Update on actions taken

32. Having finished my narrative document draft. I have sent it to other participants for review.

Since I got so into the topic and was so motivated, I probably spend too many hours and wrote too many pages.

Once I converted it in to APA style (double-spaced and thus making it longer) and added the cover page, the appendixes and the reference page the total number of pages is 12.

Well. I have to say this: I enjoyed doing it and I learnt loads. I think it has been a good investment of my time considering my wishes to have a high grade.

I plan to have finished the whole practicum next week (I now need to dedicate more time to the other course)

update on actions taken

31- Brainstorming ideas for my narrative document and presentations and adding very relevant and interesting content:

The lack of feedback from collaborators and the technical problems experienced during the practicum has limited my results. I plan to use this limitations in my benefit, converting their negative effect in positive.  Often we need a necessity to have ideas, and translating problems into ideas is my speciality.

As a result my practicum will now include the following two areas:

--- Collaborating online: what motivates people to collaborate and how can a framework for collaboration be set up so that there effort is minimised and benefits are enhanced.

--- Technical problems during a project: how to minimise their effect by providing a simple guide to solve the problem. How to create effective guides that actually save users time, including time to read the guides (or watch them in case of video-guides).

Update on actions taken

29- Writing up the written narrative document and presentations and video attached. I will be working on this for the next 3.5 weeks (more work than expected).

30- Report #2

Update on actions taken

28- Obtaining more feedback from collaborators. This has proven to be quite a difficult task as most collaborators are quite busy.

29- Writing up the written narrative document and presentations and video attached. I will be working on this for the next 4 weeks (more work than expected).

Update on actions taken

27- Testing students. A set of 4 tests has been designed. Students have taken a practice test, a group test and two individual tests. The second and final test will take place tomorrow, just before students go on holidays (Easter break)

28- Obtaining more feedback from collaborators. This has proven to be quite a difficult task as most collaborators are quite busy.

29- Writing up the written narrative document and presentations and video attached. I will be working on this for the next 3 weeks.

Update on actions taken

25- After several conversation exchanges with a few members of the IT department, I have realised that the only solution to the problem described in action 24 (students not being able to open dynamic worksheets using their school laptops) is to put up with it.
Students have to reinstall java to use it. 
By now some of them have seen others using the files and are copying them. At least 80% of the students have already used the GeoGebra dynamic worksheets and no longer need to reinstall java. By now they can start their investigations with after just one click.
26- I am currently working on assessment of student knowledge. This practicum was not intended to be a research project so there has been no need to form a control group: all students can enjoy the experience!

Update on actions taken.

19- Used of these activities with my own students. This activity started on Monday February 25th and will finish on Friday March 22nd.

23- Obtained and discussed feedback from students and collaborators.

24- As a result of the above, I found out that many students are not using the set of dynamic GeoGebraworksheets specially created for this practicum. There are 5 reasons for that:

• The use of these ready-to-use activities is not compulsory. 

• Students can also use their GDCs (Graphic Display Calculators) except for the two investigations they have to present.

• Students can also use other software. Examples of these are Logger Pro, Sketch Pad and Wolfrang Alpha. The first two are proprietary software which our school has a licence for and the latter can be used for free.

• Some students prefer to design their own investigations. Sometimes they use the set created as a model, but then they like to go further and investigate GeoGebra on their own.

• Some students are having problems opening the set of dynamic GeoGebraworksheets specially created for this practicum because of technical problems. These might be due to the use of other software (such as PowerSchool, used in the school to repport grades to students and parents) and Screenr (used in my classes to create screen cast videos for their presentations) and possibly a fault in the image of the macbooks provided by the school. As a result students have to download the Java Applet. And even though they know they can do that free of charge from http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp, it discourages them form doing it.

The first 4 reasons are actually very good news. The aim of these activities is to encourage and help students use technology to enhance their learning. If students prefer to use other software/hardware and/or design their own investigations using their own model, that is even better.
The last reason is not good news, but at the same time it is within the regular "risks" taken when using technology: there are often technical problems.


24- As a result of the above, I am now investigating the problem. I plan to liaise with the IT department in my school to find alternatives.