ASIA-EUROPE

FOUNDATION

PRESS RELEASE
International Congress “Paradigms in mathematics education for the 21st century.
“Sharing educational experiences with Asia. ” Valencia Conference Center, from
October 22 to 24

LEARNING MATHEMATICS AT THE

ASIAN WAY
• The PISA and TIMMS tests confirm that Asian countries are an international
reference in the teaching of Mathematics. Understanding the secret of its
success is the main objective of this congress, the first of its kind to be held in
Europe.

• The main Asian and Western experts in mathematics education - from Finland,
China, Korea, Hungary, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United States
and India, as well as Spain - will share pedagogical methods and experiences.

• How to encourage interest and effort in Spanish students; how to take

advantage of calculators and computers in classrooms; or what is the best
training for mathematics teachers are some of the topics up for debate at the
conference.

Madrid, October 2009. How to make Spanish high school students as good in
mathematics as Asian students? This is one of the questions that will be addressed
by the international conference “Paradigms in mathematics education for the 21st
century. Sharing educational experiences with Asia", which will take place at the
Valencia Conference Center (Auditorium III) between October 22 and 24.

The congress, which will feature the participation of international experts in

mathematics education, is organized jointly by Casa Asia and the CSIC in
collaboration with the Valencia City Council, the Consolider i-MATH project and
the Asia Europe Foundation.

The latest PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) reports cast doubt
on whether the preparation of Spanish students in Mathematics and Science is
optimal. On the contrary, Asian countries have become an international reference
in the teaching of Mathematics . The good results of students from China, Singapore
and Korea, among others, in the PISA Report and the International Mathematics and
Science Study (TIMSS) tests suggest that the exchange of experiences in this area with
Asian experts can be very beneficial. This is the main objective of the congress.

In addition, the congress will serve to deepen knowledge of the mathematics

teaching systems of Asian and Western countries , and establish the foundations for
collaboration that provides mutual benefits.

The learning of mathematics and science is increasingly evident as an important

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factor in facilitating the transition towards a model of society based on innovation
and knowledge . A circumstance that has become even more evident after the
current economic and financial crisis that raises the urgency of evaluating new
production and development models.

The three-day congress is structured around work sessions that will deal with
international mathematics competitions; the new tools for teachers; curricular
reform; the connections between mathematics education and industry ; and the
educational experiences shared with Asia.

The meeting will also discuss the new technologies available for teaching
mathematics , such as the European project Intergeo, in which Spain participates, as
well as the initiatives underway in various countries to improve the training of
mathematics teachers. at different levels of education.

National and international participants

Representatives of universities or educational systems from Finland, China, Korea,

Hungary, New Zealand, Taiwan, the United States, Hong Kong and India will
participate in the meeting.

Among other international specialists, it is worth highlighting the presence of

Michelle Artigue , president of the International Commission on Mathematics
Education, ICMI; Bill Barton , specialist in Ethnomathematics; Celia Hoyles , British
Government adviser on mathematics education; Shiqi Li , director of the Institute of
Mathematics Education, East China Normal University (ECNU); Juha Oikkonen ,
expert in mathematics didactics at the University of Helsinki; József Pelikán ,
president of IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad); Fou-Lai Lin , National
President of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education
(PME); John Ewing , director of “Math for America” USA and former Executive
Director of the American Mathematical Society; Hee-Chan Lew, member of the
International Program Commission for the International Congress on Mathematics
Education 2012; and Jeremy Kilpatrick, 2007 Klein Prize Winner, University of
Georgia.

Among the national participants it is worth mentioning the national manager for the
PISA program in Spain, Lis Cercadillo , from the Evaluation Institute of the Ministry of
Education; to the director of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT) of the
Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Manuel de León –co-organizer of the
congress-, and to representatives of different Spanish universities: University of
Granada, Complutense University of Madrid, University of Valencia , University of
Santiago de Compostela and the University of Cantabria.

PISA and TIMMS reports

The PISA report that the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development) inaugurated in 2000, offers the most complete and comparative
photograph of the educational levels of a total of 60 developed countries (30 of the
Organization, excluding the United Kingdom, and 30 associated countries). The results
are obtained from a series of tests on Mathematics, Science and Reading, which more
than 300,000 high school students take every three years. PISA 2009 was held last May
and the results will be made public at the end of 2010.
The 2003 and 2006 Pisa reports showed that Spanish secondary school students
are at the bottom of developed countries in Mathematics, Science and Reading.

The TIMSS study is a project of the International Association for Educational

Evaluation (IEA). The IEA is an independent institution that has cooperated with
national research institutions in conducting evaluation studies since 1959. The TIMSS
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study is conducted every four years by surveying students, teachers, and school
leaders about the contexts for learning mathematics and science and provides
countries with a unique opportunity to measure progress in teaching mathematics and
science. . The last report was carried out in 2007.
PROGRAM

“Paradigms in mathematics education for the 21st century. Sharing educational

experiences with Asia” will be held from October 22 to 24 at the Valencia Conference
Center (Auditorium III).

