Our students are at various levels in terms of their learning skills and abilities, but on average they are very enthusiastic about learning Mathematics.  They are even more motivated when we use technology in the classrooms. I first used GeoGebra in my class when we were plotting graphs and the pupils found it fascinating.

Internet connection is not very reliable in our country, that is another reason why GeoGebra is a great educational tool, as it can be used offline. Low bandwidth, high cost of connection and access to computers are the main challenges we face .

In addition to desktops, a number of tutors now have laptops and 8 of our 56 members  of academic staff have recently been given tablets by one of our cooperating partners.  So we are now starting to teach with tablets but only at a very small scale (see picture below in my Math class, I am the first one on the right)

In our computer laboratory for students, we have forty work stations. For my class of an average of 45 this is manageable. However, the computer-student ratio for all the institution is still a problem as it now stands at 1:10.

I must mention as well that I am still in the process of learning how to use GeoGebra and I would be happy to learn more from members of the GeoGebra community.

We would be happy to cooperate with other GI-s, please  contact us at:

http://wiki.geogebra.org/en/GeoGebra_Institute_of_Chalimbana

Mathematics class at Chalimbana University learning Maths on a tablet

Gerrit has given about 40 workshops all over  South-Africa since the establishment of the GeoGebra Institute in 2009. Many education ministry officials and math-teachers from Gauteng, Limpopo regions and the Free State have attended these workshops.

Based on his long teaching experience he has compiled an easy-to-follow GeoGebra 4.2 manual (based on the school curriculum), which you can download from the geogebra tube: http://www.geogebratube.org/material/show/id/39024. This manual has short YouTube video illustrations of each section.

Gerrit has also written articles evaluating his teaching experience, you can download his research results here:

• Stols, G.H. (2012). Does the use of technology make a difference in pre-service teachers’ geometric cognitive growth? Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 28(7), 1233-1247. (ISSN: 1449-5554 & impact factor: 1.655)   http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet28/stols.pdf
• Stols, G.H. &Kriek, J. (2011). Why don’t all maths teachers use dynamic geometry software in their classrooms? Australian Journal of Educational Technology, 27(1), 137-151. (ISSN: 1449-5554 & impact factor: 1.278) http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet27/stols.html

My name is Mehdi Boulifa.  I am a teacher of mathematics in Tunisia. I am passionate about music, informatics and sport.

I created a website: www.monmaths.com and blogs in all the regions of Tunisia.

My blog is called GeoGebra in Tunisia.

When did you first try GeoGebra?

It was in 2008. I tried to create files to use GeoGebra in class afterwards.

What do you hate about GeoGebra?

Nothing. Perhaps, java can be slow in opening   html files.

What do you love about GeoGebra?

What I like about GeoGebra is: first it is for free. It facilitates the way we teach in class.  It has great tools educationally. Possible GeoGebra5 version goes even easier to use with its new features. GeoGebra is synonymous with sharing.  There is a wonderful forum which provides excellent support. All the more, it is shining all over the world and this can help the teacher to better  teach  mathematics to learners.

What are the GeoGebra related activities in which you participate?

• I am the president of The Institute of GeoGebra in Tunisia which is the first in the Arab world and the third in Africa.
• In September 2012 I attended the international conference in Warsaw GeoGebra
• We are at the moment and with the help of school inspectors currently working on a program of training colleagues in all regions of Tunisia (http://wiki.geogebra.org/en/2012_Annual_Report_GI_TUNISIA  )and also we are now preparing certification for teachers (one program for month of March a caravan of training to go to remote areas and particularly in the south)
• We update the translation software in Arabic
• I hope that through our work at the Institute, we will eventually integrate GeoGebra activities in our textbooks, and achieve an international conference on GeoGebra Tunisia.