In this article the authors describe how standard textbook questions can be turned into open questions to promote problem solving and reasoning. Six example solutions are given to one problem showing how an open problem can cater to the diversity of students in your class.

To provide practice and assessment of computational thinking, we need specific problems students can solve. There are many such problems, but they are hard to find. Learning environments and assessments often use only specific types of problems and thus do not cover computational thinking in its whole scope. We provide an extensive catalog of…

A new classification for semantic structures of one-step word problems is proposed in this paper. The classification is based on illustrations of word problem situations in Common Core State Standards (CCSSM, 2010) and related historical studies (e.g. Weaver, 1973, 1979, 1982), as well as conceptual elaborations of embodied and grounded nature in…

The aim of this study is to showcase the use of incorporating problem-solving in a multifaceted, long-term investigation. New York Harbor and its estuaries are undergoing a major revitalization due to the efforts of the Curriculum and Community Enterprise for Environmental Restoration Project. Comprised of a network of local educational and…

This paper deals with a set of geometrical problems for mathematical problem-solving at different difficulty levels. All of these are presented as national flags and one has to investigate invariant area proportions when changing the locus of any corner of the flag. This dynamic element suggests the usage of dynamical geometry environments.…

Anxiety, one of the most common underlying causes of challenging student behavior, typically goes undiscovered and unaddressed through school-based behavior supports. Jessica Minahan and Stuart Ablon combine their expertise as a behavior analyst and a psychologist to outline how best to support students whose anxiety leads to challenging behavior.…

With the aim of engaging more students in meaningful thinking in mathematics, a cohort of Year 7 students were introduced to a 'Building Thinking Classrooms' framework for learning in mathematics. In this paper, the authors outline the key features of the implemented framework and share reflections on challenges and benefits.

Building on two common practices in higher education, the first-year seminar and service learning, this project uses a critical service-learning model guided by intersectional reflexivity to foster critical consciousness among first-year students. Working in small groups, students participate in a four-part critical service-learning project by…

Speculative design, as a diverse set of methods that aim to offer critique, can be challenging to engage productively. In this design case, we share how a prior, stalled design project--an ambitious vision of interdisciplinary design education partnered with business and housing development projects in Santa Fe, New Mexico--provided compelling…

The research reported in this article sought to develop a taxonomy of grade 11 students' levels of understanding in algebraic problem-solving tasks. The student sample was from high schools in the province of Ontario in Canada. Problems from four areas in algebra namely, variables, expressions, equations and word problems were chosen to be…

This is a conceptual paper based on existing literature aiming to provide practical information on designing and implementing activities to promote children's computational thinking. Computational thinking is a relatively new term in early childhood education that refers to a specific problem-solving thinking process involving various logical and…

'Mathematical sophistication' behaviours are often exercised by mathematicians in their work. In this article, the importance of mathematical sophistication will be discussed and three mathematics problems that activate mathematical sophistication behaviours will be presented.

In this article, examples are shown to demonstrate how open-ended mathematical activities can be used in the classroom. Open-ended activities give students opportunities to apply their understanding in unfamiliar contexts without the pressure of finding one perfect solution.

Having students solve shape puzzles, such as with pattern blocks or tangrams, is a popular way to encourage students to compose shapes in different ways and talk about the effects of different compositions (Clements et al., 2004; Clements & Sarama, 2009; Sales, 1994), meeting Common Core geometry standards in kindergarten through second grade…

The author explains how using creative assignments reinforces invention, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills in undergraduate health administration students. While several studies look at the use of creative assignments to help students develop these skills, few studies exist on their use in health administration. In addition, the use of…