Formulator Tarsia known earlier as Formulator Jigsaw is an editor designed for Teachers of Mathematics creating the activities in a form of jigsaws or dominos etc for later use in a class. It includes the powerful equation editor for building the math-expressions for the activities. An advanced feature of text placement along the side of the shape makes this tool irreplaceable software for fast activity creation. Formulator Tarsia became a powerful tool for learning activities since it supports the activity templates. It enables easy support of teachers and gives them new perspectives to development of their teaching activity.
how to create a Jigsaw puzzle, click the link.
the software is free, you can download Formulator Tarsia
I have read Tania’s comments on the article. It triggers me to reflect on myself. I found out that I am pretty much similar to the third teacher Pamela with 30 years experience who had reserved attitude to tbe use of technology although she was open to use technology in her pedagogical practice. What I learnt from this article are:
- The technology-enriched pedagogy shold be promoted in secondary classroom. Use technologies that are relevant and available such as CAS calculators, computing software to help students understand mathematical concepts rather than use them as computational tools.
- The role of a mathematical teacher should be transformed from a teacher-centred practitioner to a learner-centred practitionner. Use of technologies could facilitate student-centred learing environment and encouge students to graphically explore and better understand mathematical ideas and principles. It depends on to what extent we understand and employ constructivst approaches to teaching and learning.
- As a pre-service teacher, I am aware of that the prefessional community of mathematics teachers will have an impact on a teacher’s attitude to use technologies, and vice versa. I need to update the knowledge of technologies and prepare for the technology-enriched pedagogical practice.
At the very beginning, I didn’t think kids would be benefited by playing games.since I have read an article, my view was slightly changed.
As we know, some children are academically behind other kids partly because of over indulgence in games. Their parents think their kids have wasted too much time on games. Games will not be generally accepted as a learning tool by most parents. People usually have the prejudice against games.
Eck (2006) in his “Gigital Game-Based Learning (DGBL)” maintained that games as learning tools are effective and engaging. He also suggested that Commercial Off-The Shelf (COTS) games are currently the most cost-effective approach of three DGBL approaches in terms of quality and functionality.
Salend and sylvestre (2005) emphasized that active academic games can be one of effective ways to integrate novelty into instructional process. They also believed that “games should be cooperative rather than competitive and should be structured to involve all students”.
I suggest that we should focus on
1. How effective the educational games will be?
2. What are the academic games? Or how can we choose good games with the balance of high academic quality and amusement?
3. How can we incorporate DGBL into secondary classroom?
I will continue to explore the topic of DGBL…..
