18 | Wednesday, July 14, 2021 EDITION | DAILY YOUTH Figures of importance

Speakers at the 14th International Congress on Mathematical Education put an emphasis on the training of teachers to be able to implement diverse curricula that inspire children and make the subject fun, Cao Chen reports in .

hina will enhance the qual- Wang Jianpan, ity of math teachers both in congress chair of urban and rural areas, ICME-14 make study fun, and Cstrengthen academic exchanges The Chinese Mathe- with the world for the development matical Society has and progress of science, technology the pleasure of host- and civilizations, according to Weng ing the 14th International Congress on Tiehui, vice-minister of education. Mathematical Education in 2021 in Learning math will deepen chil- China. The congress, held under the dren’s knowledge of basic science auspices of the International Commis- and help them explore possible sion on Mathematical Instruction, relationships among abstractions, takes place at the East China Normal which will improve brain power for University in Shanghai, which has been lifelong benefits, said Weng at the both a powerful engine for China’s opening ceremony of the 14th Inter- economic and social development and national Congress on Mathematical the cradle of modern Chinese mathe- Education held at East China Nor- matics and mathematics education. It mal University in Shanghai on offers a perfect environment for a Monday. challenging congress. We invite partici- “To inspire students’ interest in pants from all over the world to come math, we should make math classes to Shanghai and make ICME-14 a rich fun, while avoiding repetitive, exces- experience for all. sive training,” she suggests. “Mathematics is the common sci- entific language of the world, and mathematics education is a cause The 14th International that requires the dedication of global Congress on Mathematical practitioners. In addition, skilled Education teachers are at the heart of excellent The largest international conference of its kind. math education,” she adds. The ongoing 14th International Congress on Mathematical Education, launched on Monday, will run through Sunday at East China Normal Over 2,200 experts and teachers in math University in Shanghai. gao erqiang / china daily Weng took Shanghai as an exam- education and research from 129 countries. ple. According to Weng, local teach- The first time the ICME has been held in China. ers there have been engaging in Activities: teaching groups and research activi- ematical sciences and the develop- in the subject. zing outstanding achievement in ties for personal professional devel- ment of related industries, especially As the largest international confer- mathematics education research 4 plenary lectures opment. Over 20,000 math teachers integrated circuits, AI and biomedi- ence on math education, the event, and practice. Deborah Ball, profes- 3 plenary panel reports in primary and secondary schools cine, for the city’s digital transforma- organized by the International Com- sor of education at the University of from Shanghai and the United King- tion and a better life through mission on Mathematical Instruc- Michigan in the US, and Tommy 4 survey team reports dom have taken part in a China-UK innovation led by mathematics,” he tion, will run through Sunday. Dreyfus, professor Emeritus of 5 reports by laureates of ICMI Awards Over 2,200 experts and teachers in Mathematics Education at Tel Aviv math teacher program, jointly adds. 60 invited lectures launched by both countries in 2014 Cedric Villani, director of Institut mathematics from 129 countries University, Israel, were the 2017 and to observe classes and share experi- Henri Poincare in France and 2010 including the United States, France 2019 laureates of the Felix Klein 62 topic study groups ences. In 2018, a teacher education recipient of the Fields Medal, the and Canada, will be present at the Award, respectively, for their lifetime 200 academic posters center was established in Shanghai, pating in the congress will offer highest scientific award for mathe- meeting or will join online, sharing achievements in math education. supported by UNESCO, aimed at fos- advice on the training of teachers in maticians, stresses the role of mathe- insights on research and develop- The Hans Freudenthal Awards for 15 discussion groups tering international teacher training China and accelerate long-term glob- matics as “an art as old as ment in the field. 