Digitalizing The Malaysian Classroom: Barriers, insights and feasibility

Abstract

Many schools in both developed and developing countries are making the move to e-books, tablets and multimedia enhanced curriculums. Malaysia is also joining the bandwagon by adopting Google Apps and Chrome books for use in the local classroom. In-depth interviews have been conducted with 12 informants comprising teachers from four different government or government-aided schools in Sabah. The interviews revealed some of the main barriers, insights, implications and an idea of how feasible it is for the local classroom to adopt the tablet PC. The study revealed amongst other findings, the tendency for parents, teachers and students to view the tablet PC as a tool for entertainment, not education. The informants also, for variety of reasons preferred that the move be started at a young age, preferably in elementary school, or even in preschool. Feasibility will depend on a stable and fast Internet connectivity, a stable supply of electricity, a customized syllabus-based software that is easy and intuitive to use and the training of teachers to confidently embrace a digital future in their careers.