The key to engaging children and teenagers early on with mathematics lies in taking abstract theory and translating it to a context that can be understood and related to easily. Mathematics has long been taught in a dry, boring way. Perhaps the history of mathematics should be taught alongside traditional number theory. There are after all, over 5000 years worth of multicultural progressive advancements to cover that can easily put modern day maths in a more interesting light.
For example, Evariste Galois, the revolutionary French scholar, whilst still at school developed a new language for symmetry but was killed in a duel over love at age 20.
Georg Cantor went insane after trying to contemplate infinity and spent years in a mental asylum.
Zero and negative numbers were viewed with suspicion as late as the 14th century. Zero was banned in Florence in 1299.
Advancements in mathematics have frequently come about out of necessity – to overcome huge engineering problems when constructing the pyramids in ancient Egypt for example.
Children today live in a much faster paced world than their parents. They’re used to “snacking” on bite-sized pieces of information. It’s no surprise that books of dry theory on trigonometry can’t compete with youtube and facebook! The teaching of subjects like Maths must adapt to entertain and engross the next generation of young mathematicians.
Teaching children maths with a generous sprinkling of dramatic historical stories is sure to make them engage better and take the subject further.
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