Teaching maths will never be the same again. A hands-on programme that makes maths relevant and interesting has reached Ireland, the first country outside the US to introduce the scheme.
The Infinity Project makes it impossible for a maths student to say, "why do I need to learn this", according to Michael Tully of the Dublin Institute of Technology.
The nine-module course describes the maths connected to everyday devices. Learning about sound waves produced by a favourite song allows an introduction to the trigonometry that describes sine waves. Use of an MP3 player is connected to the data compression techniques that enable thousands of songs to fit on a device little bigger than a credit card.
The curriculum was designed by educational experts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. "The Infinity Project has taken specific areas relevant to the students and linked them to the maths curriculum," Mr Tully said. "They see how maths is used directly in their own lives."
The project now operates in schools in 31 US states and consists of a textbook, laboratory manual and specific hardware.
Based in DIT's school of electronic and communications engineering, Mr Tully was looking for teaching material that would help retain student interest in maths. He is now the first person outside the US licensed to use Infinity Project materials.
A pilot group of five schools has taken on the programme for use in transition year and Mr Tully has run training programmes for about 70 teachers.
It costs €10,000 to fit out a school. DIT president Prof Brian Norton yesterday officiated at the formal launch of the project in Ireland at the first school to sign on, Oatlands College in Stillorgan. It began last spring and four more schools in Bray, Dublin, Dalkey and Kilkenny started in September.
Visit www.electronics.dit.ie/ infinity
Science Week: what's on today
Whiz, Bang and Pop Science with Walter Rohr, show, Institute of Technology, Sligo, 7pm, room A0004, free, more information from 071-915 5355
Hot-air balloon workshop, Waterford Institute of Technology, 7pm, pre book on 051-302037
May the force be against you, lecture, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, 11am and 1.30pm, free, pre-book on 074-918 6306