It's not quite the same, but there've been several efforts in the US to shift math education away from "memorize this algorithm for addition, this one for mult

It's not quite the same, but there've been several efforts in the US to shift math education away from "memorize this algorithm for addition, this one for multiplication, etc." and instead get kids to understand our number system. New Math was ridiculed for it[0], and now Common Core[1]. "Why are you teaching kids these inefficient ways of multiplying instead of memorizing the standard algorithm?" Despite it being the focus of Tom Leher's song, my go-to test for "Do you understand our number system?" is "Can you work out a multiplication problem in base 8?" If you understand the concept of digits, you can solve multiplication in other bases, and likely have solid grasp on how our number system work. From there, you'll understand both the standard arithmetic algorithms and will be able to figure out your own shortcuts. If you lack this understanding, you're likely stuck just mindlessly using the algorithm you were taught. (One other thing I'd also like for us to add is Fermi problems. Physics students learn to estimate everything from the mass of the earth to the number of dogs in their city. Seems like something everyone would benefit from practicing and that kids would really enjoy.) [0] Tom Leher has a famous and delightful song about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIKGV2cTgqA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIKGV2cTgqA [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBkQAxt1JXA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBkQAxt1JXA (This is more a defense of Common Core, but in response to the common complaint.)