This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8dzeg6kd2o
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bristol artist's dream inspired new method for learning maths | |
| (30 days later) | |
| Artist, writer and actor Brook Tate said he had suffered from a "deep fear of maths" | Artist, writer and actor Brook Tate said he had suffered from a "deep fear of maths" |
| From simple to complex equations, maths can be stressful for anyone who finds it confusing. | From simple to complex equations, maths can be stressful for anyone who finds it confusing. |
| One artist believes he may have found a way to help people with maths anxiety or dyscalculia by unlocking numbers and transforming them into art. | One artist believes he may have found a way to help people with maths anxiety or dyscalculia by unlocking numbers and transforming them into art. |
| The Multicolour Maths method came to Brook Tate in a dream after being inspired by mathematician Alan Turing. | The Multicolour Maths method came to Brook Tate in a dream after being inspired by mathematician Alan Turing. |
| He has trialled it in schools and presented it to PhD students, Oxbridge professors and engineers and is now convinced it will "open doors in education" for millions of people. | He has trialled it in schools and presented it to PhD students, Oxbridge professors and engineers and is now convinced it will "open doors in education" for millions of people. |
| The visual maths method uses colours attributed to the numbers one to 10 | The visual maths method uses colours attributed to the numbers one to 10 |
| Mr Tate, who lives in Bristol, said his idea took shape when considering how his "deep fear of maths" had stopped him from pursuing his life goals. | Mr Tate, who lives in Bristol, said his idea took shape when considering how his "deep fear of maths" had stopped him from pursuing his life goals. |
| "I wanted to be a children's nurse, but I couldn't pass the maths test," he said. | "I wanted to be a children's nurse, but I couldn't pass the maths test," he said. |
| On a visit to his family home in St Leonards-on-sea in Hastings he discovered Alan Turing had grown up nearby. | On a visit to his family home in St Leonards-on-sea in Hastings he discovered Alan Turing had grown up nearby. |
| He sat on a bench dedicated to the academic and said he “had a strange emotional feeling” and wrote a letter to him in his journal asking how he could conquer his fear of maths through art and music. | He sat on a bench dedicated to the academic and said he “had a strange emotional feeling” and wrote a letter to him in his journal asking how he could conquer his fear of maths through art and music. |
| Mr Tate said he dreamt of the new method whilst travelling around Munroe Island in south India | Mr Tate said he dreamt of the new method whilst travelling around Munroe Island in south India |
| After days of drafting up ideas and concepts that did not work, he went on a trip to Munroe Island in India to work with children. | After days of drafting up ideas and concepts that did not work, he went on a trip to Munroe Island in India to work with children. |
| "My brain was going into overdrive and started decoding my ideas subconsciously - then my life changed," he said. | "My brain was going into overdrive and started decoding my ideas subconsciously - then my life changed," he said. |
| That night he dreamt of numbers represented by colours in shapes and repeating kaleidoscope-like patterns. | That night he dreamt of numbers represented by colours in shapes and repeating kaleidoscope-like patterns. |
| "I woke up and thought, 'That's maths, I don't know how, but that is maths'," Mr Tate said. | "I woke up and thought, 'That's maths, I don't know how, but that is maths'," Mr Tate said. |
| The method uses a key of 10 colours attributed to numbers 0-9, that can be used to form equations | The method uses a key of 10 colours attributed to numbers 0-9, that can be used to form equations |
| The method he created uses a key of 10 colours attributed to numbers 0-9, that can be used to form equations. | The method he created uses a key of 10 colours attributed to numbers 0-9, that can be used to form equations. |
| The colours can be represented by any shape and placed in any direction to form multiplication, subtraction, addition and division equations. | The colours can be represented by any shape and placed in any direction to form multiplication, subtraction, addition and division equations. |
| Once arranged, the visual equation can be formed into complex mandala-like creations or simple drawings. | Once arranged, the visual equation can be formed into complex mandala-like creations or simple drawings. |
| Mr Tate said his method could be life-changing for some people | Mr Tate said his method could be life-changing for some people |
| According to OECD data, 57.4% of English adults have numeracy skills equivalent to or lower than Level 2 (UK Entry Level 3, expected at age 9 – 11). | |
| National Numeracy also found that struggling with numbers can make people more vulnerable to debt, unemployment, poor health and fraud and impacts mental health and opportunities. | |
| In light of this, Mr Tate said his method could be life-changing for adults and children who need that extra maths support. | In light of this, Mr Tate said his method could be life-changing for adults and children who need that extra maths support. |
| "The combination of colour pattern and design is something that keeps people calm. Now that I can connect with that, I understand the world in a different way," he said. | "The combination of colour pattern and design is something that keeps people calm. Now that I can connect with that, I understand the world in a different way," he said. |
| "I love maths now, it's cured my maths anxiety. Maths for me is now like an endless poem and song." | "I love maths now, it's cured my maths anxiety. Maths for me is now like an endless poem and song." |
| Pupils from Callicroft Primary Academy surprised their teachers with how quickly they understood the method | Pupils from Callicroft Primary Academy surprised their teachers with how quickly they understood the method |
| Mr Tate has trialled the method in workshops with adults and pupils at Callicroft Primary Academy, in Bristol. | Mr Tate has trialled the method in workshops with adults and pupils at Callicroft Primary Academy, in Bristol. |
| "Within half an hour they understood the main principles," he said. | "Within half an hour they understood the main principles," he said. |
| Teacher Luke Guest said: "In year four there's a big government pressure for the children to understand their times tables," he said. | Teacher Luke Guest said: "In year four there's a big government pressure for the children to understand their times tables," he said. |
| "I believe it's going to help them. I really believe if they're enjoying the learning it will stick." | "I believe it's going to help them. I really believe if they're enjoying the learning it will stick." |
| Mr Guest said the method made maths "fun" for the pupils | Mr Guest said the method made maths "fun" for the pupils |
| Oxford University mathematician Tom Crawford, also known as online content creator Tom Rocks Maths said: "There will be a very large group of people who through their childhood into adults haven't got on with maths because numbers don't make sense to them," he said. | Oxford University mathematician Tom Crawford, also known as online content creator Tom Rocks Maths said: "There will be a very large group of people who through their childhood into adults haven't got on with maths because numbers don't make sense to them," he said. |
| "The fact you can then present it to them and say, 'We're just going to talk about different colours', is exciting. | "The fact you can then present it to them and say, 'We're just going to talk about different colours', is exciting. |
| "I'd be interested to create a more formal study with adults and children to see how it affects their outcomes with learning maths." | "I'd be interested to create a more formal study with adults and children to see how it affects their outcomes with learning maths." |
| Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. | |