Stan Yoshinobu,
Mathematics Professor
California Polytechnic State University,
College of Science and Mathematics
San Loius, Obispo: http://www.calpoly.edu/
AIBL Director
How to IBL It: Supporting Classrooms that Support Problem Solving and Reasoning via IBL Methods
http://www.inquirybasedlearning.org/about/
Encouraging students to discovery mathematics through inquiry and experimentation within the context formal classroom settings is one of the challenges facing math instructors at all levels. Implementing the spirit of Polya’s problem solving heuristic in ways that work in classroom settings is a long, ongoing challenge for math instructors.
The Academy of Inquiry Based Learning is a national organization in the United States that works with individual instructors to support and spread the use of inquiry-based learning (or IBL) methods. IBL methods provide opportunities for students to engage in critical reasoning, problem solving, conjecturing, and more broadly speaking developing a growth mindset. In short, IBL courses are places where students can learn “How to Solve It!”
While classroom environments and contexts are widely varying, the twin pillars of (a) deep engagement in rich mathematics and (b) opportunities for collaboration (between students and students and teachers) is common across variations of IBL teaching.
Thus, the Academy of Inquiry Based Learning invites faculty interested in sustaining the educational spirit of George Polya to work with the IBL community. We have shared goals in education and shared a passion for keeping alive the work of George Polya, especially through our youth.
Tivadar Divéki
Head of Science Department
Grace Church School, New York
Founder of ABACUS International Math Challenge
The ABACUS International Math Challenge (http://inside.gcschool.org/abacus/) was launched in 1997 by Tivadar Divéki. In September, 2015, we proudly changed the name of our program to Paul Erdős International Math Challenge. This program is designed for students of all abilities and demonstrates that mathematical talent can be stimulated and developed through individual attention, instant feedback and challenging subject matter with flexible levels of difficulty.
Every month, eight problems are posted for each of three age groups:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 3rd and 4th graders
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 5th and 6th graders
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – 7th and 8th graders.
Students are asked not only to solve the problems but also to present the reasoning in their solutions in English. If a student submits an incorrect solution or is simply having trouble with a problem, a teacher will offer hints as to how to go about solving the problem, giving students multiple chances to succeed.
We give five points for a thorough solution with reasoning; fewer points for a partial solution or solution with no reasoning, and more points for additional different solutions or for proving more than required.
Participants may earn extra points if they design their own problems and they get posted in the challenge.
The annual Paul Erdős International Math Challenge in this academic year runs from September 2017 through April 30th, 2018.
We are always looking for volunteer correctors, and organizations we could work with to spread the word around the world about our efforts.
Please, contact Tivadar at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions about the program.
