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0 Smart School

Early in our age, the time where we will enter a whole new world; the formal education
world, we were so happy and eager to face it. A, B, C…,1, 2, 3… Starting from kindergarten, we
learn and learn until the time passed. Basically, the formal education will end in university as we
had faced primary and secondary school. But, we must always remember, learning process has
no time limit.

In order to build a very conducive and effective educational systems, the ministry had
took a lots of initiative to make sure the educational systems are relevant and will give maximum
impact to the students, society, religion and country. As time passed by, variety of transformation
occur in our educational systems including the base of education, the syllabus and also the
method of teaching.

Based on the nation’s drive that is to fulfill Vision 2020, Malaysia intends to transform
the educational system as the age had change to technology age. The ministry had taken the
initiative to create new brand and type of school; introducing… the Smart School. Smart School
was conceptualized by Ministry of Education in 1996, under leadership of the then Chief
Director of Education, Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Wan Zahid Wan Mohamed. Smart School is 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. It also equips the
student to be life-long learners. This is due to the Vision 2020 that focus for sustained,
productivity-driven growth which can be achieve only by technologically literates and critically
thinking work force prepared to involve entirely in the global economy of 21st century.

Smart School has its own qualities in order to give more holistic outcomes and products.
These qualities include the philosophy that says all students can learn if taught, coupled with
high expectations for all students. It also has a broad curriculum that concern on the different
capabilities and needs of all students. Besides, the school atmosphere is very conducive for
learning process and it involve an on-going assessment that will give better instruction. Smart
School also provides strong and professional principals and teachers which will then contributes

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in the success of the school. In giving the support, a high level parents and community also
involve.

2.0 The Differences Between Smart School and Normal National School

Smart school and normal national school have the differences. We can see the differences
if we take a look at the characteristics and components contain inside. As we know, smart school
has more focus on the technology usage in all aspect including teaching technique and the
management systems. The smart school teaching and learning environment will be shaped in
four main areas, which each will be the main elements of smart school. The elements involve are
curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and teaching materials.

In Smart School, the curriculum is designed to help students to achieve overall and
balanced development. It includes the variety aspect in life such as communication, cognitive,
affective or emotional and physical or social. These kinds of aspects are very important and
useful in having a real perfect life and the same time, to have better future. The curriculum
considers the integration of knowledge, skills, value, correct use of language and attitudes
suitable for the Information Age. The students will be ensured to have equal access to quality
learning and will be allowed for self- paced learning across grade. The learning outcomes are
intended to explicitly state for the different levels of ability. By this method, the students are
exposed with critical and creative thinking skills in solving problems, rich in values and having
holistic learning promoted. So, they will build variety capabilities and interest in them that can
be used in facing future life.

As to have balance in all learning process, the focus is not only for the curriculum but
also include the co-curriculum. Smart School co-curriculum programmed will involve the
activities that can reinforce classroom learning and also cultivate the concepts of schooling fun
and interesting activities that give moral input such as community services, cultural activities,
religious activities, uniformed body activities, subject related activities, social activities,

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recreational activities, sports and games. This is because students not only need academic, but
they also need these kinds of activities to give them valuable experiences and skills.

The pedagogy involves in Smart School is the appropriate mix of learning strategies to
ensure mastery of basic competencies and promotion of holistic development. It is not the
examination based orientation. It gives the encouragement of learning activities to promote
creativity and experimentation with content independent subjects while maintaining sufficient
rigout in content dependent subject. This mean, the overall learning process is towards student-
centered learning activities with increase in age and maturity which will then allow the student to
show their real performances. The classroom atmosphere is compatible and suitable with
different and variety teaching-learning strategies. This style of learning will be more interesting,
motivating, stimulating and meaningful for students. So students will not feel bored in class.
Their mind, spirit and body will involve fully in the learning process. Therefore, maximum
knowledge can be absorbed by students.

The other component is the assessment for the student. Assessment is very important in
order to know how the understanding of a student about the topic taught by teacher. In Smart
School, the assessment involves a significant departure from traditional assessment systems. The
method used is a holistic approach, involving all aspect and not only focus in the achievement in
examination. It is also an element-based and criterion-referenced type of assessment. The
assessments also use the method of learner-centered which allows students to participate fully in
the learning process. As the usage of technology is very important, the assessment is handle by
on-line and will be conducted in various forms. Most important, it is an on- going assessment, so
teacher can get to know the development of the student entirely. These methods can assure the
quality of a student as students will learn throughout the year, not only learn for examination.
The teaching time will also becomes more flexible and learner- friendly. Besides, teacher can get
a clearer picture of student’s achievement, readiness, progress, attitude, and learning style. At the
same time the National Philosophy of Education can be fulfilled. A student which has a very
high quality and credibility can be born.

