The Future of Math is Liberatory: Here’s How We Get There
Forging Ideal Math Futures:
Tech, Co-Design, Collective Action
The Modernizing Math project, launched by Optimistic Design in collaboration with KnowledgeWorks and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to revolutionize math education. By engaging students, teachers, and caregivers in participatory design, they envision a future where power is shared, schools are reimagined, and math education is liberatory, ensuring no student is marginalized. Leveraging future casting techniques, the project offers insights into potential changes impacting our collective futures. The resulting document, "Modernizing Math: Envisioning Liberatory Math Futures," provides a roadmap for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to transform this vision into reality. Through this initiative, math education becomes a catalyst for empowerment and societal progress.
The COVID-19 vaccine, artificial intelligence, climate science, and quantum computing all underscore the critical role of math in contemporary society. Recognizing this, the Modernizing Math project seeks to redefine math education for future generations. Through participatory design with students, teachers, and caregivers, they imagine a future where schools empower all learners and math becomes a source of excitement and engagement. By embracing a liberatory approach, the project ensures inclusivity and equity in math education. Drawing on future casting techniques, the project anticipates shifts in education and offers actionable insights for stakeholders. "Modernizing Math: Envisioning Liberatory Math Futures" provides a forward-looking perspective, guiding efforts to transform math education into a force for positive societal change.
A liberatory framework
Transformative math instruction benefits BL-LI students. Idealized futures, shaped by lived experts, demand societal dedication to change. Understanding principles for tech development reshapes math focus for students and teachers.
Our Theory of Change
In order to achieve our ideal outcomes, strategic action can be taken by using our Levers of Change. The inputs that affect change are not only the baseline conditions but also a societal shift into a liberatory mindset.
asset-based
Educators recognize, uplift, and champion the talents and gifts of priority students. Recognize that they have the aptitude for mathematical thinking.
student-centered
Educators and caregivers work to eliminate “adultism” in decision making and system design and center student voice, agency, and desires.
equity-centered
Systems should prioritize designs that meet the needs of underserved students to benefit all.
system thinking
Decision-makers must prioritize student-centered approaches by evaluating and aligning incentives to serve students effectively.
Levers of change
The levers that can move us towards the ideal outcomes imagined by lived experts.
Transforming math teacher education, supporting, training, and providing resources for teachers and other support educators as they engage with students and the education system at large.
Developing a math curriculum that grows students' critical consciousness through supported and evolved teacher pedagogical practices that are focused on learning together.
Developing a math curriculum that grows students' critical consciousness through supported and evolved teacher pedagogical practices that are focused on learning together.
Designing flexible learning environments that give students and teachers more opportunities to integrate math as an explorative practice.
Emerging technology principles
Establishing principles for technologists developing emerging tech like AI, AR/VR, and blockchain ensures safety and fosters trust and agency among future co-designers. Each principle includes prompts for considering tech use or creation.
Co-design and transparency
Technology needs to be created and developed in community with those most marginalized within the system.
Creativity
Technology should diversify ideas and promote creative thinking
Active learning
Technology should prioritize inquiry-based learning and productive struggle.
Human relationships
Technology should enhance and prioritize human relationships.
Data autonomy
Data collection practices should prioritize the autonomy and consent of students.
Spark the conversations and actions to collectively work towards an ideal future in math education.
Watch our webinar to learn more
Watch our webinar with Optimistic Design, KnowledgeWorks, and the Gates Foundation. Learn how our program began, why co-designing with students and teachers is crucial, and how to utilize our recommendations today.
