July 31, 2024
Ms. Theresa Baco-Probadora, an instructor at the College of Education, represented Samar State University during the “15th International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME-15)” from July 7-14, 2024 held at the International Convention Center, Sydney, Australia. A total of 2,322 delegates from around the world attended the international congress, including 37 representatives from the Philippines.
The conference began with participant registration, facilitating networking among attendees. The day concluded with a welcome reception at the ICC Sydney Grand Ballroom, featuring local cuisine and live choral entertainment from a children’s group.
The second day commenced with the “Welcome to Country” and Opening Ceremony at the Darling Harbour Theatre, including a performance by Didgeridoo Performers. The morning featured lectures and workshops across various ICC rooms. The afternoon included presentations by Topic Study Groups (TSG) for Strands A and B.
On the third day, Professor Rina Zazkis delivered a plenary lecture on the interplay between teaching and research in mathematics education. This was followed by awardee lectures and a plenary panel discussing evidence in mathematics education. The day included national presentations, workshops, and ICMI affiliate sessions, concluding with TSG presentations for Strand A.
On the fourth day, Dr. Iddo Gal presented a plenary lecture on preparing graduates for adult life, followed by invited lectures and workshops and the afternoon featured TSG presentations for Strand B.
The fifth day was so exciting as participants enjoyed an excursion day, exploring Sydney through guided tours of landmarks like the Sydney Opera House, Bonza Bike Tours, The Rocks Walking Signature history and pub tour, and various museums.
On the sixth day, the day included ICMI affiliate sessions, workshops, and TSG presentations for Strand A. Dr. Jill Adler delivered a plenary lecture on bidirectional research in mathematics education. The afternoon featured invited lectures, workshops, and TSG presentations for Strand B.
By the seventh session, a plenary panel discussed how mathematics education addresses global challenges such as climate change and pandemics. The day included discussion groups, workshops, and TSG presentations for both Strands A and B.
The final day featured a plenary lecture by Professor Jason Sharples on “The Mathematics of Bushfire.” The conference concluded with a closing ceremony and farewell gathering at the Darling Harbour Theatre.
This inclusive gathering united enthusiasts of mathematics and statistics education, facilitating connections among colleagues from around the globe. The event aimed to create enduring impacts in the field of mathematics on local, regional, and international levels.
Ms. Baco-Probadora expressed that “The organization of ICME-15 was impressive. Registration was seamless, allowing delegates to quickly print their name badges using kiosks by scanning the barcode received via email after official registration. The Congress also utilized an application called “Evexus,” which provided all necessary information about the event.” She also added, “Given the vast venue, it was easy to get lost, but the event was well-staffed with personnel ready to assist delegates and direct them to their desired locations.”
