Assignment 1 Report PBL

REPORT CONTENT ANALYSIS PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING (PBL)

1.0       OBJECTIVES

1. To define the terms Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
2. To determine the issues in integrating information and communication technology (ICT) in Malaysian schools.
3. To discuss the challenges in integrating information and communication technology (ICT) in Malaysian schools.

2.0       INTRODUCTION

Malaysia does aware with the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Thus, smart schools have been introduced under Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) project. The government aims to capitalize on the presence of leading-edge technologies and the rapid development of the MSC’s infrastructure to jump start deployment of enabling technology to schools. ICT are defined as a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, create, disseminate, store and manage information. These technologies include computer, internet, broadcasting technologies and telephony. ICT does great but there are some issues and challenges in integrating ICT in teaching and learning in our Malaysian schools.

3.0       PROBLEM STATEMENT 

FILA Chart Content Analysis Problem-based Learning (PBL)

FACTS	IDEAS	LEARNING ISSUES	ACTION
ICT applications have become an important part of teaching and learning. The Ministry of Education has invested a huge effort in terms of funding and training to equip teachers and students with ICT skills.	Readiness of teachers in using ICT applications in their teaching process. Teaching and learning will be more effective and interactive. Involvement of ICT in the schools in rural areas.	What is ICT? What are the issues in integrating ICT in teaching and learning in Malaysian schools? What are the challenges  in integrating ICT in teaching and learning in Malaysian schools? Are school teachers ready enough to use ICT applications in their teaching process? Does the teaching and learning process will be more interesting with the help of ICT? How about, the students in rural areas, does they know about ICT?	Refer to the internet. Refer to ICT books. Teacher needs to prepare physical n spiritual. Teachers have to guide students for using ICT application in learning process. Government should provide more facilities for the school in rural area

4.0       DISCUSSION

The first issue that we choose is the readiness of teachers to use ICT for their lessons. We find the challenge, teacher must be provided with the knowledge and soft skills for using the new digital tools and resources to help all students achieve high academic stands not only base on the traditional lesson ‘talk and chalk’. Furthermore, teacher needs to prepare the slides show like Power Point to make the lesson more interesting and change the perception for all the students especially at rural area. Teachers also have the problem to change the new pedagogy by using ICT.  Besides that, formal training is a must for the teachers as they play on important role to incorporate ICT in education. Thus, learning outcomes cannot be achieve if teacher cannot  attract the students’ attention because the influence of examination oriented culture and the teachers have ‘finish syllabus syndrome’.  In addition, because of heavy workload, teachers have less time or less initiative to adopt new teaching approaches in their lessons. 

The teaching and learning process using ICT applications will be much more interesting and effective compared to the traditional ways. Teachers may use the applications that have been prepared by the government such as the CD-ROM, computers, projector and the internet. Teachers and students may search for more interesting notes and exercise by browsing through the internet. There are lots of materials and notes that are suitable for teaching and learning online. However, they have to be smart in selecting the information in the web pages on the internet because they are some fake information that has been uploaded by the irresponsible people. Besides that, using ICT applications in class does help smoother the teaching and learning process, but without full guidance from teachers, students may use the internet to browse negative web pages. This action may lead to social problems; lessen moral values; wasting time and many other problems. Even worse, these abuses may contribute to cyber crime.

Besides, ICTs can provide new and innovative means to bring educational opportunities to students in rural and remote-rural areas. Even though, in reality we found that there are some problem if we try to brings ICT education in rural area such as not enough facilities, students from low-socio economic background and network problems. But, it is one way to improve academic performance for rural area students. Then, to creating a more effective and more exciting school environment and to change in community’s attitude towards the usage of digital resources to improve result and knowledge acquisition. Usually, this opportunity will focus on to students from remote areas and students with average academic achievements; mainly in English, Science and Mathematics and actively involved in school curriculum.

5.0 CONCLUSION

By conducting this Problem-Based Learning (PBL), it is hoped that the key challenge of all the issues can be identified to school management and the ICT policy maker, so that any ICT program involving collaborative approach can be conducted more successfully in the future.

6.0       REFERENCES

Making Malaysia’s Schools Smarter. Access fromhttp://www.mscmalaysia.my/sites/default/files/pdf/publications_references/FutureGov_February_2010.pdf on September 25, 2012.

Koridor Utara Malaysia. Access fromhttp://www.koridorutara.com.my/site/?__f=catmain&catname=Education&catsub=&aliascat=&tracking=&relatedpages=1&q=education_humancapital/cita&type=&id=93 on September 25, 2012.

ICT in Education/Key Challenges in Integrating ICTs in Education. Access from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/ICT_in_Education/Key_Challenges_in_Integrating_ICTs_in_Education on September 25,2012.