5th International Forum on Mathematical Education unites over 200 educators, scientists and students
The forum takes up 26 – 30 March and is organized by KFU’s Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics.
Welcoming the forum participants, Dmitry Tayursky, First Vice-Rector and Vice-Rector for Research, said that more than 200 events will be held to celebrate the 220th anniversary of the university.
He told the guests about the structure of KFU and noted that four institutes of Kazan University are engaged in mathematics: Lobachevsky Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics, Institute of Computational Mathematics and Information Technologies, Institute of Physics, and Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Systems Engineering.
According to the him, life has shown that mathematics education is needed today by representatives of the most diverse areas of science, “Today, biology, genetics, economics are impossible without math. In history, mathematical methods, numerical methods are also gaining weight. Therefore, the question of how to teach math is, of course, very relevant. I am sure that during the forum you will have fruitful discussions, debates, because mathematical thinking is something special. I envy the young people here, who will, firstly, master this thinking themselves, and secondly, pass on the skills of this thinking to the younger generation.”
Dr. Tayursky further emphasized the art of teaching, noting that no matter what technical innovations appear, the main element is a good teacher.
“Teaching to think is the main task of all education in the world. Mathematics is one of those sciences that can teach to think on absolutely abstract things,” he added.
He wished everyone successful work and all the best.
Marat Arslanov, Scientific Director of the Volga Regional Center for Mathematical Education, Head of the Department of Algebra and Mathematical Logic, told about the activities of the Center, especially noting that the center initiated the creation of a specialized mathematical school for gifted children in one of the districts of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Professor Arslanov added that the goal is to create a specialized provincial mathematical school for gifted children.
Concluding his speech, Arslanov spoke about the upcoming reform of the higher education system.
“All mathematicians at our university, as well as representatives of this forum, are direct implementers of this initiative and participants in the upcoming transition period. All of us are facing big and serious tasks to reform Russian mathematical education. It is very difficult and responsible. I wish us all success in this noble endeavor,” he concluded.
Liliana Shakirova, Head of the Department of Theory and Technologies of Teaching Mathematics and Informatics, told about the outstanding scientists of Kazan University. She noted that Kazan University gave birth to non-Euclidean geometry, the creator of which is mathematician, one of the rectors of the university, Nikolai Lobachevsky.
“A special pride of our institute is the mathematical school of Kazan University, which has gained world fame. From the first years of the university’s existence, mathematical education here was at a very high level. This is the merit of Kartashevsky, Ibragimov and German professors – Bartels, Renner, Bronner,” she said.
She further familiarized the forum participants with its history, and informed how IFME-2024 will be held.
“The forum is attended by about 200 scientists and educators from different regions of Russia, as well as from other countries: these are scientists and educators from Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, as well as cities and villages of Russia,” informed Dr Shakirova.
After the introductroy part, plenary reports were delivered by: Professor of the Department of Robotics, Mechatronics and Machine Dynamics of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute Mikhail Kirsanov (Analytical solutions of problems for regular mechanical systems), Professor of the Department of Informatization of Education of the Institute of Digital Education of Moscow City Pedagogical University Vadim Grinshkun (Training of teachers in the field of informatization of education: the fundamental component), and Professor of the Institute of Digital Education of MCPU Sergey Grigoryev (Conditions and requirements for the publication of scientific articles in the journal “Informatics and Education“).
The forum moderator Sergey Grigoryev told that he came to the forum for the fourth time and that Kazan is his hometown.
“I believe that Kazan is one of the best centers of mathematical science in our country,” Grigoryev said.
In his opinion, math is a very interesting science,but it’s important is to teach it well.
The forum includes the following events:
XIII International Scientific and Practical Conference on Mathematical Education at School and University;
IV International Scientific Seminar on Digital Technologies for Teaching and Learning;
XI International Scientific and Practical Conference on Information Technologies in Education and Science;
IV School-Conference on The Future of Mathematical Education;
XIII Regional Seminar of Teachers of Mathematics and Informatics on New Challenges in Teaching Mathematics at School.