What is UCMAS ?
Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System
UCMAS is a unique scientifically-proven mental development program designed for children and young people to develop their latent mental power at an age when brain development is reaching its peak – children between the ages of 4 and 12.
The program was invented to capitalize on the first 12 years of children’s lives, when 75% of brain development takes place.
Learning mental arithmetic in UCMAS is more than improving the speed and accuracy of calculations. For example, adding 10-digit numbers within a few seconds is already an amazing accomplishment for most young children. However, there is more to this because when the children are learning UCMAS Mental Arithmetic, they are actually also undergoing the process developing other aspects of the mind. When the children have acquired an astonishing calculation speed, it is actually only the end result of having developed the following mental abilities:
Concentration – Observation – Visualization – Imagination – Memory – Speed – Accuracy – Creativity – Self-confidence
OUR MISSION
To provide abacus mental arithmetic courses that would help students to improve their mental abilities.
OUR VISION
To be Pioneers in contributing to building the Future of Egypt by developing the mental abilities of the egyptian child.
Benefits That Go Beyond Math !
Scientific Research
Excerpted from the book, “The Japanese Abacus, Its Use and Theory”, by Takashi Kojima, Charles E. Tuttle Company Inc. 1954, reprint 1987. ISBN: 0-8048-0278-5.
The abacus, or soroban as it is called in Japan, is one of the first objects that strongly attracts the attention of the foreigner in Japan. When he buys a few trifling articles at some store, he soon notices that the tradesman does not perplex himself with mental arithmetic, but instead seizes his soroban, prepare it by a tilt and a rattling sweep of his hand, and after a deft manipulation of rapid clicks, reads off the price. It is true that the Japanese tradesman often uses his board and beads even when the problem is simple enough to be done in one’s head, but this is only because the use of the abacus has become a habit with him. If he tried, he could no doubt easily add 37 and 48 in his head. But such is the force of habit that he does not try to recognize the simplicity of any problem; instead, following the line of least resistance, he adjusts his soroban for manipulation, and begins clicking the beads, thus escaping any need of mental effort.
Human’s brain can be divided into six parts: Cerebrum, cerebrum in between, cerebellum, center cerebrum, bridge cerebrum and medulla oblongata. Centre cerebrum, bridge cerebrum and medulla Oblongata are usually called Cerebrum trunk. Cerebrum is the most complicated part in nervous system and is the organ for psychology activities.
Human’s cerebrum is divided into left and right hemisphere. The research of psychology indicates that the shape of the two hemispheres is similar but the function is different.
The left hemisphere has close relation with language ability and thinking activities and has the function of language, abstract thought and logical thinking. The right hemisphere is concerned with object thinking such as image and shape and has the function of model identification, shape sense, creative thought and intuition.
Most people consider that the function of the left hemisphere is prevailing over that of the right hemisphere but physiologists and psychologists generally consider that the potential of the right hemisphere needs to be exploited. The ideal method is to identically use the both hemisphere, let the left hemisphere co – ordinate with the right hemisphere or the right hemisphere influence the left hemisphere to make the two hemispheres coordinating each other.
Albert Einstein, the world famous scientist and thinker, shocked the scientific community when he proposed the “Theory of Relativity. “ By using the creativity and imagination of the right hemisphere, he pictured out the interaction of time and space in his mind and overcame the limitation of the three dimensions. At the same time, he also uses deduction and logic of the left hemisphere to prove and ascertain the scientific and mathematical value of these theories.
Therefore, when both the left and right hemisphere cerebrum of the brain are combined and used effectively together, the results could be astonishing. Moreover, when we look around us and see numerous and varied user friendly products, medical discoveries and many other technological wonders, we would have no doubt that they are made possible only by endless application of the combined powers of the brain.
Although cerebrum has its huge potentiality, Scientists believe that human are only utilizing 5 – 10% of the cerebrum functions. In other words more than 90 – 95 % of it is not being utilized. That is why the method on how to cultivate and utilize potentiality of cerebrum has becoming more and more important.
