Welcome to the 2012 Annual Report GI Tehran
Web page
GeoGebra Institute of Tehran
The institute consists of a group of volunteer teachers, researchers and academicians who support students and teachers interested in learning and using the GeoGebra software. As part of the international GeoGebra network, the group members develop free teaching material, set up workshops and carry on research in GeoGebra related topics. The group seeks to present a model for collaborative education based on non-commercial activities and using relative ICT skills and effective educational methods, which adopts views from Islamic education Iranian culture.
People
Saeed Aminorroaya chair person
Amir Mirsaeed
Khosrow Davodi
Training and Support
With the help of volunteer researcher, teachers, students and computer programmers, the institute is active in the following sections:
Training and providing support in learning
With the use of international research findings and application of standards set by the International GeoGebra Institute, the following educational services are provided for mathematic teachers and university students.
Training workshops with web-based support
Three training courses are designed as follows in order to improve professional abilities of mathematics teachers.
Introductory course
This course is designed for teachers with no special ICT skills and no familiarity with the software. In this 20-hour course, they are trained to use GeoGebra and material developed by GeoGebra in classroom environments. The trainees are awarded with a GeoGebra User Certificate at the end of this course. During the past year, a total of 100 math teachers were trained in 10 Introductory courses.
Advanced course
This course is designed for teachers who are already familiar with the software and with the use of the material in classrooms, who desire to improve their skills to a professional level. After 40 hours of training, they learn necessary skills to develop and share GeoGebra materials in order to be able to support other teachers at their schools or in their region. This course demands active and talented GeoGebra users. Trainees are awarded with a GeoGebra Expert Certificate at the end. A total of 30trainees were trained in 5 Advanced courses.
Trainers’ course
This course is designed for GeoGebra users who are interested in setting up workshops and conducting research. By the end of the 80 hours of training, the trainees will be able to give presentations at conferences and to set up workshops in their region to train teachers and award User and Expert certificates. The trainees are awarded with a GeoGebra Trainer Certificate at the end of the Trainers’ course. A total of 10 participants were trained in a Trainers’ course during the past year.
Virtual training courses based on standards for electronic training
In 2008, GeoGebra Institute of Tehran offered a series of electronic courses titled Dynamic Mathematics. Such courses are to be offered in the future.
Creating a virtual learners’ society based on sharing and mutual support
As the social network of Tehran GeoGebra society developed, designing a network of virtual support for courses and workshops was possible.
Supporting workshops set up by volunteers across country
Due to its free nature and the supplementary resources available, the GeoGebra software became increasingly popular among Iranian users, particularly since it was recognized by the Ministry of Education and used in their supplementary CD materials for teachers. At this point, some mathematics teachers determined to set up workshops for teaching the software. GeoGebra Institute of Tehran supported these teachers by connecting them through a website and providing them with teaching resources and material.
Trainees who successfully finish the courses are awarded international certificates.
Development and Sharing
Resources and development
The GeoGebra project presents an excellent model for developing high-quality free and available educational resources with the help of volunteer individuals and institutions. In order to foster this culture, GeoGebra institute of Tehran undertakes the following activities.
Developing professional material for teachers and students
Suitable educational resources and material has been developed and translated for math teachers. Teachers and students are also encouraged to explore and contribute to GeoGebra, to which more than 25000 materials are uploaded.
Translating the software and keeping it up-to-date
Translating the software into Persian is a process which first took place in 2005 with the contribution of a number of people who pursued promoting math education. With the support of International GeoGebra Institute, the translation is ever since kept up-to-date as the software is updated.
Preparing instructional material for the GeoGebra software
The following are translated for the users in order that math teachers find easy access to instructional material: 1. Quickstart 4.2 2. Introduction to GeoGebra 4.2 3. GeoGebra Manual 3.2 4. Scripting with GeoGebraScript 5. Construction of 3D shapes in GeoGebra 4.2
Producing and distributing educational CDs
Introducing dynamic geometry
Sponsored by the Organization for Educational Research and Planning in Ministry of Education, GeoGebra Institute of Tehran produced an educational CD in 2003, which introduced dynamic geometry and provided ten samples of the software usage.
GeoGebra activities
In collaboration with Tebyan Cultural and Information Institution, the institute has translated a number of activities from Spanish into Persian with their related interactive environments developed by the GeoGebra software.
