• The Mathematical Education
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.421-436
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• 2008

Mathematics assessment doesn't mean examining in the traditional sense of written examination. Mathematics assessment has to give the various information of grade and development of students as well as teaching of teachers. To achieve this purpose of assessment, we have to search the methods of assessment. This paper is aimed to develop the open-ended problems that are the alternative to traditional test, apply them to classroom and analyze the result of assessment. 4-types open-ended problems are developed by criteria of development. It is open process problem, open result problem, problem posing problem, open decision problem. 6 grade elementary students who are picked in 2 schools participated in assessment using open-ended problems. Scoring depends on the fluency, flexibility, originality The result are as follows; The rate of fluency is 2.14, The rate of flexibility is 1.30, and The rate of originality is 0.11 Furthermore, the rate of originality is very low. Problem posing problem is the highest in the flexibility and open result problem is the highest in the flexibility. Between general mathematical problem solving ability and fluency, flexibility have the positive correlation. And Pearson correlational coefficient of between general mathematical problem solving ability and fluency is 0.437 and that of between general mathematical problem solving ability and flexibility is 0.573. So I conclude that open ended problems are useful and effective in mathematics assessment.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.277-293
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to find out how problem solving learning with open-ended mathematics problems for elementary school students affects their mathematical creativity and mathematical attitudes. To this end, 9 problem solving lessons with open-ended mathematics problems were conducted for 6th grade elementary school students in Seoul, The results were analyzed by using I-STATistics program to pre-and post- t-test. As a result of the study, problem solving learning with open-ended problems was effective in increasing mathematical creativity, especially in increasing flexibility and originality, which are sub-elements of creativity. In addition, problem solving learning with open-ended problems has helped improve mathematical attitudes and has been particularly effective in improving recognition needs and motivation among subfactors. In problem solving learning with open-ended problems, students were able to share various responses and expand their thoughts. Based on the results of the study, the researchers proposed that it is necessary to continue the development of quality materials and teacher training to utilize mathematical problem solving with open-ended problems at school sites.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.51-65
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• 2010

Open-ended problems can foster deeper understanding of mathematical ideas, generating creative thinking and communication in students. High-order thinking tasks such as open-ended problems involve more ambiguity and higher level of personal risks for students than they are normally exposed to in routine problems. To explore the classroom-based factors that could support or inhibit such higher-order processes, this paper also describes two cases of Singapore primary school teachers who have successfully or unsuccessfully implemented an open-ended problem in their mathematics lessons.

• School Mathematics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.153-170
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• 2017

This study conducted an analysis of types of reasoning shown in students' solving a problem and processes of students' reasoning according to type of problem by posing an open-ended problem where students' reasoning activity is expected to be vigorous and a multiple-choice problem with which students are familiar. And it examined teacher's role of promoting the reasoning in solving an open-ended problem. Students showed more various types of reasoning in solving an open-ended problem compared with multiple-choice problem, and showed a process of extending the reasoning as chains of reasoning are performed. Abduction, a type of students' probable reasoning, was active in the open-ended problem, accordingly teacher played a role of encouragement, prompt and guidance. Teachers posed a problem after varying it from previous problem type to open-ended problem in teaching and evaluation, and played a role of helping students' reasoning become more vigorous by proper questioning when students had difficulty reasoning.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.10 no.3 s.27
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• pp.215-227
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• 2006

After reviewing China's appearance and research on the Math open-ended problems, together with the application of those problems in mathematics test of Shanghai Senior Middle School Entrance Exams (SSMSEE) since 1999, this paper points out the difficulty in establishing an evaluation system for such problem. Through comparative study, the paper gives an operational definition of open-ended problem, and it attempts to establish an evaluation system and non-systematic competence targets that are appropriate to Math open-ended problems. Meanwhile, it describes the performance feature of those targets. By applying the standard international grading system of difficulty, it discusses the elements of difficulty in Math open-ended problems, and puts forward an evaluation as well as a level-of-difficulty forecasting system that is appropriate to the Middle School Entrance Exam.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.20 no.1 s.25
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• pp.117-145
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• 2006

