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On the Relationship Between Problem Posing, Problem Solving, and Creativity in the Primary School

  • Chapter
Mathematical Problem Posing

Part of the book series: Research in Mathematics Education ((RME))

Abstract

Problem posing is a form of creative activity that can operate within tasks involving semi-structured rich situations, using real-life artefacts and human interactions. Several researchers have linked problem-posing skills with creativity, citing flexibility, fluency, and originality as creativity categories. However, the nature of this relationship still remains unclear. For this reason, the exploratory study presented here sought to begin to investigate the relationship between problem-posing activities (supported by problem-solving activities) and creativity. The study is part of an ongoing research project based on teaching experiments consisting of a series of classroom activities in upper elementary school, using suitable artefacts and interactive teaching methods, in order to create a substantially modified teaching/learning environment. In addition, the study provides a method for analyzing the products of problem posing that teachers could use in the classroom to identify and assess both the activity of problem posing itself and students’ creativity in mathematics.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Cinzia Bonotto

  2. Department of Mathematics, Istituto Comprensivo Valdagno 2, Valdagno, Italy

    Lisa Dal Santo

Authors
  1. Cinzia Bonotto
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  2. Lisa Dal Santo
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Correspondence to Cinzia Bonotto .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Sciences, University of Ploiesti, Bucharest, Romania

    Florence Mihaela Singer

  2. Department of Mathematics, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, USA

    Nerida F. Ellerton

  3. Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA

    Jinfa Cai

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Bonotto, C., Santo, L.D. (2015). On the Relationship Between Problem Posing, Problem Solving, and Creativity in the Primary School. In: Singer, F., F. Ellerton, N., Cai, J. (eds) Mathematical Problem Posing. Research in Mathematics Education. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6258-3_5

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