A lesson should be serious, but with a touch of lightness, - says Samvel Oganesyan, founder of Fibo, an online math school.

In Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Cat’s Cradle, Dr. Hoenikker liked to say that if a scientist can’t explain his work clearly to an eight-year-old, he’s a charlatan. Any complex subject, including math, can be explained in an interesting and accessible way. This is the firm belief of the teachers at Fibo.

Was Euclid wrong?

Another example to consider: Ancient Greek King Ptolemy I Soter of Alexandria once demanded that Euclid make his explanation of geometry’s laws shorter and faster. To this, Euclid famously replied, “Oh great king, there are no royal roads in geometry…” Who, then, was right? There’s no contradiction here. You can’t explain how to play Beethoven’s symphonies without using musical notes, or follow traffic rules without knowing road signs. In math, too, one must learn its language and laws; only then can a child develop critical thinking skills and a love for problem-solving, both in the classroom and in life.

Fibo understands this well and avoids promising instant genius or “just have fun and master equations.” Studying math requires effort, involving both the student’s work and the teacher’s guidance—it all comes down to the teaching approach.

According to Samvel Oganesyan, founder of Fibo, children are born with an innate understanding of math at their level; they simply need room to develop. But the teacher’s role remains essential. “Math shouldn’t be purely entertaining; during the lesson, we need to work. We teach kids to think and solve problems in various ways,”says Samvel. “Of course, we include fun elements, like math puzzles and games. Hollywood screenwriters know that even the saddest movie needs humor every 15-20 minutes so the audience doesn’t lose interest. Our teachers follow a similar approach. Each lesson includes two math games that kids enjoy. Our rule is that the lesson should be serious but with a touch of lightness.”

Personalized Tools and Expert Support

Fibo has created a comprehensive platform that seamlessly combines personalized tools and expert support to ensure an engaging, unique learning experience for each student. The curriculum integrates best practices from around the world, emphasizing deep understanding and critical thinking. Alongside personal lessons, the platform offers over 600 videos, many of which are animated, appealing to today’s design-savvy kids. Even if a student forgets a topic, they can always revisit it in their personal account, although they review it multiple times with their teacher.