May
22
2008
Calculators in general are here to stay and have had an impact on the curriculum since being introduced into the classroom. Who remembers the joy of using log tables?!! I think as a tool graphics calculators have a place. To be able to see an instant representation of an expression or comparison of graphs can add greatly to your understanding while also taking the pain from the process of getting there. I think another advantage of these machines is that they allow students to experiment and discover relationships. Of course to get the most out of them and justify the expense, we need to be able to use them across a range of topics and be able to take advantage of their ability to run programs and interface with computers in a way that supports learning. Without proper training their is a chance they may be used haphazardly or add to the anxiety of teachers and students who may find using them an added burden on top of their already busy day, squeezing in the curriculum.
This article provides some counter claims to the benefits of graphics calculators, I think both sides are worth thinking about. (A computer for every child!) The points made about pedagogical benefits are interesting.
Lesson demo from teachertube.
Download Video: Posted by athwaites at TeacherTube.com.
May
12
2008
The interactive whiteboard offers quite a few benefits to our teaching. There is the opportunity to engage students with an interesting presentation of the topic. The smartboard allows the teacher to concentrate on delivery of the lesson, minimising time with their back to the class. This helps with the flow of the lesson and supports good classroom management. A busy and engaged class is less likely to to be involved in disruptive behaviour.
The smartboard also gives the teacher access to the huge amount of resources available on the internet. Pedagogically this means a larger variety of strategies may be employed to teach a particular concept, catering to the needs of students with particular learning preferences. For example an animation of the behaviour of a function may benefit a visual learner who may struggle with algebraic or static two dimensional explanations.
An important advantage of the interactive whiteboard is that it encourages students to be active participants in the lesson. This not only increases engagement but supports the students own construction of their knowledge. By allowing students to experiment with the whiteboard, we can give them a sense of ownership of their learning and see the teacher not as a body of knowledge but someone who is there to guide their own discovery of mathematics.
Its important to remember this is only a tool and can only be of use if it is used in conjunction with a well prepared and relevant lesson.
May
05
2008
The main features of a teachers e-portfolio would include information about your teaching qualifications, experience and strengths as a teacher. These are basic reqirements of any document you would present to a possible employer. In addition to this you may include your personal teaching philosophy, including the pedagogy you would use with examples of lessons and resources. This gives any school an insight into the type of teacher you wish to be. In addition to this a section on different types of resources, for example technology, would demonstrate your ability to seek out and use a variety of resources in your lessons.
Social bookmarking is a powerful tool for teachers. To have access to a large variety of resources and to be able to communicate and get feedback from other teachers helps us to become more confident and reflective about our teaching. For teachers who are physically isolated, social bookmarking brings them into contact with with other colleagues, not just to swap teaching ideas, but also issues that they face as teachers in their communities.