In the other hands, teaching materials is also one of the important components that exist
in Smart School. A good teaching material will gives a good result in student’s performances.
The Smart School teaching material involves the material that meets the circular and
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instructional needs. All the contents are up-to date, accurate and relevant to be used. Besides, the
teaching material is also cosmetically and technically adequate. This involves the quality of the
material used which are in high quality in all types such as video, graphic, audio, layout,
animation, color, font and so on. This is so important to give clear and comprehensive teaching.
The method will also involve the usage of technology such as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
Projector, computer and also internet. In order to make sure the instrument used will functioning
perfectly and make the teaching process become smooth, the instrument provided is user-friendly
that will come with manual and guides. Teachers are encouraged to learn about handling these
kinds of instrument. The teaching material is also made to give cognitively challenge for student
that can attract and motivate them to learn and give active participation. The material will
combine the best of network-based, teacher-based and also coursework material. So, students
will get wider information in their lessons as the material accommodates different of student’s
needs abilities which will then increasing the student’s capabilities. Furthermore, the students
will take the responsibility for managing and directing their own learning. The teaching material
is also based on the high quality sources including internet, edunet and classified printed
directory.

3.0 The Goals And The Objective Of The Smart School.

3.1 Goals

Provide all-around development of individual (intellectual, physical, emotional, and

spiritual). To build the IPES element in every school student, government by Ministry Of
Education should provide abroad curriculum for all students. The element of this curriculum
must be included with all-rounded aspect including technology based, human capital
development and towering personality of highly capable individual. Teacher also needs to teach
value and languages across curriculum. From this learning, student can learn something new and
provide high thinking skill to them. Consequently, it can emphasis their thinking skill.

To provide opportunities to enhance individual strength and abilities. To enhance

individual skill, the effective and consistency method must be doing to support this development
among student. Provide electives in the curriculum, by providing more electives subject like
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information technology, agronomy, engineering, economic and others. Teacher also can allow
for vertical integration (virtue express class), toward their student. It also help to promote critical
thinking in the classroom, processes such as group investigation and jigsaw groups promoted
open-ended, cooperative learning. Making real-life issues and problems that they could research
and discuss with a clear statement of expected outcomes and a sample helped. Daily journal
writing was a tool to gradually improve writing skills.

To increase participation of the stakeholder. Stakeholder are most important role in order
to maintain the successfully of school development. This can be doing by creating awareness of
what happened in schools. Other than that, this role actually can contribute toward parent role in
school. This can be seen by parent’s involve in parent and teacher society or PIBG. In addition, it
will enable easy and speedy communication with the school using technology. In this way,
parent can observe their child development in school especially in their study progress. It also
can provide opportunities for stakeholder (e.g. parent, community) to participate in school
programmed.

Democratise education. This principle can be said by provide equal access to learning
opportunities. That mean a disable and handicap student will enjoy their learning as normal
student with same facilities in the school. By provide different abilities, style and pace of
learning, student will more understand in their learning and make the learning process will be
more easily.

Produce a thinking and technology-literate workforce. Teacher plays an important role to

teach thinking across the curriculum toward their student. Properly designed, learning materials
inspired by modern technology and delivered by modern technology add value to a teaching
environment in which contact hours are limited. But balancing between the potential of
technology and the careful grooming and attention students sometimes require is critical.
Technologically inspired teaching materials should create a “cognitive apprenticeship” and use
story telling to convey messages in powerful, attention-getting ways. They should help develop
underlying thought processes such as critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving.
Technology can do other things as well. New materials delivered via the Internet that help with
the repetition necessary for developing reading, writing, and listening in English can eliminate
drudgery for educators and can be entertaining.
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3.2 Objective

The objective of Smart Scholl is as one step jumpstart toward the MSC. It also one step
doing by Malaysian Government through their planning to transform education system to highly
achievement in curriculum and co-curriculum and be in same stage with highly achievement
country in this sector like United States, Japan, and Britain.

To prepare the citizens for information age through an innovative education delivery
process. Building knowledge based economy are important value to produce the citizen that own
very high thinking skill. It also contributing to the growth of the ICT industry by developing new
method and techniques of creating new ideas and concept about developing of technology and
from that it can creating a pool of talent resulting a high value job creation.

4.0 The roles played by the teacher, student and parent to achieve the goals and the
objective of the smart school.

4.1 Teacher

The Planning and the preparation of learning activities.

