The session Nuno Crato EMS Mathematics Education focused on the second conference of the’EMS Online Lecture Series on Mathematics Education, held on Friday, February 13, in an online format. The initiative, promoted by the European Mathematical Society (EMS), aims to connect research in mathematics education with teaching practice and the debate on educational policies.
The lecture, titled Improving mathematical learning with principles of human cognition, was led by Nuno Crato and Tim Surma, who presented evidence from cognitive science directly applicable to mathematics teaching.
Evidence-based strategies
One of the central themes of the session was the importance of incorporating principles of memory and learning functioning into the design of teaching activities. Among the highlighted strategies were:
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Retrieval practice : actively retrieving information from memory improves long-term consolidation.
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Spaced learning : distributing study over time is more effective than concentrating it in a single session.
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Worked examples : guided analysis of well-structured examples facilitates understanding of procedures and concepts.
The speakers emphasized that these practices not only improve fluency in calculation or problem-solving but also contribute to deeper conceptual understanding.
A perspective combining research and educational policy
Nuno Crato's participation brought a unique perspective to the session. A mathematician and university professor, Crato has played a prominent role in the European educational debate. He was president of the Portuguese Mathematical Society between 2004 and 2010 and Minister of Education in Portugal between 2011 and 2015.
This dual experience—academic and institutional—allows him to advocate for the need to base educational reforms on solid empirical evidence, especially in a field like mathematics, where results largely depend on the quality of teaching.
During the session, the idea was emphasized that improving mathematical outcomes does not necessarily require increasing content, but rather optimizing how students process, consolidate, and retrieve information.
The EMS series and the teaching community
The EMS Online Lecture Series on Mathematics Education is part of a stable initiative by the European Mathematical Society to create spaces for debate and continuous training. The sessions are open to teachers, researchers, and educational policymakers, and help strengthen ties between European mathematical communities.
The Nuno Crato EMS Mathematics Education session generated interest among teachers from different countries, attracted by the immediate applicability of the proposals presented. The connection between cognitive theory and classroom practice was shown to be a promising path for sustained improvement in mathematical learning.
Commitment to quality mathematics education
The Catalan Mathematical Society particularly values participation in initiatives like this, which reinforce the commitment to rigorous, evidence-based mathematics education open to international dialogue.
The session dedicated to Nuno Crato EMS Mathematics Education highlights the importance of continuing to promote spaces for reflection that help teachers update methodologies and base their pedagogical decisions on verified scientific knowledge.