National Initiatives to Use New Information and Communication Technologies in Learning and Training - Malaysia

Source: National Information Technology Council

Mobile Internet Unit (MIU)

• Overview
• Background
• Objectives
• School Selection Criteria
• Facilities

Overview

Mobile Internet Unit (MIU) is a development project on computer-mediated education for teachers and students in schools of Malaysia. It is a self-contained, mobile library cum computing center in the form of a bus, driven by a "smart" driver and co-driver, which goes around the non-main stream schools in the country to conduct basic ICT (Information Communication Technology) literacy programs. Non-main stream schools are schools that are deprived of access to information and opportunity to acquire ICT skills. These schools are not included in the current government Smart Schools Programs or any other similar ICT initiatives conducted by non-government agencies.

Background

Malaysia is conducting considerable efforts in the field of education. Such efforts have now been intensified by the creation of Smart Schools mooted by the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC). This new dimension of eduction has promised to produce students who are more creative and innovative in their thinking, quick to adapt to technologies and able to access and manage new information.

There are currently about 7,000 primary and 1,500 secondary schools in Malaysia, most of which in rural areas. Rural schools, which hold the potential to yield IT competent students, are far in time to be effected by the Smart School concept. It may be therefore of critical importance to assess and collect data on the potential capacity in IT of teachers and students in rural schools.

Objectives

The main objectives are:

• promote ICT (Information Communication Technology) awareness & literacy among the teachers and students in non-main stream schools.
• assess and collect data on IT potential / capacity of the teachers & students in these schools.
• provide electronic classroom experiences for these schools.
• assess the impact of ICT on the teaching & learning processes in the new environment.

School Selection Criteria

• schools are selected from all the nine districts in Selangor.
• non- CIE (Komputer Dalam Pendidikan) schools
• non- Smart Schools.
• schools without computing facilities (given preference)
• support & commitment from State Education Department, school administration, staff & PTA (Parents Teachers Association)

Facilities

IT Equipments

• 20 multimedia Pentium personal computers
• 1 server (400 MHz DualP, 8.6 GB HD)+ back up systems 1,
• 24 ports hub (10/100 Base T)
• 1 UPS
• 1 modem
• 1 generator (compact portable AC/DC Diesel Generator 4,800 watts)
• 1 digital handsets
• 1 digital camera
• 1 digital video camera
• 1 colour portable camera
• 1 portable colour printer
• 1 laser printer
• 1 portable photocopiers LCD projector

Resource Centers

MIU bus as an anchor in the areas that it serves, for example:

• schools
• library
• State Education Resource Centre
• Teachers' Training Centre

ICT Modules

• Basic Computing Skills
  (files & folders management, word processing, spread sheet
• Basic Internet Skills
  (finding useful information, sending & receiving emails, designing & publishing own information)
• Basic Multimedia Production
  (simple computer graphics, video & audio incorporation)

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