A good teacher should know how to organize content and how to translate into activities
and exercise in the classroom. In order to complete this objective, teacher should know how to
designing instructional material and resources and assessing student learning in the classroom.
Designing instructional material is the most important step for teacher to start teaching in the
classroom. Instruction represents the methods teacher use to present the content to students.
States and districts identify effective instructional practices and purchase instructional material.
In the classroom, teacher will faced many different characteristic and abilities of student. This
kind of student can be classifies as the diverse learner. Meeting the diverse learning needs of
students can be a challenge for teachers. Designing effective lesson plans is the best course of
action to meet this challenge (Kaméenui & Simmons, 1999). Many of this student will need
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accommodation that are documented in their Individual Education Plan (IEP). This
accommodation did not alter the content or the intended outcome of instruction (Beech, 1999).
They are adjustments in how information is presented or the way the student responds.Teacher
may find it easier to incorporate the accommodations as there are developing lesson plans rather
than waiting until the end. Often the accommodations needed by one student will benefit other
learners in their class.

Assessing student learning is the process where the teacher gather information and make
decision about how well their student have learn about the skill and concept in their lesson. This
assessment are important to help teacher know their student learn and how effective their lesson
in the class. Aligning the assessment procedures with the learning objective and activities
maintains the focus of the lesson. It will make it easier to communicate with students about
expectations for the lesson. This data can be used to provide information about changes that can
be made to strengthen thier lesson. It will also provide information about skill areas in need of
further instruction and practice for individual students.

Do assessment by the teacher are same with making an instruction, when it deeply
involve students in the making process. The principles of assessment for learning (Chappuis,
Stiggins, Arter, and Chappuis, 2003) can help make testing look more like teaching. Some
examples of what teachers can do when applying those principles and involving students in the
assessment process include, keep students connected to a vision of quality as the learning
unfolds, continually defining for students the learning expectations; Use daily strategies in the
classroom that require students to think about their own progress, communicate their own
understanding of what they have learned, and set goals to close the gap between where they are
now relative to the intended learning and where they need to be in order to meet standards;
Provide students descriptive feedback linked directly to the intended learning, giving them
insight about current strengths and on how to do better next time, rather than evaluative feedback
consisting only of marks and letter grades; Engage students in activities that teach the skills of
self-assessment, helping them collect evidence of their own progress; Gather accurate
information about student achievement on a regular basis in the classroom using high-quality,
accurate assessments for learning (Stiggins, Arter, Chappuis, and Chappuis, 2004).

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Managing a technology enriched environment.

Teacher need to know how to delineate the kind of classroom interactive that establish a
comfortable and respectful classroom environment needed to promote a culture for learning. By
doing this, teacher should have the skill and knowledge to managing classroom procedures and
able to create an environment of respect and support in the classroom. Managing classroom
procedures is the process that includes the classroom agreement, classroom cues, home base
seating, moving into group, material distribution and turn in and anchor activities.

Creating an environment of respect and support contain two basic approaches, teacher
interaction with student and student interaction. For teacher interaction with the student, the main
objective to be aim is teacher can demonstrate genuine caring and respect for individual student
and student can exhibit respect for the teacher as an individual beyond that for the role. For
student interaction, the aim is student can demonstrate guanine caring for one another as
individual and student.

Delivering effective instruction

Teacher should know the method how to outline the ways in which teacher should
organize and present the content and the role to assume and encouraging their student to take
change of their own learning. In this ways, teacher should know how to facilitating student in
cognitively stimulating activities and utilizing technology for effective instruction. To facilitating
student in cognitive way, teacher should know how to perform it as stimulating activities. In
order to do this, teacher should understand the basic principle of cognitive. Cognitive principle is
how information is stored, retrieved, and represented (Atkinson and Shiffin, 1969), it also a point
to the important of helping student develop well through the connected knowledge structure. In
other word, this stimulating activite can be assume as interactive activities, mean that student in
the classroom will undergoes interactive experience in applying has been learned should be, to
the greatest extent possible, presented in realistic content. When carefully designed, quizzes and
interactive exercises can provide unique and valuable opportunities for learning through

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exploration and discovery. The key to this enhanced type of performance testing in incorporating
student-centered activities involving manipulating of object to solve problem (i.e., working
directly with the content rather than answering factual questions that only require rote learning).
Problem centered learning help to instill learning experiences that are intrinsically rewarding,
relevant, and enjoyable for the student (Wilson, Jonassen, & Cole 1995).

