SchoolNet

The presence of School Net? Does everybody know about it? Honestly, I just get to know it now. :) SchoolNet is implemented by GITN Sdn. Berhad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia Berhad & A national project in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications and the Ministry of Education. SchoolNet works parallel to Government’s vision to bridge the digital divide among students in urban, rural and remote areas to establish Malaysian as an information-based society. Its objective is to boost the effectiveness of the local education system. SchoolNet provides the infrastructure and technological assitance needed for 10,000 schools throughout the country. There’s a lot of advantages of using SchoolNet such as it helps you to see the world beyond your school books whether it’s Science, History, Mathematics, English, or any other subjects, you can access from the computer all the exciting and interesting information you never knew before and so on..

I was thinking of the school that I had visited before; it’s an urban school in Kuala Lumpur. It’s well equipped with computers (in the computer lab) and internet. Wow! – I cried. The computer lab is quite big and comfortable. Unfortunately, I rarely seen the usage of the computer lab. I mean the pupils there are afraid to go there without the teachers’ assistance or they are warned not to do that. (Perhaps, the teachers are afraid of vandalism). When I was there, my friend and I want to conduct activities but integration of technology requires us to use computer lab. We have permission to do that. The pupils (if you can see their face) are extremely happy! They boost out with enjoyment!

Pupils: “Cikgu, Cikgu, betol ke kita nak pergi makmal komputer?”

Teacher: “Ye, kenapa?”

Pupils: “Seronoknyeee… :)”

Teacher: *blank!

I believe that the use of SchoolNet or computers can help enhance teaching and learning. Perhaps, pupils nowadays still have a gap with computers and may be their family does not afford to have computers at home. School is the right place. My suggestion is, get a person in charge to take care of the computer lab (to avoid vandalism) and pupils have the opportunity to go there anytime that they want (not only when it times to certain subjects that requires them to use computer). Give them the authority power and indirectly, this will encourage them to be responsible for their own learning.