The seminar on Mathematics Education Reform in Primary and Secondary Schools in the Age of Intelligence, jointly sponsored by UIC and Beijing Normal University, was held at UIC on 19 and 20 December.
Eight famous mathematicians and education experts, principals of primary and secondary schools, and innovators and influencers of mathematics popularisation were invited to the seminar. They gave keynote speeches and discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by mathematics education in primary and secondary schools in the age of intelligence.
The UIC Industrial-University Research Collaboration Centre also hosted popular activities on mathematics during the seminar.
The seminar attracted more than 200 principals, teachers, postgraduates and other mathematics enthusiasts from all over the country, collecting more than 70 papers.
Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of UIC, Prof Tang Tao, and Party Secretary of Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Prof Wei Wei, delivered opening speeches at the seminar.
President Tang mentioned that this seminar is essential cooperation between UIC and Beijing Normal University in mathematics. It is also a response to UIC's efforts in popularising mathematics in primary education in recent years.
President Tang Tao says this seminar is essential cooperation between UIC and Beijing Normal University in mathematics
Prof Wei Wei believes that artificial intelligence has a profound impact on the reform direction of primary and secondary education and has brought more thinking and behaviour changes. The opening ceremony was hosted by Party Secretary and Vice President of UIC, Prof Mao Yaqing.
Prof Wei Wei expects such seminars could be held continuously
Prof Mao Yaqing hosts the opening ceremony
Discovering the beauty of mathematics
With the development of science and technology, the organic combination of information technology and disciplines has changed traditional education. Many new ideas on the deep integration of modern technology and mathematics education have emerged during the two-day seminar.
President Tang has rich research experience in mathematics discipline construction and mathematics popularisation and education. He believes that it is the key to cultivating primary and secondary school students' curiosity for teachers and parents. In the theme report 'How could the beauty of mathematics felt by middle school students', President Tang discussed how mathematics could be made visible and tangible by using advanced technologies such as scientific software, 3D printing and artificial intelligence. He also looks forwards to cooperating with middle schools in Zhuhai to establish a distinctive mathematics museum.
President Tang Tao on how to let students discover the beauty of mathematics
President of High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University Mr Ge Jun believes that mathematics education should cultivate people by virtue and guide students to play with mathematics to stimulate students' mathematics thinking and learning motivation. He also hopes to improve the basic education level of mathematics and cultivate more innovative talents by exploring growth mathematics education.
Mr Ge Jun
CEO of Flickering Education Technology Co., Ltd. Mr Jin Zhihui pointed out that while online classrooms are developing rapidly, the after-school practice system still stays in the traditional model. He demonstrated the practice of combining animation, games, artificial intelligence technology and traditional methods to create the next generation children's mathematics practice system.
Mr Jin Zhihui
The distinguished professor of Mathematics at Xiamen University Mr Lin Yanan suggested that intellectual activities could be introduced into mathematics education. Students can discover the hidden mathematical principles through these activities and provide a new way of thinking for mathematics education.
Mr Lin Yanan
Vice President of the General School of the High School Affiliated to the Renmin University of China, Mr Zhou Jianhua believes that education should focus on students' development's core literacy. He mentioned that teachers should create opportunities for independent thinking and deep learning for students through effective questioning.
Mr Zhou Jianhua
Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Mathematics at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Prof Liu Gang stated that mathematics teaching should be closely integrated with practical application. For STEM education, which is popular at present, he maintained that we should appreciate the artistic beauty through practically solving problems.
Prof Liu Gang
The founder of Beijing Dayantang Education Technology Co., Ltd., Mr Li Jianbo, used the mathematics experimental sand table designed by his company as an example. He explained that mathematics experiment is a teaching method that complete complex teaching tasks through simplified simulation. Mr Li Jianbo also hopes that by establishing a mathematics laboratory, the teaching process will become an exciting experience full of fun, beauty and wisdom.
Mr Li Jianbo
Professor at the School of Mathematical Sciences of Beijing Normal University Mr Cao Yiming pointed out that the intelligent era provided a new vision for education development. For mathematics education, attention should be paid to the teaching and evaluation of core literacy and key competence of students. Students' ability and accomplishment could be more objectively reflected by reasonably using information technology and combining with data analysis.
Mr Cao Yiming
Exploring fun mathematics
The UIC Industrial-University Research Collaboration Centre hosted popular activities such as the journal Mathematical Culture's recommendation event, as well as an exhibition of mathematical entity model were held to guide parents and students from primary and secondary schools to experience the interest of mathematics. Also, the live broadcast of the events was participated by more than 10,000 people.
Participating maths activities
Zhuhai Science and Technology Innovation Bureau signed an agreement with UIC to build a modern mathematics base for primary and secondary school students in Zhuhai during June 2020.
Focusing on themes such as 'STEM and interdisciplinary integration in primary and secondary schools' and 'Mathematical Modeling and Teaching’, forty-eight group exchange activities, including paper sharing, were also organised at the seminar.
Photo of the participating guests
From MPRO
Reporter: Ma Yiran
Photographers: Ben Wen, Covee Wang, Tang Guoguo, Xu Yiheng
Editors: Samuel Burgess, Deen He