Utilizing technology for effective instruction can help teacher perform well in the
classroom and deliver their lesson effectively. Properly designed, learning materials inspired by
modern technology and delivered by modern technology add value to a teaching environment in
which contact hours are limited. But balancing between the potential of technology and the
careful grooming and attention students sometimes require is critical. Technologically inspired
teaching materials should create a “cognitive apprenticeship” and use story telling to convey
messages in powerful, attention-getting ways. They should help develop underlying thought
processes such as critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving. Technology can do other
things as well. New materials delivered via the Internet that help with the repetition necessary for
developing reading, writing, and listening in English can eliminate drudgery for educators and
can be entertaining toward student in the classroom

Handling professional task.

Teacher should spell out a wide range of roles associated with being an educator. These
responsibilities range from self reflection, the maintenance of records and other paperwork as
well as interaction with the families of students and the larger community. To enhance this,
teacher should know communicating skill with colleagues and parent and selecting use of
effective technology –based resources.

4.2 Parent

Parent plays an important role as personal charge of children’s. To be the personal

charge, parents should learn experiences monitor children’s progress guide, motivate and counsel

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children. Other than that they also need to support all school activities. Parent also plays a role as
resource persons and they are experts in their own area.

To aim these roles, there a few skill and knowledge should be learned by a parent. There
is ability to access school public domain database, ability to counsel and motivate their children,
and ability to understand educational process. When parent are completely master in these
ability, they will enjoy and utilise the ready access to school and relevant school information to
forge a close relationship with the teachers and the staff. This relationship will enriched the
children’s educational experience because their parent participant in school. Consequently,
parent will always informed and made to feel they are part of the school community will readily
contribute cash, materials or services to help initiate projects that will enhance their children’s
learning experience. If this were to happen on a large scale, the government’s financial
responsibilities will be eased so that resources could be directed to schools in poorer localities.

They also play a critical role in delivering education and developing balanced and holistic
students. There is a need to increase the participation of parents in educational processes such as
in teaching-learning, development of educational materials, assessment, etc. These will make a
student’s learning opportunities stretch beyond the classrooms. Parents also can be educational
resources, and in the process benefit themselves as their own learning needs become a life-long
endeavor. Research has also shown that children are more successful in school when parents are
involved in their education. The roles and responsibilities of Smart School parents must be
widely acknowledged and accepted, in order to create significant buy-in for parents to assume a
much stronger role in the Smart School education process. There are a number of strategies that
can be adopted to increase the participation of Smart School parents both in the delivery of
education as well as in the supervision of children outside of school.

4.3 Student

To achieve the role of Smart School, student need to reap the benefits of self-paced
learning, learning away from school and making learning a creative and enjoyable experience.
Student should take this opportunities to provide themselves with knowledge and all other
material that being teaching in the school. By making learning creative and enjoyable, the
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adaptation of the subject toward themselves will be easier and making learning process in easy
for them.

5.0 The Knowledge and Skills of the Teacher Needed

Teachers play an important role in order to make sure the Smart School initiative will be
held smoothly and at last will end with flying colors. To make the dream come true, teachers
must be equipped with the knowledge and skills related to the teaching process. As the Smart
School environment is full of technology usage, teacher should be exposed with the technology
information and knowledge. Teachers need an intensive training on information technology skills
and technology integration into classroom instructions to encourage the thinking and creativity of
the students. Teacher should not fear to use the technology and must realize that change is
needed to face the millennium era. Teacher have to utilizing the technology for effective
instruction as the technology will help a lots on better understanding especially for the topic
involving imaginations.

A comprehensive teacher education for best practice in technology supported learning

will be critical to the success of the Smart School initiative. Teacher need to have a continuous
learning to keep abreast of development in their professional practices and to be confident with
technology. Teachers can also trying to improve their skills by exploring the technology world
on their own. If they are no idea at all in operating the technology stuff, they can join any course
that provides the lesson related to it.

Teacher should also capable in creating environment of respect and support. This can
make the students to involve in the learning process without any fear and feeling of humble.
Students will have the lesson in a happy and conducive atmosphere as the teacher and other
student keep on supporting them. To get better result, teacher should show good attitude and
example to the students, so they will give full cooperation to the teacher.

In order to give the students wider information, teacher must be good in selecting the
effective resources. The usage of internet and other technology facility should be taken as and
advantages. The information searching process will be easier and teacher can make the

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comparison for all the information earned to select the best and trusted one. Teacher also can go
beyond portal usage for using application such as planning and scheduling of lesson online. This
can make the work accomplish in more systematic ways.