Abacus Mental Arithmetic Education, A Power to Cultivate and Develop The Human Intelligence
As far as we know, Human’s brain can be divided into three parts:
Cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. Cerebellum has the function of co-ordinate movement to inject the right and left hemisphere together. Cerebrum is the most complicated organ in nervous system, but is the best treasure that God has given us. And it is the source of all our behavior, communication, thought, feelings, experiences and problem solving. Human’s cerebrum is divided into left and right hemisphere. The research of psychology indicates that the shape of the two hemispheres is similar but the function is different. The left hemisphere has close relation with language ability and thinking activities and has the function of language, abstract thought and logical thinking. The right hemisphere is concerned with object thinking such as image and shape and has the function of identification, shape sense, creative thought and intuition. Most people consider that the function of the left hemisphere is prevailing over that of the right hemisphere but physiologists and psychologists generally consider that the potential of the right hemisphere needs to be exploited. The ideal way is to identically use the left and right hemispheres, let the left hemisphere co–ordinate with the right hemisphere and the right hemisphere influence the left hemisphere to make the two hemispheres communicating each other. Albert Einstein, the world famous scientist and thinker, shocked the scientific community when he proposed the “Theory of Relativity. “ By using the creativity and imagination of the right hemisphere, he pictured out the interaction of time and space in his mind and overcame the limitation of the three dimensions. At the same time, he also used deduction and logic of the left hemisphere to prove and ascertain the scientific and mathematical value of this theory. Therefore, when the left and right hemisphere cerebrum of the brain are combined and used effectively together, the results could be astonishing. Moreover, when we look around us and see numerous and varied user friendly products, medical discoveries and many other technological wonders, we would have no doubt that they are made possible only by endless application of the combined powers of the brain. Although cerebrum has its huge potentiality, Scientist believes that human are only utilizing about 5% to 10% of the cerebrum functions. In other words, 90% to 95 % of it’s potentiality is not being fully utilized. That is why the method on how to cultivate and utilize potentiality of cerebrum has becoming more and more important. Psychologists found that there are two ways to make the left and right hemisphere to function equal, thus the two hemispheres can be utilized equally and ideally. One is pondering. This will restrains cerebrum activities and improves the communication between two hemispheres and makes the right hemisphere as functional as the left one. Second is through training. While it focuses on developing practical technique relating to the right hemisphere. It is important that the developing intelligence should refer to exploiting the potentialities of our human brain.
AND
The harmonious action between the organs such as eyes, ears, limbs, especially the operation of ‘image in brain’, is the promoter of tapping the function of brain in Mental Arithmetic by Image of Abacus Beads. Abacus can act as a calculation tool for abacus calculation Then, what is Abacus?
Mental Arithmetic by Image of Abacus Beads is the concrete reflection of two Hemispheres. Because of the potentiality of two hemispheres activities and adaptability of Mental Arithmetic by Image of Abacus Beads, we can say that exercising and applying this system is an effective way of developing and utilizing cerebrum’s potentiality. Mental Arithmetic by Image of Abacus Beads is a calculation system by relying on the function of human’s brain and utilizing object Image of Abacus Beads in brain through sense perception, imagination and memory, imitating the way of abacus beads movements to complete changing pattern of numbers in mind. It is on the basis of Abacus Arithmetic, from Abacus Arithmetic to become Mental Arithmetic. It means that children convert the intangible numbers to tangible mental beads while calculating. Experts found that by using two hands, the left and right to compute the beads in abacus will stimulate the two hemisphere of the brain. As we know our whole body system is controlled by our brain, the left hemisphere controlling the right side and the right hemisphere controlling the left side of the body. Thus when we move our hands together, it is activating the left and right hemisphere of the brain. So when computing the beads in abacus with two hands, it stimulate the whole brain. Besides, the speed is at least 3 times faster than the single hand Some may think that Abacus is a primitive way of calculation. If so, then one should change the way of thinking. Abacus is a result of scientific art handed down on or before the Han Dynasty of human life in China. The 1st book recorded about Abacus Beads is “Arithmetic Chronicle”, written by a mathematical expert from Donglai, Shandong, China, by the name of Xu Yue, in the period of Emperor Lingdi (168 – 189 AD) of Han Dynasty. and “Principles of Algorithm” is an oldest and famous Abacus Calculation Book in China, written by an expert of Abacus Calculation in the 8th years of Zhengde (1513 ) of Ming Dynasty, by the name of Wang Wensu from Fenyang of Shanxi Province, and in the 3rd years of Jiajing (1524), Wang Wensu claimed that this book had consist of 42 volumes with 1,267 questions, which is as similar as what has passed down today. It is a calculation tool more than 2,000 years; yet, we are using to activate the potentiality of our human brain today. It is impossible to think about seeing, listening, understanding and judgment, reasoning and imagination without the concept of figures. We easily think about calculation of large and sizeable figures but there are lots of calculations of small figures around us which are not needed to use calculators, only to use mental arithmetic. In other words, this is the activities of human brain. How is the function of Abacus Mental Arithmetic? There are 4 ways to be used during the training of Mental Arithmetic Course.
