See those pre-service teachers whining? “I’ve never heard of ALZIP before turning 21, and I’m earning credits only for 청람일반 which are in reference to computers and technology. As you can obviously see, I’m a total nut, mechanically speaking. However, taking educational courses as a KNUE student, I am constantly required to practice Smart Education. Why on earth should we do Smart Education?” Actually, the term "SMART" in smart education is not a literal word, but rather it contains the potential strengths of smart education itself.

Potential strengths of smart education
First of all, it helps self-directed education since students become creators from consumers. Further, teachers become facilitators in this format.  For example, if Soo has some trouble with setting up an equation, she can download an application named Save Billy!: An equation game. Students can design detailed courses on their own with the aid of teachers’ facilitation. And, it assists in getting students motivated. Most teachers use simple pictures or video clips to motivate students at the beginning of class. However, students are often too experienced with well-made educational multimedia content from companies to be motivated by mere pictures. They can easily approach interesting educational materials through smart education. Also, it provides programs that suit students’ individual conditions in order to make them adaptive. Many people point out that focusing only on main subjects (i.e., Korean, English, and mathematics) is the biggest problem in Korean education. Not only lesson hours, but also teaching materials are insufficient in fields of art, music, or physical education. To overcome this, students can find resources according to their interests freely, which is another strength of smart education as it is resource-free. In addition, they can approach various fields of materials that contain changes of information at a brisk pace. Also, it is technology embedded, that is students can write on floors and walls using a smart wall. Thus, where they learn won’t be limited to classrooms. They can learn anywhere, anytime.

Concerns
However, as mentioned from the beginning, many professionals are expressing their concerns, too. The in-service teachers should obtain new training to be an effective facilitator in this medium. As such, not only pre-service teachers but also a lot of in-service teachers are not accustomed to smart education; therefore, a lot of money and time will be spent retraining all of them. A further concern is can it be possible to control students from indiscreet use of electronic devices? For example, you can easily see many students playing internet flash games or reading comic web-toons during class using computers or phones even now. There would be much more difficulty if students should use i-pads in every class. Also, how about the health problems? Many researchers say that deteriorating eyesight of adolescents is increasing due to smart phones. Won’t smart education add some burden on it?
 
As a result…
As a result we should think about countermeasures. Imagine you are going on a field trip. You pack, prepare things, and get a safety education. All these processes are required in case of smart education, too. Safety education before giving students smart tools would be a beginning point. Smart education is in the beginning stages now. Because of the potential strengths as you can see in the word itself, it has been ignited in spite of several concerns. Yet, it will bring a new era of innovative education if these worries could be thoroughly  rebuffed. But, as the saying goes, “More haste, less speed.” Careful introspection and proper complementary measures are mandatory, though not going against the trend. Hey, Mr. Nut, if this article caught your eye, courses in 청람일반 are waiting for you.