On the other hand, teacher should have the skills in assessing student learning and
managing the classroom procedure. Assessing is important to let teacher know the capability of
the students, so teacher can create their own lesson planning to improve the student’s
achievement and performances. Teacher must strive for continuous education even if the student
decided to pursue for non-academic career such as athlete or singer. The student will be more
confident as the teacher try very hard to make them understand a subject. As the result, they will
give their best effort in improving their performances. So, the learning process becomes more
effective as the achievement of student increase.

As the teacher becomes one of the important people in implementing Smart School,
teacher should be the one who are familiar with the technology and skills related. A paradigm
change should be taken in order to achieve a great success. Nothing is impossible in the world.
Most important is to try and give full commitment, focus and effort. Then just wait for the
success in future. Believe it or not? It depends on you- the teacher.

6.0 Issues Related To Smart School Implementation

Since 1999, the educational world and system having some improvement after the
implementation of smart school in the chosen school all over Malaysia. Smart school is hoped to
be the platform in order to build the development of the students in all aspect. The goal in fulfill
the Vision 2020 is also hoped to be helped by the implementation of smart school. Until 2008,
there are 88 apprentice school of smart school that had been chosen. The school was choosing
based on criteria needed.

In the early stage of the smart school implementation, many of people give wrong
perception about smart school. Most of them expect that smart school is only for the students that
have good qualification and excellent academic result. Some of them think that smart school is
the chosen school for gaining 100 percents excellent result in academic. It is true as all school in

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the world especially Malaysia hope for the same; students get excellent result. Smart school is
not a school to place and assemble the clever and excellent students all over Malaysia. Instead,
the objective is on upgrading the school for the technology equipment to let the students learn in
a sophisticated and modern environment. This is due to the world of information age that exists
in this period. But, for the smart school that was originally a science or boarding schools that
need the students who are excellent as based on the school policy.

In order to play the role in spreading the information about the exact functions of smart
school, a lot of initiative had been taken. For example, Multimedia Development Corporation –
Perbadanan Pembangunan Multimedia (MDeC) had organized the tour to a few smart schools in
Sarawak to observe the development of the school after implementing smart school. Based on
the visit, they found that the school use the technology provided wisely. Teachers apply it in their
work such as using software of “PowerPoint” and interactive whiteboard in presenting their
teaching. Students use the facilities of internet to search for extra information in their lesson.

However, there are a few problems for the school to face. The numbers of computer are
limited and are not enough if being used in the same period. They have to give the priority to the
students who will face examination such as PMR ( Penilaian Menengah Rendah) or SPM ( Sijil
Pelajaran Malaysia). Besides, the electricity is often stopped. When the electricity managed to be
link again, it will gives problem to the equipment as the electricity over provided, the equipment
such as computer will be broken. But, as the visit was done, the solution will be taken.

Based on the success in implementing stabilization as the benchmarking smart school

2006 and 2008, Ministry of Education in collaborating with MDec make the model that helped to
implement smart school for rural area. They focus on 50 schools around rural area in Malaysia.
For the starting stage, 15 schools will be chosen as smart school. It is targeted that in the end of
2010, 10 000 of schools are upgraded. They also target for 500 schools will get 5 stars and the
rest will get at least 3 stars. So, in order to achieve that goal, a campaign was launched that is the
“ Senang Dengan ICT” ( easy with ICT) campaign. This campaign gives the information in detail
about ICT and its benefits. It encourages people to involve in ICT world.

On the other hand, in 14 Mac 2008, Malaysia be the host of the meeting of Southeast
Asian Minister of Education Organization (SEAMO) and the Commonwealth Ministry of

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Education Conference in 2009. From the event, Malaysia gets the feedback and opinion about
implementing smart school. Besides, ministry also gets the input, responses and criticizes from
the International Smart School Conference, experience from other country and by forum. Some
of the feedback is to ensure the basic infrastructure is provided sufficiently and in a good
condition such as for the electricity sources and the suitable systems. So, the goal in achieving
success in educational field will be realized.

6.0 Refferences

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/liquid_crystal_display

http://www.cpt.fsu.edu/ese/pdf/dsin/ssn.pdf

http://www.msc.com.my/smartschool/downloads/blueprint.pdf

http://www.msc.com.my/smartschool/downloads/roadmap.pdf

http://www.scarsdaleschool.org/mathsymposium/managingthedifferentalclassroom_

handout.pdf

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13969386/creative-teaching-technique-and-the-concept-of-
smart-school

http://www.theptc.org/institute/assignment/09/acessprep09.pdf

http://202.190.126.84/utusan/info.asp?y=2008&dt=0828&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=S
ains_%26_Teknologi&pg=st_01.htm

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