Simply say that mental arithmetic is realized by sense perception (hearing and visual senses), memory, image of abacus beads, logical thinking, and adaptability to physiological mechanism and psychological activity. And, after a systemic training, basically children will change their mental attitude, and be able to reckon accurately. Through the Mental Arithmetic training, Children will enjoy 5 benefits
Concentration of mind can be achieved. In order to imagine the abacus and its changes in mind, one should concentrate on his attention in imagination.
Concentration is the concentrated and directed attention towards a particular matter with clear reflection that creates a deep image and mental impression. An enhanced concentration leads to better absorption power. Studying will then be a joyful thing for these children. In the abacus and mental Arithmetic education, children will be trained to concentrate when listening to the questions from teacher, and then focus on calculating the sums accurately and fast as possible
Enhance the memory power. In order to keep the shape of the changed abacus beads repeatedly, it will enhance the function of memory power.
Memory is the ability to store and recall information and experiences. It has been found that memory in the left hemisphere would not stay long, but an image that is recorded in the right hemisphere would stay on in the mind longer. By stimulating the right hemisphere with abacus mental calculation, and in combination with the alertness of the eyes, ears and hands, the ability to store and recall is developed together. Therefore, the ability to solve 3 digits 10 rows arithmetic problems in a minute is only a small success in comparison to the actual mental training that has been done in order to achieve the skill to perform rapid calculations.
Improve reasoning, judgment, application and observation power. As the way of figure expression on abacus is so simple and clear comparing with other calculations, it is easy to compare and judge the figures. Repeated supplement computation provide us with improvement of reasoning, judgment, observation and application power.
Observation is the ability to compare, analyze and differentiate objects, motives and steps. It is also a state of alertness and speeding of the mind and senses. This comes from the need to understand the theoretical requirements of each calculation. Frontal Lobe—planning, judgment, reasoning, voluntary movement Occipital Lobe- observation, vision Temporal Lobe- hearing, application power, language
(4) Improve the ability of calculation. Abacus Arithmetic is easy to learn and easy to adapt. As long as we improve the speed of Arithmetic, the concentration of mind is enlarged and the accuracy is also improved. With the ability of calculations improved, one would not be afraid of mathematics subject anymore. This will eventually take away the “phobia” of mathematics in them. As we all know “Mathematics is the foundation to all sciences and Arithmetic is the root to mathematical principles.
There is a saying that “The man who is doing well in mathematics has a good brain.” The man who has a talent in a sense of mathematics shows his ability in doing other jobs effectively and economically. We should know that educational effect from the mathematics help to smooth the activities of human brain.
