Tasks that may occasion mathematical creativity: Teachers' choices

Esther Levenson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Promoting mathematical creativity is one of the aims of mathematics education. This study investigates the tasks teachers chose when their aim was to occasion mathematical creativity in the classroom. Five cases are described in depth, and general trends found among these cases as well as in additional data are discussed. Findings indicated that teachers take into consideration not only task features and cognitive demands, but also emotions and values. One common thread found among the teachers was the implication that creativity pertains to being different and unusual. The study provides a framework for analyzing tasks which may be used with teachers in professional development to discuss how a task may afford or constrain mathematical creativity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)269-291
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of Mathematics Teacher Education
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2013

Keywords

  • Affective issues
  • Cognitive demands
  • Mathematical creativity
  • Task features
  • Tasks
  • Teachers' choices

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