MathSpaces is a two-year collaboration on open educational resources for math museums and exhibitions. Its goal is to address underachievement in the basic skills of maths and to increase the number of spaces dedicated to the non-formal approach to mathematics in the European Union. It was started on January 2017 by five european math outreach projects under an Erasmus+ program.

 

 

Why math spaces

More than 22% of European students are low achievers in maths according to the PISA results (2012). One of the main causes is the lack of engagement of young people who have a very negative perception of mathematics.

Museums, centres and houses of mathematics were created all over Europe to promote a non-formal approach to mathematics, which has a proven effect on the mathematical skills of young people and their engagement with mathematics.

But spaces dedicated to this approach to maths are still few. This shortage is caused by unfamiliarity with the approach and the difficulty of finding appropriate resources and content.

 

 

 

The partners

Maison des Maths

Belgium

 

Fermat Science

France

 

IMAGINARY

Germany

 

 

 

Output

MathSpaces will produce several materials aimed at the mathematical outreach community.

Available now

A non-formal approach to mathematical education

Downloadable book (PDF format)
Cover of the book "A non-formal approach to mathematical education"

Coming soon

  • A guidebook

    on the creation of spaces dedicated to the non-formal approach to mathematics.

  • A database

    of open educational resources (tools, games, activities and stations) for math spaces.

  • Two math exhibitions

    scientifically and pedagogically accurate, with construction plans and tutorials. One for ages 3-8 and one for ages 9-15.

The publications will be available in six languages (spanish, catalan, french, italian, german and english) and all materials will be free and published under an open license. Institutions are welcome to contact us to share the fruits of this project.

 

 

Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. It runs for seven years, from 2014 to 2020. Erasmus+ aims to modernize education, training and youth work across Europe. The European Union links Erasmus+ to policy objectives such as the Europe 2020 targets to raise higher education attainment from 32% to 40% and reduce the share of early school leavers from 14% to less than 10%.

 

 

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