2017 and 2019 were respectively giv- 27 workshops exchanges. al cooperation for the progress of sci- civilization” in his keynote speech. This is the first time the ICME has en to Terezinha Nunes, professor of 4 national presentations “We’re aware that the country still ence, technology and civilization”. “Mathematicians have always had been held in China. Activities, such educational studies at the University CHINA DAILY faces the challenge of inadequacy Shanghai Party Secretary a privileged role in society, as prob- as plenary lectures and workshops, of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and inequality of education resour- points out the crucial role of mathe- lem solvers, guardians of an art, are available to participants, cover- and Gert Schubring, a long-time ces, and we will be dedicated to matics in driving the city’s scientific deeply attached to values of intellec- ing topics including challenges of member of the Institut fur Didaktik improving children’s access to quali- and economic development. tual freedom and the challenging of math teaching amid the COVID-19 der Mathematik at Bielefeld Univer- in 2020, in recognition of its achieve- ty education in remote areas,” says “For instance, the development of opinion,” Villani says. pandemic, math education for chil- sity in Germany, for their innovative ments in supporting teachers in Weng, adding that a national train- artificial intelligence is mainly data- He also accentuates the most dren under 7, and math textbooks for and highly influential programs of ensuring quality mathematics learn- ing mechanism has been established driven, which is inseparable from the important characteristics of a primary and secondary schools in mathematical research. ing for students. to train around 618,000 math teach- work of mathematicians,” Li says. mathematician — persistence, China. The National Council of Teachers ers in rural areas. “The city will provide more solid imagination and rigor — which The opening ceremony also saw of Mathematics, based in the US, Contact the writer at Weng expects that “experts partici- support for the application of math- would facilitate a successful career the awarding of three prizes recogni- won the Emma Castelnuovo Award [email protected] A formula for education Finding balance in a numbers game

By Cao Chen ment in math competitions educa- success in the suburbs tion in China has contributed to the Competition training is supple- establishment of a comprehensive By Cao Chen Chinese mainland in 1977, and Gu mental to in-class math education training system for math competi- arranged a math test for all high for primary and secondary school tions, covering diverse activities such Math education reform is a com- school graduates in Qingpu to students in China, but further as interest groups, regional and plex, long-term process requiring assess their abilities. research and practice is still necessa- interprovincial math competitions the persistence and effort of gener- Although the test was on primary ry to identify the role of competitions and summer camps for students. ations of experts, as well as the inte- and middle school level math, stu- in popularizing the study among the Teacher training is also part of the gration of theories from dent performance was shockingly public and selecting top talent, a system, through courses and teach- educational research and best prac- disappointing, Gu says. Among the math scholar says. ing practices. tices from classroom experiences, a 4,373 people who took the test, over “Math contests could develop val- “The excessive popularization of Shanghai math expert says. 23 percent received zero out of 100 Gu Lingyuan, former vice-dean uable skills students acquire beyond math contests, however, has been Gu Lingyuan, who pioneered marks. The average score was 11. of the Shanghai Academy of the formal academic settings,” says controversial, as interest in math mathematical education reform in Supported by local education Educational Sciences. Xiong Bin, director of the Interna- competitions is encouraged among Shanghai in the 1970s and was the authorities, Gu formed a team of provided to china daily tional Mathematical Olympiad more children at an early age. Hua’s former vice-dean of the Shanghai five to carry out the trial. The first Research Center at East China Nor- Xiong Bin, director of the concern when the math competi- Academy of Educational Sciences, three years were spent on investi- mal University. International Mathematical tions were introduced to the country made the remarks during an exclu- gating and researching teaching ments so far and publish a book on Xiong, also director of Shanghai Olympiad Research Center at over whether extracurricular math sive interview with China Daily approaches, student performances it for further promotion of the core Key Lab of Core Mathematics and East China Normal University. contests would impact the basic regarding a speech about a math and school management in Qingpu. accomplishment of the reform next Practice, will give a speech on Mathe- provided to china daily mathematics education or holistic education experiment that he deliv- They then explored suitable teach- year,” Gu says. matical Olympiad education at the education for students remains true ered at the 14th International Con- ing methods for Shanghai students “It’s a complex, long-term pro- congress on Sunday. He has, so far, today,” Xiong says. gress on Mathematical Education, and applied the shortlisted meth- cess requiring the persistence and served as the leader of Chinese teams and, usually, contestants’ solutions “In fact, many students have the largest international conference ods to classes as an experiment. effort of generations of experts and participating in the International are beyond the expectations of their excelled in previous IMOs at an early of its kind. It is currently underway Great progress was made after 10 the integration of front-line prac- Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 10 