On November 9-13, 2020, the Training Class for Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Trainers and Inheritors (Middle Rank) was successfully held by Chinese Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association (hereinafter referred to as CAMAA) at Zhijiang Hotel Hangzhou. Cheng Beiping (Secretary-General of WAAMA and Executive Vice Chairman of CAMAA), Wang Weida (Vice Chairman of CAMAA and Head Coach of China National Abacus Mental Arithmetic Player Training Center), Wen Zhifang (Director of Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Research Center and Deputy Secretary-General of CAMAA), Huang Wenkun (Executive President of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Institute, Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences, and General Manager of Beijing Caike Everest Technology Co., Ltd.), Mi Huizhen (Deputy Secretary-General of CAMAA) and other leaders attended the closing ceremony of the training course. This training course was sponsored by CAMAA, organized by Beijing Caike Everest Technology Co., Ltd., and co-organized by the Accounting Society of Zhejiang Province. A total of 198 abacus and mental arithmetic teachers nationwide participated in the training. Zhao Xiangyi (Secretary-General of CAMAA) presided over the opening ceremony and closing ceremony

(Opening ceremony of the training course)

At the opening ceremony on the morning of November 9, Yu Lisheng (Researcher and Head of the Accounting Society of Zhejiang Province) delivered a welcome speech. He said, the first training course for abacus trainers (middle rank) held in Hangzhou is both an encouragement and spur to the education of abacus and mental arithmetic in Zhejiang Province. It’s hoped that this training course will become a new starting point for the development of abacus and mental arithmetic in Zhejiang Province, and a new driving force for us to inherit the excellent traditional culture.

At the opening ceremony, Lu Ping (Vice Chairman of CAMAA and Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanghai) put forward three requirements  regarding the training of national abacus and mental arithmetic trainers and inheritors: First, raise awareness and consciously enhance the sense of responsibility and mission to inherit the abacus and mental arithmetic cause; second, strengthen learning and strive to improve the professional quality of abacus and mental arithmetic trainers; third, carry out more practices and seek steady progress in the development of abacus and mental arithmetic education. She hopes that all member units, especially teachers who work on the frontline, consciously shoulder the mission of inheriting the science and culture of abacus and mental arithmetic under the new situation, reform with keen determination, and take the initiative to fulfill due responsibilities, so as to create a new situation for abacus and mental arithmetic education.

Four experts including Wang Weida and Lu Ping (Vice Chairmen of CAMAA and Senior Coach of Chinese abacus and mental arithmetic), Feng Lisheng (President of the Institute for History of Science and Technology & Ancient Texts, Tsinghua University and Doctoral Supervisor), and Chen Feiyan (Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Physics Department, Zhejiang University) were invited to give lectures. The course arrangements and teaching contents are all prepared and implemented in accordance with the provisions and requirements of the Standards for Certification of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Trainers of the Chinese Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association (hereinafter referred to as the “Standards”). Professor Feng Lisheng elaborated on the transition from rod-arithmetic to abacus, the invention and popularization as well as spread and influence of abacus, and the importance of intangible cultural heritage protection, inheritance and development from the perspective of the history of mathematics; Vice Chairman Wang Weida gave a comprehensive explanation on the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division types, characteristics and training methods of abacus and abacus and mental arithmetic; Vice Chairman Lu Ping gave a detailed interpretation on the certification procedures, application qualifications, and trainer classification in the “Standards”, explained the teaching design of abacus and mental arithmetic multiplication and division, the comparison and analysis of abacus and mental arithmetic and manual computation teaching, and shared how to write a lesson plan for multiplication and division. Professor Chen Feiyan systematically explained the research results of improving children’s mathematics and migration ability, affecting brain plasticity, and strengthening the communication between left and right brains through abacus and mental arithmetic training. The wonderful lectures by four experts benefited the trainees a lot through brainstorm for knowledge acquisition.

To promote the training work more effectively and strengthen training management, an online full-process operation mode was adopted, realizing the integration of registration, attendance, classroom performance statistics and issuance of training completion certificates, and improving the efficiency of training management. The training lasted for 5 days from November 9 to 13. Due to the large number of trainees, four class teachers were assigned for management of different classes. This training featured a tight curriculum schedule, an active classroom atmosphere, and positive interactions between teachers and students. The students took the initiative to ask questions and the teachers answered patiently, forming a good learning atmosphere for discussing together and learning from each other. To achieve a demonstration effect and enhance mutual exchanges between trainees, the training class organized trainees to give two trial lectures at two evenings. A total of nine trainees shared their teaching experience. Wang Weida, Lu Ping, Zhou Limin, Cui Jingyu, Meng Qingbiao and other experts made wonderful comments at class. Through demonstration operations and on-site explanations, the trainees’ practical capabilities have been significantly improved.

(The experts made careful comments on the class)

On November 13, the training class organized the abacus and mental arithmetic grade appraisal and theoretical knowledge final test in accordance with the Standard.

Subsequently, a simple graduation ceremony was held. Cheng Beiping attended the ceremony and delivered a speech.

He said, this training is well organized to improve the teaching capability and professional quality of national abacus and mental arithmetic teachers and abacus inheritors, and build a stronger contingent of national abacus and mental arithmetic teachers. With the training contents designed in strict accordance with the “Standards”, the training course expert group hopes to help abacus and mental arithmetic teachers who work on the frontline improve their capabilities in inheriting the abacus culture, studying arithmetic algorithms, compiling teaching materials and plans,  carrying out in-depth researches and other aspects, and promote their transformation into abacus and mental arithmetic teachers with strong learning and research capabilities and specialized knowledge.

(Group photo of some trainees)

Cheng Beiping hopes that every trainee can bravely shoulder responsibilities and contribute to the construction of an education power. We should also firmly grasp the scientific characteristics of abacus and mental arithmetic of developing children’s intellectual potential, hold on to the major opportunity period for the development of abacus and mental arithmetic in the new era, undertake the important task of creative transformation and innovative development of abacus culture and make due contribution to the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.