Strategic Partnership
Maths in Motion is a KA2 Erasmus+ project about how dance and body movement can be used as tools to teach mathematics. Maths in Motion is a strategic partnership that brought together people from the formal and non-formal education in order to work, explore and develop this new, creative and innovative method.
The Maths in Motion methodology was collaboratively developed and field-tested by an international group of teachers, dancers, science communication experts, researchers, and mathematicians. The development took place between 2017 and 2019. All of the people involved shared the common perspective that dance and mathematics have something in common, and that dance would, therefore, be an excellent aid in mathematics education.
Nowadays more and more students are struggling in math and have difficulties to comprehend and put in practice what they learn, the need for an inclusive, kinaesthetic and engaging way of teaching is emerging. The idea behind the project is grounded in embodied cognition which proves that learning depends on the body as well as the brain (Robbins and Aydede, 2009). With embodied activities, the whole body is involved in the learning process instead of keeping it just on an intellectual level. This process opens up new horizons for students, teachers, and even parents by offering simultaneous experiences with the structural, spatial, rhythmic and symbolic dimensions of mathematics through body movement.
The project and its results follow in the footsteps of the writing, workshops, and performances of Schaffer and Stern (USA) in the field of mathematics and dance over the past few decades.
Resources
Timeline
30-31 October 2017Kick-off Meeting
Ommen, The NetherlandsNovember 2017 - January 2019Maths in Motion workbook
1st Intellectual Output18-22 February 2018"Maths in Motion"
Training Activity in Ommen, The Netherlands6-8 May 2018"Sense of space: from 2D to 3D"
Training Event in Athens, Greece15-17 May 2018"Patterns"
Training Event in Codogno, Italy28-30 May 2018"Mathematical Operations"
Training Event in Galati, RomaniaFebruary - September 2018Maths in Motion Toolkit
2nd Intellectual OutputNovember 2018"Maths & Beyond"
Training Activity in Ommen, The NetherlandsJanuary 2019"Dancing with Maths"
Multiplier Event in Ommen, The NetherlandsFebruary 2019"Maths in Motion.gr"
Multiplier Event in Athens, GreeceMarch 2019"Steps to Maths"
Multiplier Event in Galati, RomaniaApril 2019"Math through dance, dance through Math"
Multiplier Event in Sofia, BulgariaMay 2019"Maths & Dance in a game!"
Multiplier Event in Holstebro, DenmarkJune 2019"Math is fun!"
Multiplier Event in Codogno, ItalyJuly 2019 "Bridges Festival"
Multiplier Event in Linz, AustriaNovember 2019 Closing & Follow-up Meeting
Ommen, the NetherlandsJuly 2020 "Maths in Motion world cafe"
Online multiplier event