In the beginning, it is always dark.

I taught mathematics at the university level for several years and spent quite a bit of time learning neat stuff that I could use in my classes.  Some of it failed spectacularly but some was useful.  It can be overwhelming to find the right tool to do the thing that needs to be done - something that is easy to use, easy to learn and that actually supports the students' learning in a different way.  Affordances that aren't granted by paper, physical objects or discussion.

It is difficult to find the time to be really thoughtful about choice of technology and its implementation without neglecting the day-to-day that teaching requires.  When I taught, I spent too much time learning how to use technologies that I then only used once or that didn't support learning in the way I had expected.

When I taught, I created PowerPoints that the students could print out and write on.  I printed the notes to Windows Journal (and later OneNote) and then used them in class to write on and work out examples. I created websites for the students, online homework using the D2L quizzing tools, videos with Jing and Camtasia, dynamic interactions with Wolfram Demonstrations, Articulate Engage and SoftChalk and even made cardstock manipulatives that students could cut out and use at home.


I'll demonstrate some of the things I created and I'll also continue the search.