- Education
Workshops and theatrical performances for an innovative approach to teaching mathematics.
MatemACT – Playing with Mathematics is an innovative initiative by COREP | Social Community Theatre Centre, supported by MIUR and in collaboration with the University of Catania, the Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples, and the University of Turin. It stems from COREP | SCT’s experience in research on mathematics and STEM teaching, developed over 10 years of work through national and international training projects aimed at teachers and education professionals.
Recent neuroscience studies confirm that learning and emotions are closely linked: fear of error and a teaching approach that inhibits positive emotions lead to poor learning and detachment from the subject, as emotions such as unease, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, or lack of motivation hinder learning.
European studies emphasize the importance of mathematics for individual and social progress. Despite this, many students, especially girls, harbor distrust and fear towards scientific subjects, believing they are not “suited” for the subject – then choosing study and work paths based on this prejudice. Furthermore, traditional teaching methods, based on memorization and rote repetition, also fuel distrust towards this subject.
The combination of these factors limits opportunities and leads to a gap in mathematical skills, particularly evident in Italy.
Therefore, it is essential to promote a more positive image of mathematics and offer all students the same learning opportunities.
MatemACT has proposed a completely different approach, focused on active learning and experience. Through playful activities, workshops, and concrete projects, the new methodology has stimulated curiosity and critical thinking and revealed how mathematics is present in every aspect of daily life.
The expressive and universal languages of the performing arts, acting with a positive impact on the affective sphere, have led to an increase in learning and a proactive attitude.
Another fundamental aspect of the project was teacher training. Teachers and future teachers participated in refresher courses to acquire new skills and learn to use innovative teaching methods, capable of making mathematics an engaging and accessible subject for everyone.
Based on these factors, MatemACT has developed a series of interventions to:
In particular, the project has used the performing arts to address preconceptions towards scientific subjects through two methods of intervention:
In particular, the project taught three groups of mathematics teachers the TIM and Mathemart methodology for teaching mathematics through theater, created by the SCT Centre and a group of international partners in the Erasmus+ research project TIM – Theatre In Mathematics. This was a mathematics education based on experiential learning and the involvement of the cognitive, physical, and affective spheres through theatrical language and a series of playful and expressive activities in which the entire class participated, employing skills related to the subject. The teacher training was conducted with three groups of students from university courses in Didactics of Mathematics and Educational Sciences in Catania, Naples, and Turin.
The project then created and disseminated Contaci! (Count on us!), a theatrical performance about the link between fear of mathematics and the prejudice that prevents women from studying scientific subjects. The performance, created through the methodology of Social and Community Theater, was the result of two work processes: scientific research and a collection of stories about the relationship with mathematics carried out in Europe that involved primary and lower secondary schools and families, who answered questions about emotions, physical sensations, and imagery related to “doing mathematics”.
The MatemACT – Playing with Mathematics project was funded by the MIUR as part of the PANN20_00695 project – MatemACT – Playing Mathematics – CUP B13D21008260001.
The project was developed by COREP | Social Community Theatre Centre in collaboration with:
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We conduct planning, research and evaluation, developing performing arts events and workshops that promote cultural and social participation through the Social Community Theatre methodology.
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