1. DISCUSSION
The Challengesof smartSchool
STUDENTS
Next, for the challenges in aspect of learners is that learners attitude. Nowadays, the students are
not too active or passive in teaching and learning process. They just listen to teachers and doing
nothing unless hoping fully to the teachers. Although teacher hold the responsibility of teaching
process and in relation to technology applications, the student should also play an active role in
determining the direction of their respective learning by virtue of the participation and
activities. The software that are created and designed to facilitate the students’ active, creative and
critical engagement with the content which can help enhance the active construction and
reconstruction of ideas and experiences of their understanding of the content presented. Smart
Schools will prepare the students to make a successful transition to the modern and more global
environment. The schools will nurture skills of creative problem-solving in the face of real
situations, and the students will learn to make a right decisions and holding the responsibility for
them. Besides that, students also learn how to process and manipulate information. They will
trained to think creatively and critically and to reflect on what they have learned, as well as to
transfer and apply knowledge from one disciplines to another and also to daily life. Hence,
students will need to be taught strategies to competently and selectively navigate for
information. Moreover, team effort, group collaboration, flexibility and competency in
international languages will be emphasized. In Malaysia, the Smart Schools will also incorporate
the innovative concept of the virtual express class. The current system stretches the weak students
and restricts the smartest. The technology in the Smart Schools will help provide the flexibility to
remove this stress in that system. This will allow fast learners to complete the coursework and
assessments sooner than the normal duration.
2. ADMINISTRATOR’S ROLE
Last but not least, the challenge that also we faced since the inception of Smart Schools in
Malaysia is a administrator’s role as effective managers. The successful implementation of Smart
School will be depend of school administration through the use of technology. This condition will
help improve efficiency, remove redundancies and improve access to all concerned. About the
issues involvement of parents, this are clearly seen nowadays. Most of parents are not really
involved in this projects. Most of them busy with their work so that they can upgrade their life
and provide the better environment to their children. Most of them think this Smart School
program is the work for government as well as teachers. Therefore, they just not too care about
their children participation in Smart School program. Networking will facilitate the involvement
of parents and the community in school programs making them effective partners in their
children’s education. Students and teachers welfare needs can be more effectively met with
constant monitoring. Moreover, with school management computerized and on-line, the principals
will be able to plan, manage and utilize both human and physical resources effectively.
Smart Schools will provide a golden opportunity for the Ministry of Education to
implement innovations to achieve the highest standards in education and become a global leader
in the field. Obviously there is a need to learn from successful existing and ongoing projects around
the world and then merge this learning with unique local requirements to create something that is
beyond and more advanced. The challenges ahead is a great one, but the rewards will be just as
great.
3. MANAGEMENT
The primaryobjective of SmartSchool managementwill be tomanage efficientlyandeffectively
the resourcesandprocessesrequiredtosupport the teaching-learningfunctions.Managementwill help
to reallocate skilledhumanresourcestomore valuable activities,save costsoverthe longterm, improve
the qualityof decisionsthroughbetteraccesstoinformation,andaccelerate decisionmaking.Tofulfilits
objectives,the SmartSchoolmanagementwillneedstrong,professionaladministratorsandteacherswho
can articulate school goalsclearly,leadteaching atthe school,and elicitstrongparental and community
support. They will need to maintain open communication with all constituencies, allocate resources
sensibly and equitably, track school performance against financial and non-financial objectives, and
provide a school environment that is conducive to learning. Further, they will need to develop and
maintain a happy, motivated and high-performing staff, ensure the security of the school and its
occupants, and use and manage technology appropriately, effectively, and efficiently.
CONCLUSION
The Smart School initiative can revolutionise learning in ways that are beyond our grasp
today. The Pilot and the Post-Pilot phases have helped in identifying weakness and corrective
steps have been identified to correct these and enhance the strength. Ensuring the successful
implementation of the nationwide expansion of the Smart School will require certain move such
as a long-term implementation plan for the period 2005-2020 will set performance targets that will
have to be met by the major players. The plan would have to get the approval and fully backing
of the government in terms of its commitments to the goals of the Smart Schools.
