Issues and Challenges in Integrating ICT in Teaching and Learning

Nowadays ICT have been the most used and important apparatus in teaching process. But there are some problems and challenges that limit the uses of ICT. In my opinion, the most important challenges in integrating ICT in teaching and learning are have not enough technological infrastructure. Our country has limitation of infrastructure such as computers, ICT labs and low connection to access internet especially in rural area. There a number of schools have not enough computer lab and computer for every student. Even in smart school, the ICT equipments also not complete and always faced the problems of lacking computer or latest ICT software. Compare to other developing countries which have excellent infrastructure and total application on ICT, our country really a few steps behind. Besides that, all the infrastructure and application of ICT are only being concentrated at urban area especially big town such as Kuala Lumpur. This is not fair because only the people in urban area can enjoy the facilities of ICT while people in rural area just get the information through traditional way such as text book and explanation by teachers. How can ICT be integrating in teaching and learning if only students from urban area able to use this modern apparatus? Students from rural area cannot apply the knowledge of ICT due to lack of computer and lab in their school. Moreover, get access to internet and computer is basic way to learn ICT. More money are spent to build big and beautiful building rather than built a well-equip computer lab or supply enough computer to all school.

Next, some teachers not well know about ICT and make them do not apply it properly when teach the students. Teachers do not alert with development in ICT usage and stay only with little knowledge about technology. They also have no initiative to go for ICT training and choose to stay know nothing about it. So some teachers will only use computer lab and computer for very several times in their teaching process. For example, twice a month or once a month. Some teachers are afraid to use the latest technology such as smart board and educational TV in teaching and learning for students. They feel this is troublesome and will be shamed if there are student know better than them in the ICT. So the teacher keen to use the traditional ways such as white board and text book in their teaching process. As a result, their students also afraid and thinks it will be easier to just use text book in the process to learn something new. The students will not used to application of ICT and their mind continues reject the uses of ICT. Until they are in university, there will be more difficult to teach them with uses of ICT as the students already set in their mind that ICT is bored and useless thing to learn. Hence, teacher has to make sure there are maximum and effective uses of ICT by students in case to integrating ICT in teaching and learning. Teachers should continuously upgrade their knowledge and keep alert with latest ICT application or software as a preparation to teach the students.