teachers. age, and math competitions are at East China Normal University years of reform, while Gu’s team tice and theories based on facts. times, seven of which, his team won For instance, prizes have been designed for such gifted children. and will run until Sunday. grew to include over 200 math “A transformation of the roles of the first group prize. awarded to more than 40 contest- However, experts found some chil- “Education reform relies on the teachers, researchers and other teachers and students is the According to Xiong, math compe- ants of the IMO so far for providing dren may lose their problem-solving efforts of generations of experts practitioners. essence of an educational reform. titions at all levels, especially at the better answers than the sample ability or even interest in the subject from different disciplines, includ- More than 85 percent of students In the past, imparting knowledge IMO in recent years, often include solutions. when they are in the upper grades,” ing math, education and psycholo- in Qingpu scored over 60 out of 100 used to be the only responsibility of geometry problems, which help fos- “In the long run, training for math Xiong says. gy,” Gu says. marks in the high school entrance teachers, but the student-teacher ter students’ logical reasoning ability. competitions cultivates potential “Opening math contests to all pri- “Ideas from front-line teachers examination in Shanghai in 1986, relationship evolved into teachers “Math contests also hone commu- mathematicians and scientists. Mid- mary and middle school students is who are familiar with students’ aca- which was a surge of 69 percentage asking inspiring questions in a bid nication skills, exemplified when stu- dle school teachers and students are an option for popularizing math, but demic, physiological and psycho- points from 1979. The Qingpu stu- to lead students to study on their dents present their mathematical also able to conduct research-based from the perspective of talent selec- logical characteristics are vital to dents’ performance in high school own. However, teachers are now ideas or problem-solving process to learning and academic exchanges tion, contests are suitable for just a enhance the efficiency of the math exams that year was also more like tutors, seeking to enlight- others, or evaluate solutions put for- through competitions,” he says. few students with an appetite to reform as well.” higher than the average of high en students to learn, inquire and ward by teachers and other stu- Mathematics competitions were learn math at a high level and with a Gu’s insights are based on a math school students in Shanghai at 68 experience proactively,” Gu says. dents,” Xiong says. introduced to China in 1956 when strong mathematical ability. It would teaching experiment that he and percent. He adds that in the next phase, “Moreover, imaginative and criti- math contests were first held in mid- be against the law of education to his peers initiated in 1977 to Aside from academic perform- improving students’ creativity and cal thinking abilities are also dle schools in Beijing, Tianjin, force all students to be devoted into improve students’ academic per- ance, since 2008, Gu’s team has also critical thinking ability in math enhanced when math problems stu- Shanghai and Hubei province’s training for high-level math competi- formance in the subject in Qingpu been engaged in cultivating stu- study is a key challenge for mathe- dents encounter in contests cannot . Late Chinese mathematical tion,” he adds. district, an area too far away from dents’ creative and analytical abili- matics education in China. be solved by textbook formulas or research pioneer Xiong also points out that stress the center of Shanghai to, at that ties. The team has also adopted “It is not advisable to achieve theorems.” served as the chairman of the Beijing may arise from unprecedented aca- time, have access to abundant and some elements of foreign math high scores through excessive aca- Open-ended problems are an Municipal Competition Committee demic pressure, when in-class edu- quality teaching resources and instruction into the local curricu- demic training. Diverse teaching example. According to Xiong, math and presided over the designing of cation is increasingly intertwined proper school management. lum through teacher exchange pro- and research activities are crucial problems in the classroom normally questions for contests. In 1985, for with math contest skills and knowl- The experiment will conclude grams, such as interactive for teachers to analyze the per- have one correct answer. However, in the first time, two domestic contest- edge, which requires “cooperation next year, according to Gu. techniques to make classes fun. formance of students and them- high-level math competitions, open- ants representing China participated among teachers and experts in cre- The national college entrance “This year, we’ll summarize the selves and accelerate their ended problems that address higher in the 26th IMO held in Finland. ating proper math problems for examination was resumed on the experiment, results and achieve- professional growth,” Gu adds. order thinking goals are often posed Since then, decades of develop- competition”.