• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.221-235
• /
• 2007

Open problems can provide experiences for students to yield originative and various products in their level, because it is open with respect to its departure situation, goal situation, or solving method. Teachers need to pose and utilize open problems in forms of solution-finding or proving problems. For this we first have to specify which resource and method to use by concrete examples. In this article, we exemplify a method and procedure of posing an open problem by the two cases in which we pose open problems by reorganizing given closed problems. And we analyze students' responses for the two posed open problems. On the basis of these, we reflect implications for mathematical education of open problems.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.439-467
• /
• 2022

The future society requires not only knowledge but also various competencies, including creativity, cooperative spirit and integrated thinking. This research develops a program for integrating mathematics and information science to enhance important mathematical competencies such as problem-solving and communication. This program does not require much prior knowledge, can be motivated using everyday language and easy-to-access tools, and is based on creative problem-solving activities with multilateral cooperation. The usefulness and rigor of mathematics are emphasized as the number of participants increases in the activities, and theoretical principles stem from the matrix theory over finite fields. Moreover, the activity highlights a connection with error-correcting codes, an important topic in information science. We expect that the real-world contexts of this program contribute to enhancing mathematical communication competence and providing an opportunity to experience the values of mathematics and that this program to be accessible to teachers since coding is not included.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2003

In this paper, we study the methods of improving an ability of a creative solving mathematical problem belonging to an educational system which every province office of education has adopted for the mathematically talented students. Especially, we give an attention on a preferential reaction in teaching styles according to student's LQ., the relationship between student's LQ. and an ability of creative solving mathematical problems, and seeking for an appropriative teaching methods of the improvement ability of a creative solving problem. As results, we have the followings; 1. The group having excellent students who have a higher intelligential ability prefers inquiry learning which is composed of several sub-groups to a teacher-centered instruction. 2. The correlation coefficient between student's LQ. and an ability creative solving of mathematical is not high. 3. Although the contents and the model of thematic inquiry learning don't have a great influence on the divergent thinking (ex. fluency, flexibility, originality), they affect greatly the convergent thinking - a creative mathematical - problem solving ability. Accordingly, our results show that we should use a variety of mathematical teaching materials apart from our regular textbooks used in schools to improve a creative mathematical problem solving ability in the process of thematic inquiry learning. Also we can see that an inquiry learning which stimulates student's participation and discussion can be a desirable model in the thematic mathematical classroom activities.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.159-219
• /
• 2016

Mathematical ability is important for academic achievement and technological renovations in the STEM disciplines. This study concentrated on the relationship between neural basis of mathematical cognition and its mechanisms. These cognitive functions include domain specific abilities such as numerical skills and visuospatial abilities, as well as domain general abilities which include language, long term memory, and working memory capacity. Individuals can perform higher cognitive functions such as abstract thinking and reasoning based on these basic cognitive functions. The next topic covered in this study is about individual differences in mathematical abilities. Neural efficiency theory was incorporated in this study to view mathematical talent. According to the theory, a person with mathematical talent uses his or her brain more efficiently than the effortful endeavour of the average human being. Mathematically gifted students show different brain activities when compared to average students. Interhemispheric and intrahemispheric connectivities are enhanced in those students, particularly in the right brain along fronto-parietal longitudinal fasciculus. The third topic deals with growth and development in mathematical capacity. As individuals mature, practice mathematical skills, and gain knowledge, such changes are reflected in cortical activation, which include changes in the activation level, redistribution, and reorganization in the supporting cortex. Among these, reorganization can be related to neural plasticity. Neural plasticity was observed in professional mathematicians and children with mathematical learning disabilities. Last topic is about mathematical creativity viewed from Neural Darwinism. When the brain is faced with a novel problem, it needs to collect all of the necessary concepts(knowledge) from long term memory, make multitudes of connections, and test which ones have the highest probability in helping solve the unusual problem. Having followed the above brain modifying steps, once the brain finally finds the correct response to the novel problem, the final response comes as a form of inspiration. For a novice, the first step of acquisition of knowledge structure is the most important. However, as expertise increases, the latter two stages of making connections and selection become more important.