20/09/2019

Jo Boaler presents a new approach to mathematics.

Stanford University professors Jo Boaler and Cathy Williams were the keynote speakers at the 2nd Mathematical Mindsets Seminar in São Paulo. Aimed at teachers and municipal education departments, the event sought to broaden discussions and reflections on learning through the Mathematical Mindsets method, an approach that posits everyone can learn the subject at advanced levels. Organized by the Sidarta Institute in partnership with Itaú Social, the seminar was sponsored by the Lemann Foundation and supported by IMPA.

The researchers use recent neuroscience findings to develop the program and teach mathematics in a more natural and engaging way. Education specialists Jo and Cathy are the founders of the YouCubed/Mathematical Mindsets platform , which offers free content—activities, games, apps, and video lessons—to stimulate creative mathematics and accumulates more than 30 million hits per month in 140 countries. According to the website, students who took 18 lessons from the program saw a 50% improvement in academic performance, equivalent to 2.4 years of study. The Sidarta Institute translated and adapted the website and content into Portuguese.

Vanderlei Horita, Coordinator of the National Academic Commission of PROFMAT, and Letícia Rangel, coordinator of the IMPA Girls' Olympics, were present at the event. “The event's activities were based on a visual approach and collaborative work on mathematical content within the classroom. It's a proposal to change the paradigm from the passive role of students to a more active and interactive one, to train professionals prepared to be proactive and skilled in teamwork,” said Vanderlei.

Vanderlei Horita, Letícia Rangel e Fabio Simas com palestrantes da Universidade de Stanford

According to Letícia, the event managed to engage everyone. “The proposed activities challenged all participants, who had different levels of mathematical training. No one was left out. It's a very interesting proposal that made us reflect on the teaching of mathematics in Basic Education and in teacher training,” she stated.

Seminar participants gained access to key study and research resources, dynamics and exercises that can be applied in the classroom, as well as results and discoveries from programs developed in the field of Mathematics.

The event also saw the launch of the Brazilian version of the book "Mathematical Mindsets in the Classroom: Elementary School – Volume 2", edited by the Sidarta Institute and published by Editora Penso.