OPINION ON CHALLENGES IN INTEGRATING ICT IN TEACHING & LEARNING

Nowadays, Information and Communication of Technology (ICT) application

have become an important part in teaching and learning in schools. The Ministry of

Education has invested a huge effort and financial in terms of finding and training to

equip teachers and students with ICT skills. This is due to the essential of knowledge in

technology in future to fulfill Malaysia Vision 2020 which wants to produce the literate

technology and critically thinking work force people. So, in progress to fulfill the vision

there are several challenges that can be conclude in three categories which is teachers,

students and facilities.

The first challenge which is faced by the teachers is they are not friendly user to

the facilities or equipment which is supposed to be the enabler for their teaching and

learning process. For example, they do not know well about the function of each enabler

and how to use and handle it. The enablers such as the computer with complete

software , LCD projector, OHP projector and others. Usually, in the smart school there

are the technicians which will handle and helping teacher in using those enablers.

However, in certain schools which there are no technicians and the teachers are not

really friendly and able to handle it, it may takes time for them to use it. So, the aim to

enhance the students thinking and creativity in the classroom activities will not achieved

and have quality because the wasting time to handle the enablers. On the other hand,

the senior teachers do not have skills to use the software in making their teaching and

learning activities attractive for the students. Instead, they choose to use the traditional

style to teach their students.

 Next challenge is the schools in rural area which most of the students have the

problems that do not know how to read, calculate and writing. This will make the

teachers have problems to implement the ICT in their teaching and learning process.

Although the Ministry of Education has support the schools with teaching and learning

materials and enablers but the teachers will have problems in implements it due to the

problems. There are also problems which the students are not focusing in class due to

the arrangement of sitting in group. There are also students which have advanced in

using internet abuse it by using it not for their studies.

Besides that, lack of complete facilities in schools forced teachers, staff and

students not fully used the technology. This may refer to the schools which do not have

internet connection that may cause the teachers and students depend on books

compared to used internet as their toolkit to search information and others. No

connection of internet also makes the staffs to use the old style to keep the information

regarding their students, schools and others. The lack of complete enabler in classroom

such as speakers, computer, and others forced the teachers do not used the ICT in

classroom.