After I read National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers, I started to evaluate my teaching styles and the effectiveness of technology integration in my lessons over the past five years.
I was first introduced to use of technology in education approximately five years ago at a workshop on “MOODLE in the teacher colleges” and a subsequent workshop on learning tools for teachers. As a result of these two workshops, I became curious about the use of technology in education. However, I was inhibited from exploring it due to the lack of resources at my institution.
Approximately three years ago, E-learning Jamaica gave my institution over eighty desktop computers, laptops, multimedia projectors, camcorders, document camera and other resources. In addition the college improved on the internet service. These changes caused my hope of using technology in my classes to revive. However I was still inhibited because of time constraints as I now had extra responsibilities bestowed on me by the college. Although, I was strapped for time to use technology as frequently as I would have liked in my lessons, I used various software with students such as Omnigraph, Algebrator, Geometry sketchpad , SSP and SPSS. In addition I have also used many simulations to teach difficult concepts in Applied Mathematics, Calculus and Physics.
Since 2008, I have taught “Technology Software Application in Mathematics” to three cohorts of students pursuing a bachelor of education degree in mathematics education. In this course I guided the students in developing the skills of using various software in the teaching mathematics at the secondary schools in Jamaica. Furthermore I have used the online simulations hosted by http://phet.colorado.edu/ , http://www.yenka.com/ and http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/ as virtual physics experiments for Physics and Applied Mathematics students.
From May 2010 to now I have learnt a lot of new educational technology including Skype and Google Docs. I have used Skype and Google Docs to communicate and to complete assignments with classmates from Jamaica and other countries. As a result of this programme and observations made of the paradigm shift in education systems across the world, I have realized that in order for one to function in this world he or she must get acquainted with the use of the many technological advances available to us.
From 565 I would like to learn new software that will enable me to be more effective and efficient in my teaching of mathematics and physics. I particularly want to be able to use MOODLE and online assessment tools with my students.