Education for Mathematically Gifted Students in Taiwan Prof. Cheng-Der Fuh National Central University, Taiwan 07.24.2012 Abstract • Introduction • System 1. Elite Programs • System 2. Science Affairs – National Primary and High School Science Fair – Taiwan International Science Fair • System 3. Mathematical Competitions – National IMO Selection Competition Introduction • List of Gifted Classes in High Schools Region Taipei City Northern Taiwan Eastern Taiwan School Name Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School The First Girl Highs School Taipei Jingmei Girls High School Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School The Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University National Yang Ming Senior High School Taipei Municipal Yongchun Senior High School Taipei Municipal Nei-Hu High School Wego Private Senior High School Pan-Chiao Senior High School National Wu-Ling Senior High School National Experimental High School at Hsinchu Science Park National Hsinchu Senior High School National Hsinchu Girl’s Senior High School National Yilan Senior High School National Hualien High School National Hualien Girl’s High School Region Central Taiwan Southern Taiwan School Name National Taichung First Senior High School National Taichung Girl’s Senior High School Taichung Shi Yuan Senior High School National Taichung Second Senior High School Taichung Municipal Chungming Senior High School Taichung Municipal Hui-Wen High School National Taichung Wen-Hua Senior High School Changhua Senior High School National Changhua Girl’s Senior High School National Chia-Yi Girl’s Senior High School National Chia-Yi Senior High School National Tainan First Senior High School National Tainan Girl’s Senior High School Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Senior High School Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Girl’s Senior High School The Affiliated Senior High School of National Kaohsiung Normal University National Feng-Shan Senior High School National Pingtung Senior High School National Pingtung Girl’s Senior High School Introduction Outside of the gifted classes in high schools, three major education systems for Taiwanese talented children are: 1.Elite Programs 2.Science Affairs 3.Mathematical Competitions 1. Elite Programs Program for high school gifted students • Jointly hosted by the Ministry of Education and the National Science Council. • Five sub-programs: Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science. • In each sub-program, ten domestic scholars are invited to be the advisor of these students. 1. Elite Programs Other Elite Programs • • • • Foundation of United Microelectronic Corporation National University of Kaohsiung Department of Applied Mathematics, National Sun Yat-sen University Department of Applied Mathematics, National Hsinchu University of Education Students in these programs usually further participate in science fairs and / or mathematical competitions to further pursue their talents in Mathematics, which we would introduce in the following. 2. Science Fairs There are two major science fairs in Taiwan: • National Primary and High School Science Fair • Taiwan International Science Fair 2. Science Fairs National Primary and High School Science Fair • Founded in 1960 • Hosted by the National Taiwan Science Education Center • Over 200,000 students and teachers participate the contests annually, with over 20,000 projects are presented each year, leaving a widespread and significant impact. 2. Science Fairs Age Subject Elementary School Physics Chemistry Biology Mathematics Earth Science Applied Science Junior High School Senior High School High School of Commerce Mechanism Electronics and Information Science Chemical and Environmental Engineering Civil Engineering Agriculture and Biotechnology 2. Science Fairs National Primary and High School Science Fair • In 1982, the International Science and Engineering Affair (ISEF) of USA begin to invite Taiwanese student to the fair. • At the beginning, 2 students are selected from the National Primary and High School Science Fair to participate ISEF. • In 1989, due to the outstanding performance of Taiwanese students, the ISEF raises the number of students to 6, selecting two students each from each of the northern, central and southern Taiwan. 