ICMI
Encyclopedia
The International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI) is an international organisation with a focus on mathematics education
, founded in 1908 at the International Congress of Mathematicians
(ICM) in Rome. It aims to improve teaching standards around the world, through programmes, workshops and initiatives. ICMI aims to work a great deal with developing countries, to increase teaching standards and education which can improve life quality and aid the country.
was elected first president of the organisation. Henri Fehr
and Charles Laisant created the international research journal L'Enseignement Mathématique in 1899, and from early on this journal became the official organ of ICMI. A bulletin is published twice a year by ICMI, and from December 1995 this bulletin has been available at the organisation's official website, in their 'digital library'.
In the years between World War I and World War II there was little activity in the organisation, but in 1952 ICMI was reconstituted. At this time the organisation was reorganised, and it became an official commission of the International Mathematical Union
(IMU). As a scientific organisation, IMU is a member of the International Council for Science
(ICSU). Although ICMI follows some of the general principles of IMU and ICSU, the organisation has a large degree of autonomy.
As a commission, ICMI has two main bodies:
Together, these two constitute the General Assembly (GA) of ICMI. The GA is summoned every four years in connection with the International Congress on Mathematical Education, ICME
. The executive committee is appointed by the general assembly of IMU for four-year terms.
There are currently four multinational Mathematical Education Societies:
• CIAEM: Inter-American Committee on Mathematics Education (2009)
• CIEAEM: International Commission for the Study and Improvement of Mathematics Teaching (2010)
• ERME: European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (2010)
• MERGA: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (2011)
And six international Study Groups which have obtained affiliation with ICMI:
• HPM: The International Study Group on the Relations between the History and Pedagogy of Mathematics (1976)
• ICTMA: The International Study Group for Mathematical Modelling and Applications (2003)
• IOWME: The International Organization of Women and Mathematics Education (1987)
• MCG: The International Group for Mathematical Creativity and Giftedness (2011)
• PME: The International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (1976)
• WFNMC: The World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions (1994)
ICME is an international event which is held every four years under the auspices of ICMI. The congress looks at the development of mathematical education across the world.
ICMI Regional Conferences
ICMI sometimes offers financial as well as moral support to facilitate the organisation of regional meetings these have to be related to mathematical education. Precedence goes to less affluent countries.
AFRICME: The Africa Regional Congress of ICMI on Mathematical Education was launched in 2005 and aims at offering a forum for mathematics educators throughout Africa.
CIAEM: The Conferencia interamericana de educación matemática — Inter-American Conference on Mathematical Education organised by the Comité Interamericano de Educación Matemática - Inter-American Committee on Mathematical Education to promote discussion amongst Latin-American countries.
EARCOME: is the name given to the ICMI-East Asia Regional Conferences in Mathematics Education. The South East Asia Conferences on Mathematics Education (SEACME) series began in 1978 in Manila. In addition there have been two ICMI-China Regional Conferences on Mathematics Education, in Beijing (1991) and Shanghai (1994). The EARCOME series has replaced the SEACME series.
EMF Launched by the French Sub-Commission of ICMI on the occasion of the World Mathematical Year 2000, the series of Espace Mathématique Francophone conferences is built on a notion of "region" defined in linguistic rather than geographical terms, French being a common language among participants.
Other ICMI Regional Conferences occur on a more ad hoc basis.
Approval of a Conference as an ICMI Regional Conference
Two main aspects are that:
• The conference should be genuinely international, and not just a national activity;
• The conference should aim for high standards of scientific quality, with a planning and organizing structure that assures this.
• The ICMI Bulletin
• ICMI News – The ICMI electronic newsletter
• ICME Proceedings
• ICMI Studies Publications
• Proceedings from other ICMI Conferences
• L’Enseignement Mathématique
• The Felix Klein Award, named after the first president of the ICMI (1908-1920), honours a lifetime achievement.
• The Hans Freudenthal Award, named after the eighth president of ICMI (1967-1970), recognises a major cumulative programme of research.
At each ICME, the medals and certificates of the awards are presented at the Opening Ceremony. Furthermore, the awardees are invited to present special lectures at the Congress.
Mathematics education
In contemporary education, mathematics education is the practice of teaching and learning mathematics, along with the associated scholarly research....
, founded in 1908 at the International Congress of Mathematicians
International Congress of Mathematicians
The International Congress of Mathematicians is the largest conference for the topic of mathematics. It meets once every four years, hosted by the International Mathematical Union ....
(ICM) in Rome. It aims to improve teaching standards around the world, through programmes, workshops and initiatives. ICMI aims to work a great deal with developing countries, to increase teaching standards and education which can improve life quality and aid the country.
History
ICMI was founded at the ICM, and mathematician Felix KleinFelix Klein
Christian Felix Klein was a German mathematician, known for his work in group theory, function theory, non-Euclidean geometry, and on the connections between geometry and group theory...
was elected first president of the organisation. Henri Fehr
Henri Fehr
Henri Fehr was a Swiss mathematician. He was the founder of the Foundation for the Advancement of Mathematical Sciences, of the journal "Commentarii Mathematici Helvetici" and of the journal "L'Enseignement Mathématique"...
and Charles Laisant created the international research journal L'Enseignement Mathématique in 1899, and from early on this journal became the official organ of ICMI. A bulletin is published twice a year by ICMI, and from December 1995 this bulletin has been available at the organisation's official website, in their 'digital library'.