THURSDAY 22 MORNING: WORK SESSION

9.00-9.30h Registration of participants

9.30-10.00h Opening ceremony
Session I: Sharing educational experiences with Asia (I).
Moderator: Manuel de León, SPAIN, Director of ICMAT (Institute of Mathematical Sciences) of
the CSIC (Higher Council for Scientific Research), Member of the Executive Committee of IMU
(International Mathematical Union).
10.00-10.45am

An overview of PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment): Lis Cercadillo ,

Technical-Teaching Advisor, Evaluation Institute, Ministry of Education.
10.45- 11:00 a.m. Coffee break
11.00-12.30h

Presentations:

• TAIWAN: Fou-Lai Lin , National Taiwan Normal University, National President of PME
(International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education), Editor-in-Chief of
IJSME (International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education).
• CHINA: Li Shiqi , East China Normal University, President of China Mathematics
Education Research Association.
• FINLAND: Juha Oikkonen , Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of
Helsinki.

Session II: International perspectives in mathematical competitions: Moderator: Tomás

Recio , SPAIN, University of Cantabria, Former President of the School Council of the
Autonomous Community of Cantabria, Former President of the Education Commission of the
CEMAT (Spanish Mathematics Committee).

12:30-1:30 p.m.

• HUNGARY: József Pelikán , Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, President of IMO

(International Mathematical Olympiad).

SPAIN: María Gaspar , Complutense University of Madrid, Vice President of the

IMO2008; President of the Spanish Mathematical Olympiad.

THURSDAY 22 AFTERNOON: SESSION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Session III: International Perspectives of new tools for teachers. Moderator: Bernardo
Gómez , SPAIN, University of Valencia, Former President of SEIEM (Spanish Society for
Research in Mathematics Education).

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15.30-17.15

• The Klein Project: Bill Barton , NEW ZEALAND, University of Auckland, President-Elect
of ICMI (International Commission on Mathematics Education).
• The Intergeo project: Tomas Recio , SPAIN, University of Cantabria, Former President
of the School Council of the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, Former President of
the CEMAT Education Commission.
• ACTM (Asian Conference on Technology in Mathematics): Wei-Chi Yang : USA, Radford
University.

FRIDAY THE 23RD TOMORROW: WORK SESSION

Session IV: Sharing educational experiences with Asia (II). Moderator: Manuel de León,
SPAIN, Director of ICMAT of the CSIC, Member of the Executive Committee of IMU.
9.00-9.45am
A general perspective from ICMI: Michelle Artigue , FRANCE, Paris Diderot University (Paris 7),
President of ICMI.
9.45-11.45am
Presentations:

• SPAIN: Luis Rico , University of Granada; Former Vice-Rector of the University of

Granada, member of the Commission in Charge of the PISA Report, President of the
CEMAT Education Commission and Bernardo Gómez , University of Valencia, Former
President of SEIEM.
• INDIA: Yes. Kumaresan , University of Hyderabad; Member of the National Council for
Mathematics, Member of the Executive Committee of ICMI.
• USA: John Ewing , Director of “Math for America ” ; Former Executive Director of the
AMS (American Mathematical Society).
• HONG KONG: Frederick K. S. Leung , University of Hong Kong; Member of the ICMI
Executive Committee.

10.46- 12:00h Coffee break

Session V: International Perspectives of curricular reform.

Moderator: Luis Rico , SPAIN, University of Granada; Former Vice-Rector of the University of
Granada, member of the Commission in Charge of the PISA Report, President of the CEMAT
Education Commission.
12:00-1:00 p.m.

• Luis Puig , SPAIN, University of Valencia; and Center for Research and Advanced
Studies, Mexico; Former President of the Mathematical Education Society of the
Valencian Community "al-Khwärizmi".
• Jeremy Kilpatrick : USA, Félix Klein Prize 2007, University of Georgia.

FRIDAY THE 23RD AFTERNOON: SESSION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Session VI: International Perspectives on the connections between mathematics

education and the industry.
Moderator: Tomás Recio , SPAIN, University of Cantabria; Former President of the School
Council of the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, Former President of the CEMAT Education
Commission.

3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

• ICMI/ICIAM Study (International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics): José
Francisco Da Silva Rodrigues , PORTUGAL, University of Lisbon, Director of the
International Center for Mathematics.
• The Spanish experience: Juan Manuel Viaño ; SPAIN, Vice-rector of the University of
Santiago de Compostela; Former President of the Conference of Mathematics Deans.

SATURDAY THE 24TH TOMORROW: SESSION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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Session VII: Sharing educational experiences with Asia (III). Moderator: Luis Rico , SPAIN,
University of Granada, Former Vice-Rector of the University of Granada, Member of the
Commission in charge of the PISA Report, President of the CEMAT Education Commission.
9:00-11:30 a.m.

Presentations:

• Singapore: Yeap Ban Har , National Institute of Education.