Regarding the 5 distinctive remarks, we can say that those are standard features to access the capability of human brain. Therefore, we should consider the child education on Mental Arithmetic by Image of Abacus Beads is a good system to cultivate and to enhance the function of human brain. When is the ‘best Period’ for children to start abacus mental arithmetic training? I suggest that 4 to 12 years old is the most ideal age. 1st of all, it belongs to ‘the period of enlightenment’ and ‘the best period in cultivating the function of human brain’ Meanwhile, a child of 4 to 5 years old begins to grow in his finger muscles and speeds up the growth to age of 8 or 9, is very suitable for computing the abacus beads. Secondly, the education on mental arithmetic by image of abacus beads belongs to the foundation of calculation. During this period, children will feel easy to capture and easy to form a good habit to do calculation, especially at the age of 5 to 7. A famous Development Psychologist, by the name of J. Piaget too traced 4 stages of intellectual development that the Preoperational Stage from age of 2 to 7 and the concrete operational Stage from age 7 to 11 are the best age for them to capture and develop thinking by using language, picture, thing which are abstract symbols, letter numbers and learn to understand, to classify and compare things.
So, children from the ages of 4 to 12 years olds can be considered the ‘best Period’ to carry out the basic knowledge of calculation as well as to cultivate and activate the potentiality of young children’s brain.
Accordion Content
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IMPROVES CONCENTRATION
Kids are trained to be involved in different processes happening at the same time. They gradually learn how to be focused on the task in hand and ignore different kinds of distraction.
LAYS DOWN A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Having developed all the above-mentioned parameters, it is normal for kids at U C MAS to have a very strong foundation for academic achievement and excellence.
PROMOTES CREATIVITY
Having developed imagination and visualization as well as memory, concentration and the other mental parameters and through the whole process of the right brain training and activation, kids will find it easier to be creative and inspired.
ENHANCES ACCURACY & SPEED
In U C MAS one of the real challenges is time. Kids are gradually trained to give extremely accurate result in shorter and shorter times. This continuous challenge will teach kids how to optimize the use of time while staying accurate.
Improves Imagination & Visualization
Kids are challenged to start forming a virtual abacus early in the training and soon will start using this imaginary or virtual abacus in solving problems. This continuous use of imagination and visualization techniques significantly improves the kid’s skill in these two mental parameters.
DEVELOPS ASTONISHING MENTAL ARITHMETIC ABILITIES
is a very natural end result for UCMAS, since kids will deal with numbers in a smooth and entertaining way. Usually kids will be able to solve arithmetic problems mentally faster than a calculator! It is worth mentioning here that U C MAS is not a mathematics drilling program. Children are not drilled with repetitive ongoing exercises. U C MAS is designed to teach young learners a skill – one that will stay with them forever.
IMPROVES LISTENING & OBSERVATION
Kids memorize different images during their numbers’ training and during solving problems; they tend to memorize momentarily each image constructed on the virtual abacus after doing any arithmetic and before giving the final answer. This continuous use and training of memory significantly improve this ability especially what is known as the photographic memory.
BOOSTS SELF-CONFIDENCE
As a result of the continuous positive feedback received from parents, teachers, peers, and the community as well as the exposure during the program to different audiences in demonstrations, national and international competitions, along with the improved mental abilities – kids will be given an extremely powerful boost to their self –image and confidence that will further help them in their future challenges.
STRENGTHENS MEMORY
Through the training on the Flash Cards (one of the mental training tools and during solving mental training tools) and during solving mental math problems, kids take only a glance at the card or problem to start the numbers processing. With time, this significantly enhances their observation abilities. The same goes for listening since kids are trained to hear numbers only once during problem solving, because numbers are not repeated. With the continuous use of active listening, kids will develop significantly improved listening skills.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
KG Program
Children are accepted at KG stage from age 4½ until the age of 6½ the condition of the child was able to write and read numbers from 1 to 20 in English, with each realization of the concept of addition and subtraction. Level Duration is 3 months, Program levels are as follows:
Basic Program
Children are accepted from the age of 7 until the age of 13 years at the Basic stage. Level Duration is 3 months Program levels are as follows:
Master Program
UCMAS Master Program is 5 Levels with 2hour sessions per week, it has two semesters, first 3 months and second 4 months.
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