Investigating undergraduate students' mathematical creative thinking skill in social arithmetic problem

Abstract

Mathematical creative thinking skill is one of the 21st century skills that students must possess to work in the world of work. This article address to investigate the mathematical creative thinking skill of mathematics education students. In order to do so, we carried out a three-step of small-scale qualitative study involving 20 undergraduate students of mathematics education program. First step, we designed three social arithmetic problems to assess creative thinking skill. Second, we tested the problem to students of mathematics education program and then we interviewed the students about their solutions. The test lasted for 60 minutes. Finally, we analyzed students' written work based on indicators of mathematical creative thinking skill. The result showed the lack of flexibility of the undergraduate students of mathematic educations, but undergraduate students had been able to provide unique ideas in solving problems and detailing what is needed in solving them. In other words, undergraduate students as prospective teachers have been able to think creatively in solving mathematical problems but difficult to solve the problem which has some solution.