Reflecting on Integration of Technology
Artifact 3: Resource Wiki on the Use of Technology for Year 10 Academic Mathematics Curriculum
Course: EDUC 5303G Technology and the Curriculum
Description: The “Principals of Mathematics – MPM2D Wiki” was created to reflect on my learning on how to effectively integrate technology to support learning of the Year 10 Academic Mathematics curriculum content. According to (Mistretta, 2005) the use of technology in teaching, mathematics improves a student’s positive attitude, builds confidence for doing mathematics, helps visualize and construct mathematical knowledge. The use of mathematical software and websites in teaching develops students’ higher order thinking skill, allows development of their computational skill and facilitate algebraic/geometric thinking. The resources in this Wiki contains interactive activities, virtual manipulative and simulations which are added for different curriculum expectations to allow students to investigate each mathematics concept in depth developing their critical thinking, communication, and problem solving skills which are essential for the 21st learners.
MPM2D - Principles of Mathematics Wiki Video Description Part 1: http://screencast.com/t/LRDTM7pmIxh5
MPM2D - Principles of Mathematics Wiki Video Description Part 2: http://screencast.com/t/ZTAcs8iiyw
Reflection: In mathematics education, the teacher uses technology as a mind tool to support deep reflective thinking that is necessary for meaningful learning. (Jonanssen & Carr, 2000) According to National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 2000) technology is an essential tool for teaching and learning and are used by numerous well-informed teachers to support mathematical understanding. The use of technology in mathematics lesson allows students to have a positive attitude, build confidence in their ability to do math, construct knowledge and visualize abstract mathematical concepts. (Kersaint, 2007) A research report by Kerrigan (2002) states that "use of mathematical software and websites in teaching mathematics promotes students’ higher-order thinking skills, develops and maintains their computational skills, introduces them to collection and analysis of data, facilitate algebraic and geometric thinking and shows them the role of mathematics in interdisciplinary setting." It can be interpreted that the utilization of technology in mathematics classroom ranges from information delivery and drill-practice exercise to an environment of authentic practices and problem solving. (Papert, 1992) Thus, the teachers must be able to integrate technology in their mathematics lessons and use technology as an essential teaching and learning tool.
The “Principles of Mathematics – MPM2D” wiki was created to reflect on the learning from the course “Technology and Curriculum-EDUC 5303C” where I learned about the learning theories that needs to be considered for effective teaching and learning of mathematics. For this, the 21st century skills that the students’ needed to develop was considered and the integration of technology for effective learning of mathematics was implemented.
I created this wiki to provide the students with a constructive environment where technological resources such as virtual manipulative, games, and interactive activities are included for the learner to construct their own knowledge of mathematical concepts based on their previous knowledge. The Constructivist Learning Theory can be applied here where learning environment allows the learners to construct new ideas or concept based upon their past knowledge to make meaning of their learning for future experience. (Durmus & Karakirik, 2006) In this wiki, I have added video lessons for students to learn procedural knowledge of mathematics and they were given opportunity to practice their learning using interactive WBLTs and websites. Here, the Theory of Cognitive Apprenticeship (Collins, Brown, & Newman, 1987) was taken into consideration which states that people learn from one another through modeling, coaching, scaffolding, articulation, reflection and exploration. The interactive WBLTs were added to engage the students in their learning process which according to The ARCS Model of Motivational Design (Ely, 1983) is an essential model for promoting and sustaining motivation for mathematics education. In my opinion, my Wiki can be used by any teacher or learner as it provides the learner the opportunity to direct their own learning. My Wiki would provide the learner with an Experiential Learning opportunity where the students would be involved in hands-on learning experience and the teacher's role will be to facilitate the learning process. (Itin, 1999) To make the learner understand the course material in each section the Wiki contains video demonstration for the introduction of the content, interactive activity to test/understand the concepts as well as short quizzes for self-evaluation. The discussion tab on each page allows the learner to share their feeling, thoughts and difficulties with other learners and the teacher.
The wiki pages were created based on the three main areas expected to be covered in the MPM2D curriculum. The use of interactive activities, virtual manipulatives and simulations were added under each page to allow students to investigate each curriculum concept in depth. The use of short quizzes in several sections allowed students to evaluate their learning of the core concepts. The students were also given an opportunity to use calculators that provided opportunities for students to actively participate in classroom social interaction and engage in problem solving opportunities. (Doerr and Zangor, 2000)
My created Wiki will allow students to develop skills that are mentioned in the P21 Framework (Route 21, 2007) required for students to function effectively in the 21st century. The initial lessons will provide the opportunity to learn simple concepts developing students’ systemic thinking. The involvement in problem solving activities would allow students to apply their learned knowledge into similar context to further develop their understanding. While working collaboratively using hands-on technology students will take shared responsibility for collaborative work and appreciate each other’s efforts. The collaborative work can also take place in virtual setting developing students’ communication skills and allowing them to judge the effectiveness of multimedia. The use of this wiki for MPM2D course would develop student’s information and ICT literacy. The effective use of technology to learn the curriculum content provides the students with opportunity to develop student’s research, organize, evaluate and communicate information. The use of the discussion post or the opportunity to involve multiple students in online activities, games or lessons allows social networking where students can gain knowledge from other students in their learning process. In connecting the knowledge gained from the video lesson with the practice activities students learn the important skills of evaluating information critically and competently. They learn to use information accurately and creatively for different activities, manage the flow of information from different websites and apply the fundamental understanding of the ethical issues of accessing/using information that comes with the use of online information.
The designing of this Wiki has positively affected my teaching practice as I am able to apply my learning from the M.Ed. program into my classroom practice. This opportunity has enhanced my ability to implement technology in my classroom teaching providing my students with a meaningful technologically enriched learning experience.
