13/09/2022

Seminar discusses mathematics education in schools.

Mathematics can be creative, visual, and engaging in Brazilian classrooms. To discuss ways to make teaching the subject more accessible, the 4th Mathematical Mindsets Seminar will be held on September 20th, 21st, and 22nd, from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. Promoted by the Sidarta Institute, the event will feature the participation of the Director-General of IMPA, Marcelo Viana.

Free and online, the event is supported by IMPA and is a partnership between the Sidarta Institute and Itaú Social. To register, simply access this link . The objective is to discuss best practices and success stories in mathematics education in schools across the country.

In addition to developing critical and systemic thinking, mathematics is fundamental for future professionals to understand new technologies – making them better prepared for today's job market.

Based on neuroscience studies, Mathematical Mindsets seeks to transform the way we think about, learn, and teach the subject. One of the method's premises is to show that mistakes are not only part of the learning process but should be valued.

The event will also feature Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford University (USA) and creator of the Mathematical Mindsets approach; and Nina da Hora, computer scientist and influencer. The discussion will be moderated by journalist Gabriel Alves.

“The challenges of learning mathematics in Brazil are historical. Many Brazilians do not have a positive relationship with mathematics or, even worse, have a trauma related to the subject. To change the low levels of proficiency, we need to redefine this relationship,” says Ya Jen Chang, president of the Sidarta Institute.

In his presentation, Marcelo Viana will address the importance of mathematics for the economic development of countries and discuss the work conducted by the PI Center (Center for Projects and Innovation IMPA) .

In addition to discussions with the guests, municipalities that participated in the 3rd Seminar in 2021 will present the work developed and the results. The Mathematical Mindsets program has already trained 5,000 teachers and reached more than 1 million students through partnerships with education departments.

The program for the 4th Seminar will also include workshops where participants will have hands-on experience with the innovative method. At the end of the meeting, the Education Secretariats will be invited to establish a proactive agenda, committing to transforming mathematics education.