• Korea: Hee Chan-Lew , Korea National University.
• Portugal: Jaime Carvalho e Silva , University of Coimbra; member of the ICMI
Executive Committee.
• Great Britain: Celia Hoyles , Institute of Education, University of London; Freudenthal
Prize 2003, member of the Executive Committee of the International Commission on
Mathematics Education ICMI.
• Australia: Peter Taylor , University of Canberra, AUSTRALIA; CEO, Australian
Mathematics Trust.

11.30- 12:00h Coffee break

12 .00h CONCLUSIONS (Moderator: Manuel de León)
13 .00h Closing ceremony

Profiles of the main international speakers:

Michelle Artigue , president of the International Commission on Mathematics Education, ICMI.

Professor of Mathematics Didactics at the University of Paris VII. Expert in teaching
mathematics at the university level and in the didactic use of new technologies (computers,
etc.).

More information at: http://www.casaasia.es/matematicas/pdf/Michele_Artigue.pdf

Bill Barton , University of Auckland, New Zealand, President Elect of the International
Commission on Mathematics Education, ICMI. Specialist in Ethnomathematics. It investigates
the way in which very different languages express mathematical ideas, and also the way in
which language affects the way one thinks when doing research in mathematics. His biography
is peculiar; For example, he developed part of his studies by correspondence and has
participated in mathematical outreach television programs and in initiatives to teach
mathematics to the Maori.

More information at: http://www.math.auckland.ac.nz/wiki/Bill_Barton

Celia Hoyles , director of the new National Center for Excellence in the Teaching of
Mathematics in the United Kingdom. Freudenthal Prize from the International Commission on
Mathematics Education. The main person responsible for mathematics education among the
educational authorities in the United Kingdom, advisor to the British government on this
matter. Dubbed the Czar of Mathematics by the British press, she participated for several
years in a television program about mathematics for children.

More information in:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/jan/22/highereducation.academicexperts

Shiqi Li, director of the Institute of Mathematics Education, East China Normal University
(ECNU). In his presentation, Li will explain the “reasons for the success” of mathematics
teaching in China: “Recent cross-national studies have provided a multitude of evidence
showing that East Asian students obtain better results. Generally speaking, Chinese students
learn mathematics in a special environment and atmosphere (...).”

More information at:

http://math.ecnu.edu.cn/~sqli/intro.html?id=25http://www.casaasia.es/matematicas/
ponencias/ShiqiLi.pdf

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Juha Oikkonen , expert in mathematics teaching at the University of Helsinki. The PISA
Report places Finland as the country with the best educational level, both in science and in
reading comprehension. Since these data were published, there has even been “PISA tourism”
to Finland, to the point that the Ministry of Education itself has set up a department to serve
visitors in search of the formula on how to teach.

More information at: http://www.logic.math.helsinki.fi/people/juha.oikkonen.html

John Ewing . He directs the Maths for America project, which seeks to recruit and maintain
young high school teachers in the system, with incentives and specific training. The program
applies for now to New York, but it is hoped to expand it to other US states. He has been
executive director of the prestigious American Mathematical Society for 13 years.

More information at: http://www.mathforamerica.org/web/guest/about-us/staff/John-Ewing

Fou-Lai Lin , National Taiwan Normal University, National President of the International Group
for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME), editor-in-chief of the International
Journal of Science and Mathematics Education (IJSME).

More information in:

http://www.math.ntnu.edu.tw/admin/homepage/personal_e.php?Name_e=Lin,_Fou-Lai

Hee-Chan Lew, Researcher at the Korea Institute for Educational Development, executive
secretary of the Korean Society for Educational Studies in Mathematics, member of the
International Psychology Group for the International Commission on Mathematics Education
and member of the International Program Commission for the International Congress on
Mathematics Education 2012. He has led projects based on mathematics education through
computer technology, teaching methods, evaluation and textbook development funded by the
Korean Research Foundation and the Ministry of Education.

More information in:

http://www.casaasia.es/congresomates/pdf/Hee.pdf

Jeremy Kilpatrick : 2007 Klein Prize, University of Georgia. Before joining the Georgia faculty
in 1975, he taught at Teachers College, Columbia University. He has taught courses on
mathematics education in various European and Latin American universities and received a
Fulbright scholarship with which he was able to work in New Zealand,

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 Spain, Colombia and Sweden. Founding member of the United States Council on Mathematical
Sciences Education.

More information at: http://math.coe.uga.edu/GradCoord/KilpatHomePg.html

For more information :

http://www.casaasia.es/matematicas/esp/index.html

i-Math Communication Office

Mónica Salomone: 649 934 887/Ignacio Bayo: 610 908 224
Tel: 917424218
[email protected]

Casa Asia Communication Department

Josep Casaus: 636 205 370/ 93 368 0327. [email protected]

“Paradigms in mathematics education for the 21st century. Sharing educational

experiences with Asia” From October 22 to 24 at the Valencia Conference Center
(Auditorium III).

Organized by :

CSIC

In collaboration with :

ASIA-EUROPE
VALENCIA CITY COUNCIL FOUNDATION