Computer-Based Math is an educational project started by
Conrad Wolfram in 2010 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. Wolfram also argues that computers are the basis of doing math in the real world and that education should reflect that and that programming should be taught as part of math education.
Wolfram contends that this approach is fundamentally different from most of the use of
Computers in the classroom
Computers in the classroom include any digital technology used to enhance, supplement, or replace a traditional educational curriculum with computer science education. As computers have become more accessible, inexpensive, and powerful, the dema ...
(or
Computer-based mathematics education), 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
Educational technology (commonly abbreviated as edutech, or edtech) is the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning. When referred to with its abbreviation, edtech, it often refer ...
systems.
In 2010 the websit
www.computerbasedmath.orgwas 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 in cooperation with the
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu (UT; et, Tartu Ülikool; la, Universitas Tartuensis) is a university in the city of Tartu in Estonia. It is the national university of Estonia. It is the only classical university in the country, and also its biggest ...
. The African Leadership University plans to use materials developed by ComputerBasedMath.org in its Data and Decisions curriculum.
UNICEF
UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to ...
supported the third Computer-Based Math Education Summit in New York, in 2013.
Examples of calculations that should be done with a computer include arithmetical operations such as
long division
In arithmetic, long division is a standard division algorithm suitable for dividing multi-digit Hindu-Arabic numerals (Positional notation) that is simple enough to perform by hand. It breaks down a division problem into a series of easier steps ...
or integration techniques such as
trigonometric substitution
In mathematics, trigonometric substitution is the replacement of trigonometric functions for other expressions. In calculus, trigonometric substitution is a technique for evaluating integrals. Moreover, one may use the trigonometric identities ...
.
In 2020 Wolfram published a book "The Math(s) Fix" detailing the problems and his proposed solution.
Stop Calculating And Start Teaching Computational Thinking
Forbes.com June 2020
See also
* Computational thinking
Computational thinking (CT) is the mental skill to apply concepts, methods, problem solving techniques, and logic reasoning, derived from computing and computer science, to solve problems in all areas, including our daily lives. In education, CT ...
References
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External links
http://computerbasedmath.org
Mathematics education
Mathematics education reform
Wolfram Research
Projects established in 2010