Analysis of the content of first grade elementary mathematics textbooks from the perspective of the Gilford Creativity Index

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, IRAN.

2 Farhangian University, IRAN

Abstract

The present study analyzes the content of mathematics textbooks in the first grade of three countries including the United States (California), Japan, and Iran from the perspective of the Gilford Creativity Index. In this analysis, divergent tasks are identified as the cause of creativity and the extent of those tasks in the first grade elementary mathematics textbooks of the three countries is examined. This research is a qualitative content analysis. The divergent tasks in these three books are based on Guilford's creative criteria of cognitive memory, convergent thinking, divergent thinking, and evaluative thinking, and the characteristics of flexibility, originality, and fluidity. The results indicate that the amount of divergent assignments presented in each of these three books is not the same, and each has a different level of Guilford creativity. The content of Japan's first grade math textbook focuses more on convergent thinking. Evaluator thinking is only included in the content of the first grade elementary math textbook in the United States. The content of the first grade elementary mathematics textbook in Iran takes students away from the main topic, and these tasks lead students' thinking to concepts other than the concepts in the mathematics textbook. Not only does it help students' mental creativity, it also tires students from thinking; This is because students do not get the idea they want and become confused by thinking more.

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