Course: EDUC 5303G Technology and the Curriculum
Description: The “Principals of Mathematics – MPM2D Wiki” was created to reflect on my learning on how to effectively integrate technology to support learning of the Year 10 Academic Mathematics curriculum content. According to (Mistretta, 2005) the use of technology in teaching, mathematics improves a student’s positive attitude, builds confidence for doing mathematics, helps visualize and construct mathematical knowledge. The use of mathematical software and websites in teaching develops students’ higher order thinking skill, allows development of their computational skill and facilitate algebraic/geometric thinking. The resources in this Wiki contains interactive activities, virtual manipulative and simulations which are added for different curriculum expectations to allow students to investigate each mathematics concept in depth developing their critical thinking, communication, and problem solving skills which are essential for the 21st learners.
MPM2D - Principles of Mathematics Wiki Video Description Part 1: http://screencast.com/t/LRDTM7pmIxh5
MPM2D - Principles of Mathematics Wiki Video Description Part 2: http://screencast.com/t/ZTAcs8iiyw
Reflection: In mathematics education, the teacher uses technology as a mind tool to support deep reflective thinking that is necessary for meaningful learning. (Jonanssen & Carr, 2000) According to National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 2000) technology is an essential tool for teaching and learning and are used by numerous well-informed teachers to support mathematical understanding. The use of technology in mathematics lesson allows students to have a positive attitude, build confidence in their ability to do math, construct knowledge and visualize abstract mathematical concepts. (Kersaint, 2007) A research report by Kerrigan (2002) states that "use of mathematical software and websites in teaching mathematics promotes students’ higher-order thinking skills, develops and maintains their computational skills, introduces them to collection and analysis of data, facilitate algebraic and geometric thinking and shows them the role of mathematics in interdisciplinary setting." It can be interpreted that the utilization of technology in mathematics classroom ranges from information delivery and drill-practice exercise to an environment of authentic practices and problem solving. (Papert, 1992) Thus, the teachers must be able to integrate technology in their mathematics lessons and use technology as an essential teaching and learning tool.
The “Principles of Mathematics – MPM2D” wiki was created to reflect on the learning from the course “Technology and Curriculum-EDUC 5303C” where I learned about the learning theories that needs to be considered for effective teaching and learning of mathematics. For this, the 21st century skills that the students’ needed to develop was considered and the integration of technology for effective learning of mathematics was implemented.
I created this wiki to provide the students with a constructive environment where technological resources such as virtual manipulative, games, and interactive activities are included for the learner to construct their own knowledge of mathematical concepts based on their previous knowledge. The Constructivist Learning Theory can be applied here where learning environment allows the learners to construct new ideas or concept based upon their past knowledge to make meaning of their learning for future experience. (Durmus & Karakirik, 2006) In this wiki, I have added video lessons for students to learn procedural knowledge of mathematics and they were given opportunity to practice their learning using interactive WBLTs and websites. Here, the Theory of Cognitive Apprenticeship (Collins, Brown, & Newman, 1987) was taken into consideration which states that people learn from one another through modeling, coaching, scaffolding, articulation, reflection and exploration. The interactive WBLTs were added to engage the students in their learning process which according to The ARCS Model of Motivational Design (Ely, 1983) is an essential model for promoting and sustaining motivation for mathematics education. In my opinion, my Wiki can be used by any teacher or learner as it provides the learner the opportunity to direct their own learning. My Wiki would provide the learner with an Experiential Learning opportunity where the students would be involved in hands-on learning experience and the teacher's role will be to facilitate the learning process. (Itin, 1999) To make the learner understand the course material in each section the Wiki contains video demonstration for the introduction of the content, interactive activity to test/understand the concepts as well as short quizzes for self-evaluation. The discussion tab on each page allows the learner to share their feeling, thoughts and difficulties with other learners and the teacher.
The wiki pages were created based on the three main areas expected to be covered in the MPM2D curriculum. The use of interactive activities, virtual manipulatives and simulations were added under each page to allow students to investigate each curriculum concept in depth. The use of short quizzes in several sections allowed students to evaluate their learning of the core concepts. The students were also given an opportunity to use calculators that provided opportunities for students to actively participate in classroom social interaction and engage in problem solving opportunities. (Doerr and Zangor, 2000)
My created Wiki will allow students to develop skills that are mentioned in the P21 Framework (Route 21, 2007) required for students to function effectively in the 21st century. The initial lessons will provide the opportunity to learn simple concepts developing students’ systemic thinking. The involvement in problem solving activities would allow students to apply their learned knowledge into similar context to further develop their understanding. While working collaboratively using hands-on technology students will take shared responsibility for collaborative work and appreciate each other’s efforts. The collaborative work can also take place in virtual setting developing students’ communication skills and allowing them to judge the effectiveness of multimedia. The use of this wiki for MPM2D course would develop student’s information and ICT literacy. The effective use of technology to learn the curriculum content provides the students with opportunity to develop student’s research, organize, evaluate and communicate information. The use of the discussion post or the opportunity to involve multiple students in online activities, games or lessons allows social networking where students can gain knowledge from other students in their learning process. In connecting the knowledge gained from the video lesson with the practice activities students learn the important skills of evaluating information critically and competently. They learn to use information accurately and creatively for different activities, manage the flow of information from different websites and apply the fundamental understanding of the ethical issues of accessing/using information that comes with the use of online information.
The designing of this Wiki has positively affected my teaching practice as I am able to apply my learning from the M.Ed. program into my classroom practice. This opportunity has enhanced my ability to implement technology in my classroom teaching providing my students with a meaningful technologically enriched learning experience.
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