Visit Math

We applied for the VisitMath project to address several important educational needs: to make mathematics more engaging and concrete, to combat declining student engagement, to promote inclusion and accessibility for all, and to highlight European cultural heritage. We identified a need to connect mathematics to the real world, using architecture and urban planning as educational tools to demonstrate its omnipresence. The project offers a fun and interactive approach through tours and puzzles, transforming learning into an experience. The focus is on non-formal learning methods, moving beyond the classroom to stimulate curiosity and exploration. For inclusion, we designed educational tools accessible to students with learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc.), using adaptable and customizable formats like ebooks. Finally, by exploring heritage, VisitMath strengthens European identity and awareness of our shared legacy, while providing teachers with innovative, ready-to-use tools to enrich their practices and facilitate the integration of these tours into their curricula.

The VisitMath project aimed to transform mathematics education in Europe. We wanted to make math less abstract and more engaging by linking it to cities' cultural and architectural heritage. The idea was to get students aged 12 to 16 out of the classroom to show them that mathematics is everywhere, from building geometry to monument proportions, turning cities into living "math museums." This playful approach was designed to spark their curiosity and engagement. A key objective was to make education more inclusive. We designed educational tools tailored for students with specific language disorders (SLD), incorporating accessibility features (formats, fonts, colors) and customizable digital resources. Our goal was for every student to master mathematical concepts with confidence. Finally, VisitMath sought to strengthen European awareness and appreciation for our shared heritage. We aimed to provide teachers with ready-to-use tools for an interdisciplinary approach, making mathematics come alive and connecting it to history and culture.

We structured the VisitMath project into several work packages (WPs) to achieve our goals. WP1 managed the project's administrative and financial coordination, ensuring compliance with Erasmus+ requirements. WP2 developed the theoretical foundations, producing a best practices guide for teaching mathematics through urban architecture and a manual for creating tours. WP3 brought these ideas to life by creating 18 mathematical tours and 19 associated educational sequences, all field-tested. WP4 innovated digitally with an interactive map of 60 European cities and deepened content for 18 of them, transforming these into ebooks tested by partners. Finally, WP5 implemented a broad communication strategy, including a multilingual website, visual materials, and dissemination activities that reached over a million people, ensuring the production of tangible resources and engagement with target audiences.

VisitMath delivered concrete and significant results, often exceeding initial expectations. WP2 produced two essential pedagogical guides: "How Our Cities Can Help Teach Mathematics" and the "Creation Handbook." Both are available in five languages (English, French, Greek, Polish, Italian) on visitmath.eu. WP3 generated 190 tangible outputs, including a pedagogical guide, 18 mathematical tours, and 19 associated educational sequences, all translated into the five partner languages. These tools, designed collaboratively and benefiting from an exceptional 993 feedback comments, were tested during six national testing phases involving 47 teachers and 702 students. WP4 drove digital innovation by selecting 60 locations for an interactive map and creating 18 ebooks. These tools were tested in trials involving 55 teachers and 1,066 students. Finally, WP5 disseminated the project via a multilingual website, reaching over 1.6 million people. The project recorded over 11,000 resource downloads (far exceeding the initial goal of 1,500) and published 24 blog articles.