Mathematically gifted children have creative curiosity about novel tasks deriving from their natural mathematical talents, aptitudes, intellectual abilities and creativities. More effect in nurturing the creative thinking found in brilliant children, letting them approach problem solving in various ways and make strategic attempts is needed. Given this perspective, it is desirable to select open-ended and atypical problems as a task for educational program for gifted children. In this paper, various types of open-ended problems were framed and based on these, teaming activities were adapted into gifted children's class. Then in the problem solving process, the characteristic of bright children's mathematical thinking ability and examples of problem solving strategies were analyzed so that suggestions about classes for bright children utilizing open-ended tasks at elementary schools could be achieved. For this, an open-ended task made of 24 inquiries was structured, the teaching procedure was made of three steps properly transforming Renzulli's Enrichment Triad Model, and 24 periods of classes were progressed according to the teaching plan. One period of class for each subcategories of mathematical thinking ability; ability of intuitional insight, systematizing information, space formation/visualization, mathematical abstraction, mathematical reasoning, and reflective thinking were chosen and analyzed regarding teaching, teaming process and products. Problem solving examples that could be anticipated through teaching and teaming process and products analysis, and creative problem solving examples were suggested, and suggestions about teaching bright children using open-ended tasks were deduced based on the analysis of the characteristic of tasks, role of the teacher, impartiality and probability of approaching through reflecting the classes. Through the case study of a mathematics class for bright children making use of open-ended tasks proved to satisfy the curiosity of the students, and was proved to be effective for providing and forming a habit of various mathematical thinking experiences by establishing atypical mathematical problem solving strategies. This study is meaningful in that it provided mathematically gifted children's problem solving procedures about open-ended problems and it made an attempt at concrete and practical case study about classes fur gifted children while most of studies on education for gifted children in this country focus on the studies on basic theories or quantitative studies.

• Journal of Elementary Mathematics Education in Korea
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-64
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to transform questions in the 7th curriculum to open-ended problems and exam students' attitude towards open-ended problems. Research questions in this thesis are as follows: First, to transform questions in the 7th curriculum to open-ended problems and apply to a class in the fourth grade D elementary school. Second, to find how students respond to learning mathematics with open-ended problems. As a result of this study, the following are identified. First, the students showed positive reactions towards learning mathematics with open-ended problems. Those experience with open-ended problems make student solve mathematics problems with interest and confidence. Second, both good and bad students in the math class show interest and concentration toward open-ended problem. But a few students show less interest towards those problems. Third, through discussion about problem-solving with open-ended problems, students take part in math class actively and show respect one another. Fourth, especially students show more interest and confidence towards the open-ended problems transformed from mathematics textbook and like the constructive open-ended problems.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.209-232
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• 2016

This study analyzed the process of steps in a program introducing Renzulli's enrichment triad model and various levels of posing open-ended problems of those who participated in the program for mathematics-gifted elementary students. As results, participants showed their abilities of problem posing related to real life in a program introducing Renzulli's enrichment triad model. From eighteen mathematical responses, gifted students were generally outstanding in terms of producing problems that demonstrated high quality completion, communication, and solvability. Amongst these responses from fifteen open-ended problems, all of which showed that the level of students' ability to devise questions was varied in terms of the problems' openness (varied possible outcomes), complexity, and relevance. Meanwhile, some of them didn't show their ability of composing problem with concepts, principle and rules in complex level. In addition, there are high or very high correlations among factors of mathematical problems themselves as well as open-ended problems themselves, and between mathematical problems and open-ended problems. In particular, factors of mathematical problems such as completion, communication, and solvability showed very high correlation with relevance of the problems' openness perspectives.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.10 no.3 s.27
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• pp.151-167
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• 2006

The open approach to teaching school mathematics in the United States is an outcome of the collaboration of Japanese and U. S. researchers. We examine the approach by illustrating its three aspects: 1) Open process (there is more than one way to arrive at the solution to a problem; 2) Open-ended problems (a problem can have several of many correct answers), and 3) What the Japanese call 'from problem to problem' or problem formulation (students draw on their own thinking to formulate new problems). Using our understanding of the Japanese open approach to teaching mathematics, we adapt selected methods to teach mathematics more effectively in the United States. Much of this approach is new to U. S. mathematics teachers, in that it has teachers working together in groups on lesson plans, and through a series of discussions and revisions, results in a greatly improved, effective plan. It also has teachers actively observing individual students or groups of students as they work on a problem, and then later comparing and discussing the students' work.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.303-322
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• 2007

This study is to investigate student's processes of problem solving using open-ended Geometric problems to understand student's thinking and behavior. One 8th grader participated in performing her learning in 5 lessons for June in 2006. The result of the study was documented according to Polya's four problem solving stages as follows: First, the student tended to neglect the stage of "understanding" a problem in the beginning. However, the student was observed to make it simplify and relate to what she had teamed previously Second, "devising a plan" was not simply done. She attempted to solve the open-ended problems with more various ways and became to have the metacognitive knowledge, leading her to think back and correct her errors of solving a problem. Third, in process of "carrying out" the plan she controled her solving a problem to become a better solver based on failure of solving a problem. Fourth, she recognized the necessity of "looking back" stage through the open ended problems which led her to apply and generalize mathematical problems to the real life. In conclusion, it was found that the student enjoyed her solving with enthusiasm, building mathematical belief systems with challenging spirit and developing mathematical power.