Alex Bellos on How to Teach Maths

In a 30-minute BBC Radio program called "How to Teach Maths," Alex Bellos looks at how and why mathematics education is different today than it was when he was growing up.

Bellos observes a primary school math lesson in progress, talks to a neuroscientist about the "neurological starter kit" on which humans build their mathematical skills, and challenges education researchers on the evidence supporting curricular changes such as those under way. Bellos learns about "chunking" (a method for doing long division), hears how parents of today's youngsters are losing their fear of math, and broaches the topic of whether the U.K. should adopt the methods of the high performing countries in East Asia.

Bellos concludes:

The more people who share a passion for maths, the better the world will be, and hopefully we're getting there, child by child, chunk by chunk.

Listen to the segment.