Embracing ‘Mathematics’ With An Engaging Competition

Aditya Birla World Academy (ABWA), an international school in Mumbai is revolutionising the educational space with its teaching methods and captivating inter-school events. An addition to this is the ABWA Maths Championship Infinity 24, organised recently.  

In partnership with BITS Pilani, ABWA arranged this competition to actively involve younger minds in the world of numbers and enhance their critical thinking skills in the realm of mathematics.  

On the sidelines, BW Education had an insightful discussion with Dr James Tanton, (PhD Mathematics from Princeton University) and Prof Mark Saul. The discussion was mainly centred on the perception of Mathematics as a challenging subject and delved into various strategies for students to fully embrace it.

Mark said, “Educators play a crucial role in reshaping students' perception of Mathematics, rather than presenting it solely as a subject focused on numbers and procedures.”

He added championships like ABWA’s infinity encourage students to perceive maths as a cognitive process based on logical reasoning.  

“I frequently counsel parents and educators against imparting their anxieties regarding mathematics to their children, rather than stressing on phrases such as 'Maths is hard' or 'I was never good at maths'," added Mark.

Despite efforts to present mathematics as an enjoyable discipline, research suggests that the fear of Mathematics stems from various factors. These include the inherent complexity of the subject, the teaching methods employed and the societal perception surrounding Mathematics. Taking this into account, the New National Curriculum Framework (NCF) has devised strategies to address and alleviate the fear associated with mathematics.  

NCF has proposed a draft, which is currently in its final stages and will soon be made available to the public for feedback from stakeholders. The implementation of the new system is scheduled for the 2024 academic session.  

James said, “It is significant to distinguish school Mathematics and its application in real-world scenarios. Students must acknowledge that their academic pursuits in school only scratch the surface of a vast and captivating discipline.”

He stated that he does not remember using formulas from high school. However, the education in mathematics at school has mainly instilled his ability to think critically, challenge assumptions and grasp the fundamental structure and patterns.

Furthermore, both maths experts commended ABWA's endeavours in coordinating Infinity 24, which saw the involvement of over 540 teams from 10 distinct countries.