2. Science Fairs National Primary and High School Science Fair • From that on, more and more international science fairs invite Taiwanese student to participate, with the number of invitations increasing rapidly that eventually exceeds the scope of the original National Primary and High School Science Fair. 2. Science Fairs Taiwan International Science Fair • Founded in 1991, and renamed in 2002. • Select students to participate international science fairs including: – – – – – Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) Expo Sciences International (ESI) in Slovakia Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) Hong Kong Joint School Science Exhibition (HKJSSE) Singapore Science and Engineering Fair 2. Science Fairs Taiwan International Science Fair The Taiwanese contestant performs extremely well in these fairs. • Between1982 and 2010, a total of 160 projects of Taiwanese students have been selected to compete at ISEF. • They have won: 1 Intel Young Scientists award, 9 Best of Category Awards, 92 Grand Awards and 106 Special Awards. • The ratio of Taiwanese students to win a Grand Award is about 64% (102/160), which outperforms the ratio of all participants, which is around 30%. 2. Science Fairs Recently, two other science affairs arise that exist simultaneously with the existing two major affairs: •The Macronix Science Award •Shing-Tung Yau High School Mathematics Award 3. Mathematical Competitions National IMO selection competition • Suggested by Prof. Shiing-Shen Chern in Nov. 1990. • In Dec. 1990, the authority approved the suggestion, assigning Prof. Fon-Che Liu for IMO and also Prof. Jau-D Chen for APMO. • Taiwan begins to participate in APMO since 1991, and in IMO since 1992. • Prof. Chen is in charge of Taiwan IMO program from 1992 to 2002. • Prof. Cheng-Der Fuh is in charge of Taiwan IMO program since 2003. 3. Mathematical Competitions National IMO selection competition • Suggested by Prof. Shiing-Shen Chern in Nov. 1990. • In Dec. 1990, the authority approved the suggestion, assigning Prof. Fon-Che Liu for IMO and also Prof. Jau-D Chen for APMO. • Taiwan begins to participate in APMO since 1991, and in IMO since 1992. • Prof. Chen is in charge of Taiwan IMO program from 1992 to 2002. • Prof. Cheng-Der Fuh is in charge of Taiwan IMO program since 2003. =APMO Selection= APMO Camp GMC Camp ※ 86 Students in Total ※91 Student in Total APMO Date:2012.2.3 ~ 5 N. Central Univ. 38 students continue Date:2012.2.5~7 N. Central Univ. 75 students continue Date:2012.3.13(Tue) N. Central / Kaohsiung Univ. 29 students continue Date:2012.2.11(Sat.) N. Central / Kaohsiung Univ. ※201 Students in Total 70 students continue ※ 231 Students in Total APMO Pre-exam -數學奧林匹亞辦公室- IMO Selection Camp 1st Stage Date:2012.3.23~27 2nd Stage 3rd Stage Date:2012.4.6~10 Date:2012.4.20~24 29 Students 16 Students 11 Students 16 Students 11 Students 6 IMO Member and 2 Understudy -數學奧林匹亞辦公室- IMO Training Camp IMO 1st Camp 5/4~5/8 2nd Camp 5/18~5/22 3rd Camp 6/1~6/10 4th Camp 6/20~6/23 5th Camp 6/29~7/2 -數學奧林匹亞辦公室- The 53rd IMO •Date:2012/7/4 ~ 2012/7/15 •Place:Mar del Plata, Argentina -數學奧林匹亞辦公室- Historical Ranking of IMO 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Taiwan 9 7 16 6 7 10 9 9 11 19 8 Japan 13 16 9 8 8 7 7 11 2 7 12 Vietnam 10 5 4 4 4 13 3 12 15 11 31 South Korea 4 6 6 12 5 3 4 4 4 4 13 Russia 2 2 5 3 3 6 1 2 3 2 4 USA 2 3 3 2 2 2 5 3 6 3 2 China 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 3. Mathematical Competitions Many other mathematical competitions stand side-by-side with the national IMO selection competition in Taiwan, including: •Shing-Tung Yau High School Mathematics Award •Math. Competition for Junior High School Students (Ministry of Education) •National Math. Competition for High School Students (Ministry of Education) •Inter. Math. Tournament of the Towns (Chiuchang Math. Edu. Foundation) •Taiwan Regions Math. League (Chiu-Chiu Education Foundation) •American Math. Competitions (Chiu-Chiu Education Foundation) • Thank You for Your Attention