Computer-Based Math
Computer-Based Math is an educational project started by Conrad Wolfram in 2010[1][2][3][4] to promote the idea that routine mathematical calculations should be done with a computer.
Conrad Wolfram believes that mathematics education should make the greatest possible use of computers for performing computation leaving students to concentrate on the application and interpretation of mathematical techniques.[5] Wolfram also argues that computers are the basis of doing math in the real world and that education should reflect that [6] and that programming should be taught as part of math education.[7]
Wolfram contends that this approach is fundamentally different from most of the use of Computers in the classroom (or Computer-based mathematics education),[8] whose role is to help to teach students to perform hand calculations, rather than to perform those computations and is also distinct from delivery tools such as E-learning systems.
In 2010 the website www.computerbasedmath.org was set up to start developing a new curriculum and interactive digital learning materials to support it. It holds an annual conference.
In February 2013, Estonia announced that it would be piloting a Computer-Based Math developed statistics course[9][10][11] in cooperation with the University of Tartu.[12] The African Leadership University plans to use materials developed by ComputerBasedMath.org in its Data and Decisions curriculum[13]
UNICEF supported the third Computer-Based Math Education Summit in New York, in 2013.[14]
Examples of calculations that should be done with a computer include arithmetical operations such as long division or integration techniques such as trigonometric substitution.
In 2020 Wolfram published a book "The Math(s) Fix" detailing the problems and his proposed solution.[15]
See also
References
- We need to base maths lessons on computers The Telegraph, 03 Dec 2009
- Revival Plan The New Indian Express
- Computers do it better, Times Higher Education Supplement, 30 March 2012
- Closing the gap between modern life and the math curriculum New York Times, 10 Feb 2013
- Reinventing Math for the Computational Knowledge Economy Big Think, Jan 2013
- Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine Times Educational Supplement
- ICT teaching upgrade expected in 2014 The Guardian, 20 Aug 2012
- Teaching kids real math with computers TED 2010
- Estonian Schools to Teach Computer-Based Math Wall Street Journal, 11 Feb 2013
- Math Rebels Invade Estonia With Computerized Education Wired, 12 Feb 2013
- Estonia Chosen as Testing Ground for Math Education Experiment Estonian Public Broadcasting News
- Estonian, British experts team up to develop computer-based math education Postimees, 13 Feb 2013.
- UNICEF and Computerbasedmath.org Announce Major Summit to Reconceptualize Math Education Worldwide unicefstories.org
- Stop Calculating And Start Teaching Computational Thinking Forbes.com June 2020