Yogyakarta, 2 May 2025 — In celebration of Indonesia’s National Education Day, the SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Mathematics (SEAQiM) successfully hosted an international webinar titled “Transforming Numeracy in Education: Innovative Approaches to Empower Future Generations.” The event attracted enthusiastic participation from approximately 300 educators, academics, and education stakeholders across Southeast Asia and beyond.
The webinar opened with a welcome address from Dr. Sumardyono, Director of SEAQiM, who began by reflecting on the legacy of Ki Hajar Dewantara, the father of Indonesian education. He emphasized how Dewantara’s vision continues to inspire educational transformation today. Dr. Sumardyono also underscored the critical role of numeracy as a foundational skill in navigating the complexities of the 21st century, stressing the need for continuous innovation in mathematics education to empower students to solve real-world problems.
Recognizing numeracy as a key 21st-century competency, the webinar explored creative and impactful strategies to make mathematics more engaging, meaningful, and accessible for all learners. Two distinguished speakers offered transformative insights into numeracy education in the digital age.
The first session featured Dr. Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Reading, United Kingdom. His presentation, “Using Storytelling to Enhance Mathematical Understanding in the Classroom,” captivated participants with practical strategies and research-based insights. Dr. Vincent emphasized the value of storytelling in deepening students’ mathematical understanding, fostering critical thinking, and building emotional connections to abstract concepts. He advocated for positioning students not merely as passive recipients of knowledge, but as storytellers who create their own mathematical narratives—making learning more personal and meaningful.
In the second session, Dr. Dicky Susanto, an expert in educational technology from the Calvin Institute of Technology, Indonesia, delivered a presentation on “Cultivating Critical Thinking through Numeracy in the Digital Age.” He emphasized the importance of nurturing a culture of thinking in the classroom and highlighted how digital tools can enhance numeracy instruction. Dr. Susanto showcased how a technology-enriched learning environment can help students visualize complex mathematical concepts, thus making them more accessible and easier to comprehend. He called on educators to embrace interdisciplinary and tech-integrated approaches to equip students with essential analytical skills in today’s data-driven world.
The sessions were expertly moderated by Ms Miftahul Hidayah, M.Ed., who shared her closing remarks by concluding the two experts, Dr Natthapoj Vincent Trakulphadetkrai, emphasized the transformative potential of positioning students not just as learners and listeners but as storytellers in the mathematics classroom. He shared how inviting students to create their own mathematical stories can make abstract concepts more meaningful and personally relevant. Dr. Dicky Susanto highlighted the importance of fostering a culture of thinking in the classroom as a foundation for cultivating students’ critical thinking skills in numeracy learning. Dr. Dicky also shared how a technology-rich environment can support this process by helping students visualize abstract mathematical concepts, making them more accessible and easier to understand.
This successful event reaffirmed SEAQiM’s commitment to advancing mathematics education and championing innovative approaches that empower future generations.
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