Johannes Kepler Symposium on Mathematics

As part of the Johannes Kepler symposium on mathematics Dr. Terry Maguire, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin, will give a public talk (followed by a discussion) on Wed, June 19, 2013 at 15:15 o'clock at HS 13 on the topic of "Projekt "Math Eyes"" . The organziers of the symposium,

O.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ulrich Langer,
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerhard Larcher
A.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jürgen Maaß, and
die ÖMG (Österreichische Mathematische Gesellschaft),

hereby cordially invite you.

Series A - General Colloquium:

The intention is to present general information not only to experts, but also to students and guests from outside the mathematical institutes.

Projekt "Math Eyes"

Traditional methods of mathematics teaching and learning have resulted in a maturing population who do not appreciate the mathematics they use in their everyday lives. These ‘everyday’ mathematics skills often involve the use of complicated mathematical ideas and techniques. However, many people consider the mathematics they can do as ‘common sense’ and the tasks they can’t do as ‘mathematics’.
Mathematics invisibility, poses significant challenges for education and training programmes, not least for want of a starting point, i.e. the so-called ‘bootstrap problem’ (Klinger, 2009). The self-perception of ‘not being a maths person’, confirmed by mathematics invisibility, may be transmitted across generations and their communities, restrict education choice and constrain employment mobility.
This lecture will discuss ‘Developing Maths Eyes’ an innovative maths education initiative from Ireland which offers a grounded approach to building confidence in individuals in their own mathematics. In the longer term an individual with maths eyes will appreciate the mathematics that they do in their everyday life and work and challenge their self-concept of ‘not being a maths person’, This new confidence in their own mathematics and in the usefulness of mathematics will be a new inheritance of future generations.
The initiative aims to:
• Develop the maths eyes of the community: (Every member of the community has maths eyes – they just need to be opened).
• Help the community to make the link between mathematics and the real world.
• Build people’s confidence in their use of maths in their life.
• Empower people and build their confidence in own maths knowledge and skills ( empowered parents are more confident in supporting their children’s learning, more confident citizens can make more informed evaluations of the information that bombards them everyday and have a better understanding of the impact of their actions and decisions in their life, work and leisure).
• Build a positive image of maths.