Abstract:

The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) celebrated its 50th anniversary, in Bremen, Germany, last year where more than one hundred countries participated. The process of team’s selection of each country represents an enormously complex series of learning processes and teaching situations. The role of the coach of a team is crucial since there should be combined mathematical competency and artistic pedagogy, as well, the interaction among the students is fundamental.
We will give a brief account of historic development of the Mathematical Olympiad, discuss the strategies involved in the learning processes during the training sessions of future participants, making emphasis on the final stage of this process, and outline our experience in searching gifted young pupils to afford rapidly the level required for competitions in the Mathematical Olympiad.
The authors are looking for theoretical background related to collaborative learning, development of individual learning styles, pedagogical situations, etc., emerging during learning processes while team’s preparation of Mexican pupils to participate at the Mathematical Olympiad on different levels.

Keywords:

Mathematical Olympiad, problem-solving, competency.