‘Mathematics has transformed my life’, says IMPA Tech student
Ingrid Carvalho tells of her OBMEP career at the Education Journalism Congress
IMPA Tech graduate Ingrid Silva Carvalho, 18, from Vitória da Conquista (BA), took part on Monday (25) in São Paulo in the 9th International Congress of Education Journalism. She took part in a panel on teaching mathematics in Brazil together with Katia Smole, executive director of the Reúna Institute, and Antônio de Souza Silva, a teacher from Bacabal (MA). The moderator was Estadão journalist Renata Cafardo, president of Jeduca (Association of Education Journalists), which organized the event. Check it out here the debate.
Ingrid shared with the Congress participants her trajectory in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) and IMPA Tech. “It was very special to share my vision as a student, showing how mathematics has transformed my life and how what we learn in the subject can be applied in everyday life through logical reasoning. The Mathematical Olympiad opened doors that led me to IMPA Tech, and I hope that my experience will contribute to reinforcing the importance of mathematics in the lives of young people and children,” she said.
The daughter of a math teacher, the student learned about OBMEP in 6th grade and became even more fascinated by the subject. “After the test, I realized that math was more challenging and I was excited to do the Olympiad again. In my second participation, I got a gold medal and joined the PIC (Jr. Scientific Initiation Program), where I had special classes and received a scholarship,” she said.
Ingrid also advocated a broad, interdisciplinary education. “It’s important to learn things like the Bhaskara formula, for logical reasoning. Nowadays, people want everything immediately, everything is very fast, especially because of social media, but some things are behind it. To create technologies, mathematics is behind them, so they needed Bhaskara’s formula. I think it’s important to teach it in schools and show the applications, show why it’s important.”
Throughout her school life, the student has won four medals in the scientific competition: three golds and one silver. Ingrid is currently in the second term of her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Innovation Technology at IMPA Tech. “Through the Olympic vacancies, I’m now doing my degree in Rio de Janeiro. I get housing, food and a ticket to start classes. This has really changed my life,” he said.
The panel also discussed possibilities for changes in the training guidelines for math teachers, the National Common Curriculum Base (BNCC), challenges faced by teachers and students in the classroom, such as the use and/or banning of cell phones and the consequences of the pandemic on the learning of the current generation.
Organized by Jeduca, the event will take place in São Paulo on August 25 and 26 at Fecap (Álvares Penteado School of Commerce Foundation). The congress program includes lectures, panel discussions, training workshops and presentations of local and peripheral journalism cases. Jo Boaler, one of the world’s leading experts in mathematics education, creator of the Mathematical Mentalities approach and professor at Stanford University, was one of the speakers.
