Accessible Mysteries: The Global Math Circle
theglobalmathcircle.org
theglobalmathcircle.org
Here's a short blurb about our approach and history:
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The GMC approach
Our approach is to treat math education as an accessible mystery. We combine a small group of children and an experienced guide. They go deep for ~8 weeks seeking to understand the insight behind the mystery. It’s an awesome experience where once a week the children share ideas and debate with each other what the next question should be, discovering deep mathematics along the way. The guide contributes minimal input because the discussion is led by the students, helping them learn leadership skills along the way. We never turn anyone away for lack of funds. All of our prices for circles and leader training are sliding scale and we regularly accept kids who can’t pay at all.
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Our History
The Global Math Circle (originally named “The Math Circle”), the earliest math circle in the US, was founded in Boston, MA in 1994 by Robert and Ellen Kaplan[1], authors of such books as Out of the Labyrinth[2] and The Art of the Infinite[3]. The intention, in Bob's words, "Small groups meet with their leader, each seeing and talking with all; and as always, the leader no more than posing a deep and exciting question (an accessible mystery) and the students probing it collegially together. They come up with examples, counter-examples, insights and proofs: intense fun."
In 2015, the GMC moved online and has been running online circles and leader training institutes since. A group of enthusiasts have been helping Bob and Ellen, and with Bob's passing in 2022, continue to operate the GMC on the same principles that guided the organization from its inception. In addition to our main presence across the United States, GMC actively collaborates with groups around the world to spread our approach, from Senegal[4] to Brazil[5] and from Kenya[6] to Columbia[7].
[1] https://www.theglobalmathcircle.org/bob-and-ellen-kaplan
[2] https://www.amazon.com/Out-Labyrinth-Setting-Mathematics-Fre...
[3] https://www.amazon.com/Art-Infinite-Pleasures-Mathematics/dp...
[4] https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/62a8b0053c26bc44ba610734/630...
[5] https://web.archive.org/web/20210730105533/http://www.ocircu...
[6] https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/62a8b0053c26bc44ba610734/630...