Computer-Based Math

Not to be confused with Computer-based mathematics education.

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

  1. ^ We need to base maths lessons on computers The Telegraph, 03 Dec 2009
  2. ^ Revival Plan The New Indian Express
  3. ^ Computers do it better, Times Higher Education Supplement, 30 March 2012
  4. ^ Closing the gap between modern life and the math curriculum New York Times, 10 Feb 2013
  5. ^ Reinventing Math for the Computational Knowledge Economy Big Think, Jan 2013
  6. ^ http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storyCode=6395648 Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine Times Educational Supplement
  7. ^ ICT teaching upgrade expected in 2014 The Guardian, 20 Aug 2012
  8. ^ Teaching kids real math with computers TED 2010
  9. ^ Estonian Schools to Teach Computer-Based Math Wall Street Journal, 11 Feb 2013
  10. ^ Math Rebels Invade Estonia With Computerized Education Wired, 12 Feb 2013
  11. ^ Estonia Chosen as Testing Ground for Math Education Experiment Estonian Public Broadcasting News
  12. ^ Estonian, British experts team up to develop computer-based math education Postimees, 13 Feb 2013.
  13. ^ http://www.alueducation.com/en/alu-partner-computer-based-maths-announces-annual-summit-3/ [bare URL image file]
  14. ^ UNICEF and Computerbasedmath.org Announce Major Summit to Reconceptualize Math Education Worldwide unicefstories.org
  15. ^ Stop Calculating And Start Teaching Computational Thinking Forbes.com June 2020