Tuesday, 16 September 2014

SMSG & SMP

School Mathematics Study Group      
                   The School Mathematics Study Group (SMSG) was an American academic think tank focused on the subject of reform in mathematics education. Directed by Edward G. Begleand financed by the National Science Foundation, the group was created in the wake of the Sputnik crisis in 1958 and tasked with creating and implementing mathematics curricula for primary and secondary education, which it did until its termination in 1977. The efforts of the SMSG yielded a reform in mathematics education known as New Math which was promulgated in a series of reports, which culminated in a series published by Random House called the New Mathematical Library. In the early years SMSG also rushed out a set of draft textbooks in typewritten paperback format for elementary, middle and high school students.

Perhaps the most authoritative collection of materials from the School Mathematics Study Group is now housed in the Archives of American Mathematics in the University of Texas at Austin's Center for American History.
   School Mathematics Study Group is a massive endeavour started in USA, in 1958 with a view to improve the existing system of mathematics curriculum. In addition to its improvement and compilation of study materials, SMSG prepared textbooks separately for both teachers and students. Yale university U. S. A. has published a set of 16 books prepared by SMSG. Eight of these books are textbooks for use in secondary school and eight companion volumes are teacher guides. Four books deal with arithmetic, two with algebra and two geometry.
                   Key ideas underlying these books are structure of arithmetic from algebraic view point, real number system as a progressive development; metric and non metric relations in geometry, experience with and appreciation of abstract concepts, the role of definition, development of precise vocabulary and thought, experimentation and proof.
                 In contrast to traditional beginning of textbooks in arithmetic the opening chapter of SMSG volume of arithmetic is ‘Mathematics as a Method of Reasoning’. Algebra is introduced through ‘Sets’. Similarly the stress in geometry is an explanation of concepts.
                 SMSG provided training programmes to teachers for handling novel methods and techniques of teaching mathematics. The curriculum and textbooks prepared by SMSG have got world wide recognition.
                   Working on this modern concept of mathematics curriculum as practiced in the U. S. A., the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has prepared some model textbooks in mathematics for use in secondary schools in India. The textbook in Algebra prepared by the NCERT deals with the following topics: elementary number theory, fractions, rational numbers, linear equations, quadrilateral equations, radicals, complex numbers, integral exponents, polynomials, partial fractions, sequences and series, permutations and combinations, binomial theorem and logarithms. By 1970 Kerala also revised the Mathematics curriculum in tune with modern Mathematics sponsored by the SMSG.
 Scottish Mathematics Project

                   Scottish Mathematics Project was started in 1961 for making improvements in mathematics curriculum. The mathematics curriculum was reconstructed in Scotland with the intension of teaching mathematics heuristically in schools. They prepared with this intention 5 textbooks for pupils studying for GCE [General Certificate of Education] examination at 0 level. Later in 1967 they prepared a series of textbooks from A to H levels for the students studying for CSE examination. These textbooks were prepared by considering the problems and needs of teachers and students. It includes a number of experiments and problem solving activities. They also prepared handbooks for the teachers for effective teaching.

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