Determine solution strategies in multiple solution tasks and to evaluate students' mathematical creativity with the help of multiple solution tasks

The purpose of this study was to determine solution strategies in multiple solution tasks and to evaluate students' mathematical creativity with the help of multiple solution tasks. For the collection, analysis and interpretation of the research data, the qualitative research method was used. The study was conducted in two phases with a total of 76 freshman students enrolled in the department of Elementary School Mathematics Teaching at a state university in the academic year of 2013-2014. In the first phase, the students were given four multiple-solution tasks and asked to find as many ways of solution to each task as possible in 30 minutes. The second phase included clinical interviews held with the students who did not find many ways of solution in the first phase. For the evaluation of mathematical creativity, the criteria of flexibility, fluency and originality were used. In order to calculate a student's score of mathematical creativity, Leikin (2009)'s method of analysis was conducted.