Technology in the primary education

ICT Scenario (virtual classroom)
‘If we do not want to be left out and become victims of Information Technology, we must seriously strive to acquire this new knowledge.’
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad (2001)

As the time being, ICT (information communication technology), has persistently become the buzzword and key concept in the enhancement of educational field. It is well acknowledged that technological advances in cyberspace, in the computer and technological fields have vastly speeded up our ability to communicate with one another. With millions of computers that are now networked into the Internet, the cyber technologies have extended the communications range to the smallest corners of human populations. There is no doubt that in fulfilling the ideal goal of connecting citizens anywhere and everywhere in the vast reach of cyberspace, countries are coming closer to being truly a global village, as John Naistbitts suggested in his book ‘Megatrends".
In line with vision 2020, Malaysia hopes to become a fully industrialized country by the year of 2020. One of the strategic challenges of Vision 2020 is establishing a scientific and progressive society that is innovative and forward looking, whose people are nor merely users of technology but also contributors to scientific discovery and technological development.
While adhering to National Education Philosophy, the Smart School is a learning institution that has been reinvented in terms of teaching and learning methods to prepare students for the Information-based society. Creativity and better management of information are facilitated through the use of technology where students, teachers, administrators and parents are better prepared for the challenges of the Information Age. I support the establishment of Smart School which underpins on student-centered, thinking enabled learning, using technology and multimedia wisely and applying teaching-learning strategies appropriately in order to create technology-based pupils and effective schooling environment.
In education, technology is a compelling force that needs to be coupled with the curriculum to create an engaged learning atmosphere that allows learners to become skillful learner with an endless passion for learning. With the help of the technology, students will become engaged learners who are responsible for their own learning. They engage in the learning process by problem solving, reflecting, synthesizing, evaluating and continuously applying the new skills. Teachers are facilitators who guide the process of their learning. Thus, the contents of learning should be pertinent and curriculum-based. The teacher should play important role to construct meaningful, interactive lessons that engage the students in the curriculum. Learning should be authentic and set up to be challenging, real world based. Teachers need to be fully aware of the technology as stepping stone to build upon in the classroom. Based on research, the use of technology especially internet begins earlier. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, many US children as early as 11 years old use blogs and social networking sites at least 2 or 3 times a week.
What is BLOG? There are many things crossed my mind when Prof. Maznah wrote that particular word on the SMARTBOARD. For the first time being as a ‘blogger’, I have an opportunity to experience the benefits of internet. If previously I surfed the websites for the entertainment purpose (music and wallpaper downloads, chatting etc.) but now I am able to integrate such websites and technology academically which is into teaching primary education. Prof Raja Maznah had did mentioned that technology is one of the useful medium to engage young learners into meaningful learning experiences. However it depends on how the teacher operates and manipulated the technological resources to accommodate pupils’ learning preferences. In addition, Prof Raja Maznah also explained to the class about ‘PLEaSE’ which is ‘Transforming to Personalized Learning Environment and Students Engagement’. Briefly, it refers to the virtual learning which is the pupils engaged the learning process beyond the classroom. It underpins pupils-centered learning besides engage with fun and interesting lesson which suits their needs and level. Furthermore, I also had been introduced to ‘PoEIT’ which is kind of latest pedagogical techniques that integrate technology into lesson.