinking accross the curriculum and apply technology in teaching and learning. In the smart school, the use of technology like internet as a teachinglearning material is the best way to produce children who are have different learning style than another school. 6
The forth goals of the Smart School Project is democratise education. The first strategies is the Smart School programme provide equal access to learning opportunities which we can see that in the Smart School Curriculum that can enable students to have holistic learning that the curriculum gives appropriate emphasis to all significant aspect of growth and all the types of human intelligence, helping students see the connection between the separate subjects. Plus the uses of technology as one delivery system, examines the influence on students live, and gives students the skills they need to use technology such as internet to get more information. Students can use all their local environment in school for enhance their learning process such as through edunet and internet. Besides the Smart School project have combines the best of network-based, teacher-based and courseware material such as modules for computer that includes interactive story books and simulation games that students can access to gain knowledge. Its also provide video, interactive TV and online library for student so that the can refer to collect more information. The second strategies is to provide for differing abilities, style and paces of learning. The teachers have to ensure the students gain equal access to quality learning and allowing for self-paced learning across grades. For example, teachers have to intend learning outcomes step by step so that the students can catch up. There are students that are highly motivated and prefer to work by themselves than in group so the guideline that already provide in Smart School programme is the student often classified to learn in a small group then a big group to enhance their learning process. To accommodate the variety in students, teachers should make a move to include different types of lesson and learning experience beside making use students learning style in managing their motivation and ability in the classroom. The last goals of the Smart School Project is increase the participation of stakeholders. This goals involve a few strategies that can be done to fulfil the goal which is to create awareness of what happens in schools. All the stakeholders must know their responsibilities and give feed back so that the Smart School project can be know whether it is working or not. The participation of the five group of stakeholders such as school stakeholders, community stakeholders, MoE stakeholders, state stakeholders, and industry stakeholders will allowing the exchange of experiences and ideas for smart school project. The second strategies is to enable easy and speedy communication with the school using technology. For example, the teachers can respond to electronic mail from students and
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parents so that communication occur very easy if one of them is busy to meet face to face. Besides the participation in a video conference to discuss discipline issue can help principals and Ministry of Education to monitor and take a serious action if discipline in that school were not reach the level. Plus the students progress record from the school database also make it easier in preparation for meeting with their parents regarding his achievement in class. The third strategies is to provide opportunities for stakeholders to participate in order to increase the participations of stakeholders. For parents to get involve in the smart school project they can join National campaign on parents in Smart School such as they can take a look at the flyers of Smart School Project and join the exhibition and forum to get better understanding on smart school. They also can participate in parent support group meeting every month to see the school and their children progress. Last but not least, they can launch the parents web site for each smart school so that the school and the parents side can change idea concerning about the smart school project.
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Question 4
Discuss the roles played by the teacher, student and parents in order to achieve the goals and objectives of smart school? There are several groups of stakeholders that play important role in order to ensure that the Smart School plan always in a good conditions. There are five stakeholders that are involve as the key to the success of Smart School which is school stakeholders, community stakeholders, MoE stakeholders, state stakeholders, and industry stakeholders. Now we will discuss the most important groups that will helps to achieve the goals and objectives of Smart School which is teachers, students and parents. Teachers and students were in the school stakeholders while parents are in group of the community stakeholders. Teachers, students and parents participations with full commitment are the source and major factor to fulfil the goals and objectives that already been listed in the Malaysian smart school programmed. As we all know there are five goals that have to be fulfil which is provide all around development of the individual, provide opportunities to enhance individual strength and abilities, increase participation of stakeholders, democratise education and produce a thinking and technology literate workforce. We will first look at the group of school stakeholders which is teacher. Teachers are the main source and primary deliver for students to refer in order to get information. The roles that can be played by teachers to accomplish the goals of smart school are they have to well planned and preparation of learning activities so that the student we enjoy in learning time either inside the classroom or outside the classroom. For example, teachers can do an internet searching on the topic that will discus in the next session of teaching. Next teacher should provide additional material that related to the topic so that students have lots of material to refer not just using textbooks and workbooks. Furthermore, teachers have to be ready in using visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning in order to make the learning more efficiently. Teachers also have to manage a technology enrich to the school environment which mean teachers have to allow student to explore the technology that can make the students to respect the knowledge not just for passing the examination but it can be use in a wide range
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that is an awareness of the students to a personal and a society gain. Teachers have to optimise the usage of the ICT facilities that can contribute to the students growth and development. Teachers can use e-mail to post new notes, online assessment, conduct a learning session using multimedia presentation and teacher and students and log on to internet so the student can browse information regarding to the topic that have been thought. If this can be done the students will have more self paced, self-accessed and self-directed learning without not only to the exam oriented but they can have flexible schedule. Next the role can be played by teachers is by delivering effective instruction so that the students can understand the topic easily. The good communication between teachers and students will allow effective acceptance from the students to the topics. Another role played that teachers can make is by handling professional tasks so that the teachers is highly ready to organize programme in order to enhance students knowledge. The second group in the school stakeholders is students. This pivotal group can make the Smart School goals can be achieve by explore the advantages of self-paced learning, learning away from school and making learning a creative and enjoyable experience. Students have to make extensive use of facilities that can help them learn in the school as well as away from it. In addition students must have lots of initiatives to works in group in order to solve the tasks that have been given by the teacher. Besides, students have to be more proactive in teaching learning process so the learning become student centred and the learning will be more effective. Plus, students have to process and manipulate information so that their critical thinking to reflect on what they have learned as well as apply the knowledge are good.
