Creative problem solving

The course is given as a stand-alone educational course and is aimed at anyone with an interest in mathematics. The course cannot be counted towards the course requirements within the main area for a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics.

During the course, students will work on a number of challenging problems, both independently and in groups, and they will also be able to construct their own variations of the problems. The problems can involve things like ciphers, board games, or various physical constructions, and students will be able to use mathematics, logic, physics, and programming in a creative context. In addition, the course will discuss some general problem-solving strategies.

After passing the course, the student should be able to:

• find and try different creative approaches to challenging problems,
• construct problems that are suitable for creative problem solving.

The problems and methods in the learning objectives are primarily mathematical, but can also touch on, for example, physics, logic, and programming.

The language of instruction is Swedish.

The course is examined through active participation in the course sessions, and assignments.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

The course is evaluated with an anonymous questionnaire and/or a discussion with the student representatives. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.