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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