GeoGebra workshops at local places
A total of 660 math teachers were trained in 14 Introductory seminars. A total of 100 math teachers were trained in 10 Introductory courses. A total of 30 trainees were trained in 5 Advanced courses. A total of 10 participants were trained in a Trainers’ course during the past year.
Outreach
In 2011, five workshops were held during which 300 participants received a 1200 person-hour training. In 2012, a total of 800 participants received a 4800 person-hour training in 5 workshops. We are planning to hold 70 workshops in 2013 for a total 2000 participants and a 12000 person-hour training.
Publications
1. Using ICT in Teaching Mathematics, by Shahrnaz Bakhshali Zadeh, 2006 2. Learning Mathematics with a Flavor of Computers, by Mahdi Ghorbani, 2011 3. The GeoGebra 4.0 Workshop, by Mahdi Ghorbani, 2012
Research
Activities in International GeoGebra institute are based on theoretical and applied research, fostering and nurturing research worldwide. In most conferences on mathematics, GeoGebra-related presentations are given. International GeoGebra Institute also runs a GeoGebra conference each year. Adopting the same approach, GeoGebra Institute of Tehran provides research services as follows.
Supporting Masters’ and PhD theses in the fields of teaching mathematics and education technology
Several Masters’ theses and PhD dissertations have been completed with the support of GeoGebra Institute of Tehran, whose findings are consistent with those of international research, resulting thus in practical application. Examples of these theses are: Aminorroaya, Saeed (2010). Investigating learning skills in geometry using dynamic geometry software: a case study of the GeoGebra software. Allameh Tabataba’i University. Davoudi, Khosro (2009). Investigating learning mathematics using dynamic software: a case study of understanding the concept of slope. University of London. Farmehr, Fatemeh (2008). The role of dynamic geometry software in problem solving with a focus on hypothesis testing and teaching it for solving geometry problems in the second grade of high school. Shahid Raja’i Univeristy. Hamidi, Mostafa (2011). The effect of software in learning mathematics (geometry). Moradi Shallal, Mahshid (2011). The connection between algebra and geometry.
Publishing papers in scientific journals
The following papers (and many more) are published in journals such as Roshd journal of teaching mathematics, Schools Tomorrow (madrese-ye farad), Roshd journal of the middle school: Daneshpazhouh, Yaser; Jahanfar, Ali. The GeoGebra software: a worldwide classroom. (2007). Deep Learning: an interview with Saeed Aminorroaya about the GeoGebra software. Roshd journal of middle school. (2001). Heydari Ghezelcheh, Reza. Getting familiar with the GeoGebra Software. Roshd journal of teaching mathematics. (2008). Holding seminars and conferences The institute has held tens of seminars so far in many municipal districts of Tehran to introduce the software. For example, seminars are held in different districts of Tehran to introduce dynamic geometry software.
Attending and presenting papers in local and international conferences
Members of GeoGebra Institute of Tehran have always followed International activities in the field. For example, Shabnam Sa'adat presented Activities of �geogebra institute of tehran at the GeoGebra Pre - ATCM conference. (Asian Technology Conference in mathematics 2012) Moreover, presentations on the effect of the GeoGebra software on teaching mathematics have been given in conferences on mathematic education in Iran. GeoGebra institute of Tehran organized and ran eight two-hour workshops in the Twelfth Iranian Mathematics Education Conference with the following purposes: • Introducing the GeoGebra software and its potentials in teaching and learning mathematics to teachers, university students and researchers from all parts of the country • Introducing goals and activities of GeoGebra Institute of Tehran • Introducing goals and activities of International GeoGebra Institute A total of 200 participants took part in the workshops with an overall 90 percent satisfaction, and the majority of them expressed interest in taking part and collaborating in GeoGebra Introductory courses in their own cities.
Collaboration
Supporting establishment of volunteer institutions in other parts of the country Working towards goals of the GeoGebra projects, GeoGebra Institute of Tehran is prepared to support establishment of local institutions. It has, for example, supported establishment of GeoGebra Institute of Khouzestan province, offered training courses in Alborz province, and set up presentations, seminars and workshops in various cities for introducing the project, including Isfahan. Moreover, intensive weekend training courses are designed for interested teacher from cities other than Tehran. Two Introductory courses and an Advanced course for such participants are done so far.
Awards
As an institution which offers ICT-based training courses for teachers, GeoGebra Institute of Tehran ranked third among such institutions in the second national ICT Festival in May 2012.
