Playful learning, technology, and science took center stage in the effort to spark young people’s interest in mathematics. Through its School of Mathematics, the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) held the 26th edition of the “Mathematical Calendar Student Meeting”.
The academic event was led by the Mathematics Education Research Group (EDUMAT) and brought together 43 eighth- and ninth-grade students from educational institutions in the Bucaramanga metropolitan area. The initiative promoted mathematics learning through problem-solving and collaborative work.
Beyond simply finding answers, these activities seek to create meaningful experiences in which students become interested, actively participate, and enjoy challenges focused on mathematical reasoning. The project aims to demonstrate that learning mathematics can also be engaging, dynamic, and participatory.
UIS Technology Takes Mathematics Learning to the Next Level
Students from schools in Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area experienced a unique learning environment that combined the use of hands-on materials with digital technology. Soma Club and the educational platform GeoGebra allowed students to explore spatial visualization, the composition and decomposition of geometric figures, and the search for problem-solving strategies, helping them strengthen their mathematical thinking.
“At the meeting we had today with UIS and the Mathematical Calendar, I honestly felt very comfortable working with classmates I didn’t know. I really enjoyed reviewing different topics that I had seen at school, as well as others that I didn’t remember as well. It was very productive; we worked on many things, and technology helped us a lot,” said Yuriana Liney Capacho Carreño, a ninth-grade student at José Elías Puyana School.
The Mathematical Calendar continues to establish itself as a space where problem-solving goes beyond a traditional school exercise and becomes an experience of exploration, creativity, and collaboration. Through recreational mathematics, the initiative opens new pathways for developing students’ thinking skills and strengthening their enthusiasm for learning.
