Presenting the Two Basics

This video explains what the Two Basics are, and demonstrates it with some concrete examples.

Due to historical and cultural reasons, eastern Asian jurisdictions, including Japan, Korea, Singapore, and China (Mainland China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR) emphasise the importance of foundations in students’ learning of mathematics. In mainland China, the principle of basic knowledge and basic skills (or the Two Basics), has been explicitly put forward in the mathematics curriculum since the early 1960s, and is the most widely observed in Chinese mathematics classrooms.

According to researchers (Zhang, Li, & Tang, 2004), the Two Basics principle is a broad and loose idea without a strict definition. Its general meaning is that although the two aspects of ‘solid foundation’ and ‘application and creativity’ are both important, secure basic knowledge and a grasp of basic skills are more important. The Two Basics principle is reflected in six goals of mathematics education in Chinese mathematics classrooms.