In the years between World War I and World War II there was little activity in the organisation, but in 1952 ICMI was reconstituted. At this time the organisation was reorganised, and it became an official commission of the International Mathematical Union
International Mathematical Union
The International Mathematical Union is an international non-governmental organisation devoted to international cooperation in the field of mathematics across the world. It is a member of the International Council for Science and supports the International Congress of Mathematicians...
(IMU). As a scientific organisation, IMU is a member of the International Council for Science
International Council for Science
The International Council for Science , formerly the International Council of Scientific Unions, was founded in 1931 as an international non-governmental organization devoted to international co-operation in the advancement of science...
(ICSU). Although ICMI follows some of the general principles of IMU and ICSU, the organisation has a large degree of autonomy.
Structure
All countries that are members of IMU are automatically members of ICMI; membership is also possible for non-IMU members. Currently, there are 90 member states of ICMI. Each member state has the right to appoint a national representative.As a commission, ICMI has two main bodies:
- the Executive Committee (EC), and
- the national representatives from the member countries.
Together, these two constitute the General Assembly (GA) of ICMI. The GA is summoned every four years in connection with the International Congress on Mathematical Education, ICME
International Congress on Mathematical Education
The International Congress on Mathematical Education is held every four years under the auspices of the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction of the International Mathematical Union ....
. The executive committee is appointed by the general assembly of IMU for four-year terms.
Affiliate Organisations
These include multi-national organisations, which are independent from ICMI and have interests in the field of mathematics.There are currently four multinational Mathematical Education Societies:
• CIAEM: Inter-American Committee on Mathematics Education (2009)
• CIEAEM: International Commission for the Study and Improvement of Mathematics Teaching (2010)
• ERME: European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (2010)
• MERGA: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (2011)
And six international Study Groups which have obtained affiliation with ICMI:
• HPM: The International Study Group on the Relations between the History and Pedagogy of Mathematics (1976)
• ICTMA: The International Study Group for Mathematical Modelling and Applications (2003)
• IOWME: The International Organization of Women and Mathematics Education (1987)
• MCG: The International Group for Mathematical Creativity and Giftedness (2011)
• PME: The International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (1976)
• WFNMC: The World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions (1994)
Conferences
International Congress on Mathematical EducationICME is an international event which is held every four years under the auspices of ICMI. The congress looks at the development of mathematical education across the world.
ICMI Regional Conferences
ICMI sometimes offers financial as well as moral support to facilitate the organisation of regional meetings these have to be related to mathematical education. Precedence goes to less affluent countries.
AFRICME: The Africa Regional Congress of ICMI on Mathematical Education was launched in 2005 and aims at offering a forum for mathematics educators throughout Africa.
CIAEM: The Conferencia interamericana de educación matemática — Inter-American Conference on Mathematical Education organised by the Comité Interamericano de Educación Matemática - Inter-American Committee on Mathematical Education to promote discussion amongst Latin-American countries.
EARCOME: is the name given to the ICMI-East Asia Regional Conferences in Mathematics Education. The South East Asia Conferences on Mathematics Education (SEACME) series began in 1978 in Manila. In addition there have been two ICMI-China Regional Conferences on Mathematics Education, in Beijing (1991) and Shanghai (1994). The EARCOME series has replaced the SEACME series.
EMF Launched by the French Sub-Commission of ICMI on the occasion of the World Mathematical Year 2000, the series of Espace Mathématique Francophone conferences is built on a notion of "region" defined in linguistic rather than geographical terms, French being a common language among participants.
Other ICMI Regional Conferences occur on a more ad hoc basis.
Approval of a Conference as an ICMI Regional Conference
Two main aspects are that:
• The conference should be genuinely international, and not just a national activity;
• The conference should aim for high standards of scientific quality, with a planning and organizing structure that assures this.
ICMI Publications and Research
There are a variety of various publications made by or under the auspices of ICMI, some resulting directly from activities organised by the Commission, examples include:• The ICMI Bulletin
• ICMI News – The ICMI electronic newsletter
• ICME Proceedings
• ICMI Studies Publications
• Proceedings from other ICMI Conferences
• L’Enseignement Mathématique
Awards
From 2000 onwards ICMI has been presenting two awards. These were the Felix Klein and the Hans Freudenthal Awards. These prizes recognise outstanding achievement in mathematics education research.• The Felix Klein Award, named after the first president of the ICMI (1908-1920), honours a lifetime achievement.
• The Hans Freudenthal Award, named after the eighth president of ICMI (1967-1970), recognises a major cumulative programme of research.
At each ICME, the medals and certificates of the awards are presented at the Opening Ceremony. Furthermore, the awardees are invited to present special lectures at the Congress.