Next we move to the community stakeholders which is the parents are playing important role in helping to achieve the smart school goals. The parents should monitoring their children progress. In order to do this parents can e-mail their children class teacher to arrange for a conference to discuss their progress in school. In addition they have to guide, motivate and counsel their children to ensure that their children in school always bear in mind school is not only for making friends but school is the best place to develop theirselves in order to be a better person in future. Parents also can participate in school activities by knowing what the school activities plan for their children and they also can contribute by giving donation so that the school can
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have lot of programme to build up the children. Parents also can get involve in parents role in smart school conference so the school can get the feed back about the smart school. Last but not least parents should participate in counselling session on the concept and implementation of the Smart School project and to develop an awareness of parents to support and contribute to the development of their children multiple intelligence. Parents who kept informed and made to feel they are part of the school community will readily contribute cash, materials or services to help initiate project that will enhance their children learning experience. Research also said that the children’s educational experience will be enriched by the participation or their parents.
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Question 5
What are the knowledge and skills of a teacher in the new millennium, so as to play an effective role in smart school education?
A teacher in the millennium should have the knowledge of designed instruction in order to give more efficient in the learning process. They should make the classroom the best place to seek knowledge. Hence, it will create environment of respect and support between teacher and students. Moreover, teacher must have knowledge in assessing student learning. The scope of the assessment must be holistic that covers all aspect such as readiness, progress, achievement, and aptitude. Teachers must know how to asses in the classroom, school based assessment and centralized assessment. In addition, a teacher should have knowledge to facilitate students in cognitively stimulating activities. A teacher must facilitate and encourage students to participate in their own learning. Hence, this participating will increase the student’s soft skills. So that it will increase students confident and not become passive in class. A teacher must have knowledge to utilizing technology for effective teaching process. For example, in selecting materials for students. They should select the best materials for students from the technology such as internet. Lastly, a teacher must have inquiry knowledge. Teachers must concern towards their student. If a student weak in a certain subject, a teacher must have inquiry to help the student. They also must concern the feedback of their teaching. They must have inquiry to know how well they perform in teaching. It can see through how well their student progress. Plus teacher also should create an environment of respect and support. So that student can socialized in their group. Other knowledge or skill that teachers must have is in managing classroom procedure. In the long term, teachers will need to increase their skills regularly, if they wish to stay in their profession and remain confident as a dedicate teacher. The skills a teacher should have are ability to use technology for teaching. With help of technology it will help teachers to find and manage sources of teaching. For example, it easy for a teacher to access a
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student’s progress from time to time and also send email to their parents to inform student achievement and discipline in school. Furthermore, a teacher should have a good language skill. A teacher should master at least two languages which are English and Malay. With this it will help teaching and learning process. Moreover, a teacher should have good thinking skills. Their thinking should be more critical in order to improve their teaching process. They must be more innovative and creative in creating teaching process, so that, their student will be more excellent not just in paper but toward the family, society and country. They also must have good motivational skills. Nowadays, most teachers are lack motivational skills. This will create more discipline problems in school because least teacher can motivate and give advice to a certain students. Last but not least, teachers also have to play role as a facilitator to the students so that students can get proper guide. School is the second places which are students spend most of their time. Hence, teachers become the second person for them to ask advise and ask for help if they in trouble. For example, if a student give up in their study, teacher play important tasks in giving advice and encourage the student to be more eager to study and do not let the problem become the boundaries to success.
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Question 6 What are the impacts of technology change in Malaysian Smart Schools Due to the change of the era of information and technology, Malaysian Educational institutions also had changed. It can be proven by the existence of the Multimedia Super Corridor and the
smart school project by the Ministry of Education. Multimedia
Development Corporation (MDeC) is the organization that were chosen by the government to develop the ICT in Smart School project. Coping with the use of the computer in Smart Schools appeared to be the main feature of the change phenomenon in Smart Schools. In Smart Schools Project , the computers are widely used in teaching and learning also for school functions and activities. For example, teachers use the computer in teaching and learning by showing to the student how they can experience the dangerous experiment through the computer simulation experiment. Besides that, student also use the computer in extra curriculum activities such as for designing the school magazine. As a result, it will develop the student with good computer skill. With the establishment of the computer labs in smart school, somesubjects like Science, Mathematics English, and Malay are taught in the computer labs. Student can access the internet during this period in order to get information. Compared to chalk and talk learning, using the computer lab can make the learning process enjoyable because it contains lot of picture and also very informative. The Teaching and Learning Material (TLM) software and Smart Schools Management System (SSMS) also been used in smart school project. The software that were provided act as the tools for teachers giving knowledge to student and no need only to refer on textbook. The SSMS means the used of an internal networking system inside the school which enable the communication between teachers and student. Teachers and student got the access to connect to the internet to find information. The widely use of LCD projectors and overhead projectors (OHP) in Smart Schools also the prove of the impact of technology in smart school project. Teachers and students now have the access through ICT technology in school. Obviously the uses of the ICT technology in the smart school will enhance not the student skill and knowledge but also the teachers.
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