What happens when you bring together passionate educators, curious students, and the power of mathematical modeling? You get a glimpse of the future of math education, one where students don’t just solve equations, they solve real problems.

At the 2025 Florida Association for the Gifted (FLAG) Annual Conference, Orlando Math Circle and COMAP (the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications) shared how mathematical modeling is transforming the way students learn, think, and connect math to the world around them. The session, “Mathematical Modeling in Action: Orlando Math Circle & COMAP at FLAG25,” spotlighted stories from students and educators who use modeling to explore everything from environmental systems to everyday decision-making.

Watch the full presentation

Why Modeling Matters

Mathematical modeling helps students see math as more than numbers. It’s a way of thinking critically, testing ideas, and communicating solutions to real-world problems. Through modeling, students learn to:

• Collaborate in teams to define and refine problems
• Apply mathematics to science, engineering, and social issues
• Communicate solutions clearly and creatively

This kind of problem-based learning aligns perfectly with COMAP’s mission to show that math is applied, alive, and everywhere.

A Partnership Built on Hands-On Learning

Orlando Math Circle has been a leader in engaging students of all ages through interactive problem-solving and math modeling challenges. Their partnership with COMAP has created new opportunities for students to experience modeling through contests like:

• HiMCM® (High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling)
• MidMCM (Middle Mathematical Contest in Modeling)

Through these competitions, students develop the same skills that professionals use to tackle real-world challenges: teamwork, data analysis, critical thinking, and communication.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Problem Solvers

The FLAG25 session captured what happens when modeling takes root in a learning community. Students from Orlando Math Circle shared how participating in COMAP’s contests helped them connect math to issues that matter to them, such as environmental change, community design, and innovation.

Educators, too, spoke about how modeling reinvigorates teaching by making math meaningful and collaborative. As one takeaway from the event made clear: modeling doesn’t just teach math. It also teaches resilience, creativity, and the confidence to tackle complex problems.

Learn More

Explore how COMAP supports teachers, schools, and students in mathematical modeling through the HiMCM/MidMCM contests.

And see how Orlando Math Circle is engaging young mathematicians in the joy of real-world problem solving.