Integration of technology into secondary mathematics teacher education

Abstract

Effective integration of technology into mathematics instruction and curriculum is not easy to achieve. Technology affords opportunities for teachers to make mathematics instruction and curriculum more dynamic, relevant, interesting, and powerful. In order to achieve this goal, teachers need time, support, and opportunities to examine their conceptions of mathematics teaching and learning and the roles that technology can provide towards reform-based mathematics education. At the University of Colorado-Boulder, an overall goal of the teacher education program is to assist teachers to be reflective practicioners. Within this overall framework, we provide opportunities for, and expect preservice teachers to consider the ways that technology can be utilized to empower student learning of mathematics. Technology is infused throughout the teacher education program, in general, and the mathematics methods course, in particular. Here, preservice teachers explore mathematics education technologies such as Geometer's Sketchpad, Fathom, Calculator-Based Laboratories, and the Jasper Woodbury Project. They observe videos of practicing teachers who are integrating these technologies into their instruction and curriculum and reflect on the teaching and learning that takes place. Finally, they try their own technology based teaching tasks during their fieldwork placements and share their knowledge with practicing teachers. This paper shares lessons learned from these activities and offers possibilities for others to help increase mathematics teacher learning and practice involving technology.