The purpose of this systematic review is to reveal the research findings that suggest instructional practices to foster the creativity of students in mathematics. Although several studies have investigated the effects of various instructional practices influencing the mathematical creativity of students, little is known about how the findings of…

This article presents the authors' response to Asha K. Jitendra's Response to Xin and Zhang ("The Journal of Educational Research," 2009, Vol. 102, No. 6). The claim of "factual errors, including inappropriate quotes, misrepresentation of information, and inadequate scholarship in Xin and Zhang's text" are not justified. In this rejoinder, the…

This submission contains the Proceedings of the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group (CMESG), held at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, Newfoundland. The CMESG is a group of mathematicians and mathematics educators who meet annually to discuss mathematics education issues at all levels of learning.…

The theme of the 38th meeting of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME 38) and the 36th meeting of the North American Chapter of the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME-NA 36) was "Mathematics Education at the Edge." Academically, the theme provides opportunities to highlight and examine…

In administrative inquiry, the scientific tradition is utilized less frequently than the humanistic tradition. Such imbalance in perspectives may be a cause of the acknowledged poverty of the knowledge base. Departments of educational administration should encourage the existence of proponents of both perspectives within their ranks. (Author/WM)

This study investigated the problem representations formed by college students while solving mathematics problems. Problem representation characteristics indicative of understanding were identified by analyzing audio-tapes and written work of sixteen subjects, ages 16 to 24, who solved mathematics problems using the think-aloud technique. These…

An alternative explanation is presented for the pattern of relative difficulty of arithmetical word problems to that suggested in a 1983 article. It is argued, that for many problems, much of the symbolic manipulation is accomplished externally, not internally. (MNS)

Errors students typically generate while trying to translate problems into and out of algebraic notation are reviewed. Translation skills and pupil difficulties with them are seen as areas deserving further research. (MP)

It is noted that helping children learn how to solve problems has become a major goal for school mathematics. However, many children are not very successful at deciding what operation is appropriate for solving a given problem, and teachers often have difficulty describing or explaining how to identify the key features of a particular problem that…

Three models are compared in terms of detail, scope, attention to individual differences, and how they deal with qualitative change and semantic processing. Two are information-processing models of arithmetical word problem-solving performance, and the third is a model of children's counting types and thinking strategies. (MNS)

Over 600 pupils in grades five, seven, and nine in Italian schools were asked to choose the operation needed to solve 26 multiplication and division word problems. The findings seemed to confirm the impact of the repeated addition model on multiplication and of the partitive model on division. (MNS)

Working in groups of three, seventh-grade students were video taped solving an applied mathematical problem. Audio tapes were made of each group discussing their session. Analysis focused on the first stage of Noddings (1984) model of problem solving for school mathematics: Creation of a representation. Some factors identified as impeding…

A model of qualities of mathematical activity was developed within a framework of learning goals. A clinical application of the model is described, in which ninth-grade students were given assignment projects. A hierarchy of effective guidance was established, permitting diagnostic evaluation and progressive development of mathematical activity.…

Identified difficulties encountered in spontaneous modeling, as well as strategies, approaches, and language used in this activity. Graduate mathematics students (N=223) were asked to create a mathematical model of a biological process. Their solutions and strategies are analyzed and results described. Significant conclusions for teaching applied…

Middle school and college students were assessed on percentage. Better students in each group were given word problems involving percentage and asked to think aloud as they solved problems. College students made more use of strategies for control and monitoring of their own procedures. A three-stage model for problem solving is then hypothesized.…