industry & reform
‘ Opportunity for growth ’
How to spark students ’ interest in mathematics .
By Dr Laura Tuohilampi and Scarlett Li-Williams
Recent headlines about students disengaging from mathematics paints a worrying picture .
Some experts propose innovative ideas to rehaul the curriculum , others lament about the need to keep things as they have always been , teachers are given advice about how to motivate students to study it , and stakeholders remind of its importance when developing critical future thinkers .
But students are switching off as soon as they are given an out . Is there nothing we can do ? We might think mathematics is no longer needed in a digital society where everyone has Google in their pockets .
Yes , there are lots of apps out there to solve algebraic equations for you . But by seeing maths as more than just a school subject could be a way to restore its glorious reputation .
When Laura was interviewed to do a radio show entitled ‘ The Dying Arts ’, to give an expert view on the current state of mathematics education , she was both nodding along to the idea of maths as we know it being a dying art , and at the same time felt keen to expose the narrowness of this train of thought .
Society is changing at a fast rate , especially due to digitalisation .
With that many traditions die , such as horology ( making watches ), binding books or lead glass-making . It is easy to think this is something that also applies to mathematics , but to be specific , this thinking does not refer to mathematics overall , but a modicum section of it : school calculus .
Skills to manipulate equations , to differentiate or integrate functions or to infer the size of an angle are all skills that have less utility value nowadays . Your phone can do this for you .
Nevertheless , the same way that people have not stopped reading because of e-books , people also have not stopped needing mathematical thinking .
What digitalisation means is more maths being available for things like decision making , healthcare , innovative new technologies , sustainable futures , and even personal uses such as tracking progress with your Tiktoks .
In her recently submitted research article , currently under review , Laura shows how mathematics activities used in schools are largely based on “ rebranding ” boring activities that build outdated mathematical skills . To propose a more comprehensive re-imagining drawing from what is useful for new generations , from what truly appeals to young people .
Mathematics is more than just calculus . It is a way of thinking , it is understanding causation , keeping calm before probabilities of viruses and vaccinations .
It is about not getting anxious in your financial planning meeting , it is about knowing how easy it is to misleadingly manipulate data , or to be able to evaluate the impacts of small but frequent actions such as changing to a keep cup . What ’ s more : we all use maths every day . Today , school maths keeps building on specific strategies and details , emphasising a construct that no longer manifests the most essential mathematics skills - the book binding face of maths .
This mathematics is inaccessible if you drop the ball once . It is also off-putting for many and makes students question the trustworthiness of educators who try to justify the value of learning such details .
The realm of maths is massively larger than what is addressed in schools . How do cryptocurrencies work ? Why do passwords need to be so complicated ? What patterns are shared between different communication systems ? What can one inversely derive from a 2D scan of a 3D body cavity ?
It ’ s up to stakeholders to put a stop on maths becoming a dying art .
We could make maths classrooms buzzing factories of creative ideas and expanding minds . Labs to try and solve the pending issues of equity , sustainability and so on .
That would be of massive interest for generations to come .
After a few decades of reality shows focusing on light hearted entertainment , in the footsteps of the wellness boom emphasising the body and soul , there might be a huge opportunity for ‘ scholarness ’, showing the appeal of maths re-established to add real value to people ’ s lives .
Laura has often gotten into discussions about how sudokus or puzzle apps are enjoyed , she has entertained trendy millennials in night clubs with maths problems .
Mathematics can both ignite a spark in your mind and leave you pondering . The exploration of the intellectual and collaborative side of maths can be shared by new generations that “ have experienced it all ”.
It is an opportunity for growth and progress for us all if we let it be . ■
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