Intercultural Aspects of Creativity: Challenges and Barriers

The University of Haifa, and the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion), in partnership with the John Templeton Foundation, convened a workshop of mathematicians and mathematics educators to explore the connections between culture, creativity, and the learning and teaching of mathematics, February 29 to March 1, 2008. In attendance were 28 leading scholars and educators from 14 countries.  Among the participants was Rena Subotnik, Director of the Center for Psychology in Schools and Education at APA. 

Many of the participants came from predominantly Muslim countries, or are involved in the education of Muslim student populations.  The goal of this workshop was to implement intercultural conversation in the service of learning and teaching mathematics.  Focusing teachers, mathematicians, and researchers on the cultural constructs that their students bring to the classroom may help them to perform their difficult and delicate tasks more effectively. The participants in this workshop sought ways to connect the diversity of human cultures with the gift of human creativity.

For more information about this workshop, contact:

Dr. Roza Leikin
Mathematics Education
Faculty of Education
University of Haifa
Haifa, 31905
 
tel: (972)-4-8240538
fax: (972)-4-8288520
http://construct.haifa.ac.il/~rozal/