Advanced Plus Programme

During the National IT Council (NITC) Meeting on 7th April 2006, YAB Prime Minister has acknowledged YB Minister of Education's proposal for MDeC to uplift the 88 Smart Schools to become benchmarked smart schools from 2006 until 2008. Based on this mandate, MDeC had implemented various smart school programmes to achieve this target and the outcomes from the implementation of these programmes as the following:

Since the mandate was due on 2008, Ministry of Education (MOE) has proceed with the implementation of smart school programmes not only for 88 benchmarked smart schools but also for all 10,000 schools in phases under Making All Schools Smart Programme (Pembestarian Sekolah) by referring to Smart School Qualification Standards (SSQS) for the ranking of schools, Centralised Service Desk (CSD) and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) approach to conduct on-site monitoring programme that have been developed by MDeC and MOE during the implementation of Making 88 Benchmarked Smart Schools Programme. The diagram below reflects the continuation of Making 88 Benchmarked Smart Schools Programme to Making All Schools Smart Programme:

In this regards, to sustain the smart school programme in 88 benchmarked smart schools, MDeC is currently undertaking Advanced Plus Programmes. The Advanced Plus Programmes consists of the following activities:

• Collaboration Programme with Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)
• MSC Malaysia Asia Pacific ICT Awards (MSC Malaysia APICTA)
• Digital Story Telling
• Advanced Plus Portal: Best Teacher and Student Created Content

The objectives of Advanced Plus Programmes as the following:

• To ensure continuous usage of innovative tools and existing ICT facilities provided at 88 smart schools
• To facilitate teachers to develop best practices using innovative tools and existing ICT facilities in teaching and learning
• To encourage development of innovative content among teachers and students
• To expose teachers and students on the various types of medium that could be used to develop innovative content
• To expose teachers and students to tell their own 'true stories' using multimedia elements such as video, graphics, animations, audio and text
• To expose teachers and students to tell their own 'true stories' using multimedia elements such as video, graphics, animations, audio and text

We Did It Again! - Smart Schools Win Big at the APICTA Awards 2009

The shine is again on the Smart Schools as they emerged winners in the recent MSC APICTA Awards 2009. The presentation ceremony, held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) on the 8th October 2009 saw the 2 smart schools - Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah (SSAS) and Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 9(1) (SKPP91) walking away with big winnings.

SSAS's invention - the Robotic Angklong Player, bagged the Best Students' Projects - Secondary, whilst SKKP91 won the Merit Award for Best Students' Projects - Primary through their invention - Eka' Melody A New Beginning. This was the first winning for SKKP91in APICTA, and the third for SSAS (Winner in 2004 & Merit Award in 2007).

Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) through the Smart School Department played a key role in roping in not only the smart schools but all 10,000 schools to participate in this year's APICTA. 16 out of 66 schools participated were from the benchmarked smart schools which have gone through MSC Malaysia benchmarked smart school programmes.

The Smart School Department aims to increase the number of schools' participation in future events. Next year, the MSC Malaysia rural benchmarked smart schools are targeted to make their mark in APICTA.

The teacher from Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah receiving the Award for Best Students' Project - Secondary

The students and teacher from SK Putrajaya Presint 9 (1) with their Merit Award for Best Students' Project - Primary

The Launching Ceremony of MyIdeas@Schools

The launching ceremony of MyIdeas@Schools launched by YAB Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Education, Tan Sri Dato' Hj. Muhyiddin Hj. Mohd. Yassin was held on 23rd February 2010 at Sekolah Kebangsaan Lenga. Among the witnesses of the launching ceremony were Y.B. Datuk Seri Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), YBhg. Dato' Madinah Mohamad, Secretary-General of MOSTI, YBhg. Tan Sri Dato' Hj. Alimuddin Bin Hj. Mohd Dom, Director-General of Ministry of Education, Y. Bhg. Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, Chief Executive Officer of Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC), Y. Brs. Dr. Raslan Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM), and other representatives from various agencies.

MyIdeas@School is one of the initiative lead by Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia in collaboration with Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Ministry of Education (MOE) and Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) with the main focus to propagate the culture of innovation and creativity. The first phase of the programme involved 21 rural smart schools nationwide. The implementation of this programme is alligned with MSC Malaysia Smart School objective which is to produce innovative, creative and productive human capital for the knowledge economy.

Speaking at the event, YAB Deputy Prime Minister said that "the transformation of the school curriculum based on creativity and innovation will make learning fun and no longer examination-oriented. The process gives priority to interaction between students and teachers as well as their classmates which, hopefully, will help inculcate creative and innovative ideas."

Training MyIdeas@Schools

A training on MyIdeas@Schools programme was conducted on 27th - 28th October 2009 at Bahagian Teknologi Pendidikan, Negeri Sembilan. A total of 42 teachers from 21 rural smart schools have participated in the training session.

The objectives of the training were to guide teachers to develop and distinguish good, fun, creative and unique ideas with their students, using a more interactive, hands-on and different method compared to the normal classroom approach, to enable teachers to understand their creative and innovative selves, and to transform it into ideas and to assist teachers to guide their students to use MyIdeas and the actual requirement of what consists of an Idea. This is in line of the competition for schools to be held in conjunction with the launching of MyIdeas@Schools.

Advanced Plus Programme: Digital Story Telling

A workshop on the development of Digital Story Telling was conducted on 15th - 17th July 2009 at Berjaya Times Square Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur. A total of 72 teachers from 38 benchmarked smart schools have participated in the workshop. There were 2 groups of participants i.e. Guru Panitia Geography/History and Smart Brigade teachers.

The main objective of the workshop was to expose the participants on the usage of multimedia and ICT in the development of fun and exciting learning materials. The participants have been involved in the hands-on training for story board, shot list, usage of digital camera and scanner, photoscape, photostory, audacity and converting plain old text and images from books into more exciting videos.

Briefing to the 88 Benchmarked Smart Schools

A briefing session to the 88 benchmarked Smart Schools was conducted on 11th June 2009 at Bahagian Teknologi Pendidikan (BTP). The main objectives of the briefing session were to update all the 88 smart schools on the outcomes of the Benchmarked Smart School Programmes that was implemented in 2008 and Advanced Plus Programme that will be implemented throughout this year.

A presentation by Dr. Norrizan Razali, Senior Manager of Smart School Department, Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) had captured the outcomes of the Benchmarked Smart School Programmes i.e. out of 88 smart schools, 77 smart schools have adopt and adapt the ICT enculturation at schools, 5,097 expert teachers with average ICT competencies and 76,500 human capital with 21st century skills. The Advanced Plus Programmes that will be implemented throughout the year will be as the following:

• MyIdeas@Schools Programme is a collaboration programme with Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology (MOSTI) and Ministry of Education (MOE).
• Digital Story Telling is MDeC's initiative to promote usage of multimedia and ICT in teaching and learning by teachers and students.
• APICTA 2009 is MDeC's initiative to acknowledge creative and innovative products and services developed by teachers and students.

The briefing session was attended by 88 benchmarked smart schools Principals and Headmasters and also representatives from Bahagian Teknologi Pendidikan.