Math Makes the News: Memmingen’s First Public Trail!
We are very pleased to share the following article by Patrick Schreiber, mathematics teacher at Vöhlin-Gymnasium Memmingen, which was recently published in a local newspaper. In his text, he describes how the MathCityMap app combines mathematics and city exploration in an exciting way.
We are delighted to feature the article here on our website – offering a glimpse into the practical implementation of our project.
The trail (4528465) created by him is now publicly available and invites everyone to discover Memmingen from a completely new – mathematical – perspective.
In the following you’ll find the complete newspaper article (translated from German):
The Vöhlin mathematics teacher Patrick Schreiber has, with the help of the MathCityMap app, created a trail for students and for all those who enjoy facing small and larger mathematical challenges while exploring Memmingen at the same time. The free software is provided by the team around Prof. Dr. Matthias Ludwig of the Goethe University Frankfurt. The GPS-guided tour through the city follows the route provided by the city information office under the title “Memmingen – City of Freedom Rights.” Stations include, among others, the Frauenkirche, the Freedom Fountain, and the Kramerzunft. It deals with geometric objects, combinatorial aspects, and functional relationships that are hidden behind concrete objects, in buildings, paths, and patterns.
At the stairs leading from Herrenstraße up to the Martinskirche, one has to calculate how many steps the staircase would need to be extended in order to reach the top of the Martinsturm. At the fountain on the marketplace, the task is to calculate the base area, with the measuring tape function on the smartphone providing assistance. Things get noticeably trickier at the Lotzerhaus.
Whereas math lessons in the classroom often make students’ heads spin and cause frustration, MathCityMap offers mathematics at concrete objects – outside, right in the middle of city life. And it’s all about teamwork: solutions are developed together, and successes are celebrated together. The whole thing can, of course, also be organized as a competition. And if the right idea or formula is missing, the app gives helpful hints – all without the pressure of grades. A great idea for a school excursion, a few math lessons in the fresh air, but also for locals of Memmingen or visitors. The app is available at www.mathcitymap.eu. The Memmingen Math Trail is publicly accessible there. Trails can be found for many locations across Europe.
