The Role of Problem Posing in Developing Students' Mathematical Communication: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53696/venn.v4i2.293Keywords:
Problem Posing, Mathematical Communication, SLR, Mathematics EducationAbstract
Mathematical communication is a key competency in 21st-century learning but often overlooked in traditional approaches that emphasize procedural knowledge. However, it is apparent that problem posing seemed to be gaining more attention as an alternative approach to encourage students to critically and express mathematical ideas actively. This study examined the effectiveness of problem posing towards improving students’ mathematical communication through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Following the PRISMA framework, relevant literature published between 2015 and 2025 were located across particular academic databases. A bibliometric analysis was then conducted using VOSviewer. The findings revealed that problem posing plays a pivotal role in pedagogical strategies surrounding the learning of mathematics and promoting communication. This was particularly evident in areas of representation, reasoning, and both written and oral expression. However, its effectiveness depends on factors such as task design, teacher support, and learning context. This study concluded that problem posing holds significant potential to foster mathematical communication, but its implementation requires careful and systematic design. These findings offer valuable directions for future research and the development of more communicative instructional strategies.Downloads
References
Akben, N. (2020). Effects of the Problem-Posing Approach on Students’ Problem Solving Skills and Metacognitive Awareness in Science Education. Research in Science Education, 50(3), 1143–1165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-018-9726-7
Awang, L. A., Yusop, F. D., & Danaee, M. (2025). Current practices and future direction of artificial intelligence in mathematics education: A systematic review. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education , 20(2). https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/16006
Ayvaz, Ü., & Durmuş, S. (2021). Fostering mathematical creativity with problem posing activities: An action research with gifted students. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 40(May). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2021.100846
Baumanns, L., & Rott, B. (2022). Developing a framework for characterising problem-posing activities: a review. Research in Mathematics Education, 24(1), 28–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/14794802.2021.1897036
Bevan, D., & Capraro, M. M. (2021). Posing Creative Problems: A Study of Elementary Students’ Mathematics Understanding. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 16(3), em0654. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/11109
Cai, J., & Leikin, R. (2020). Affect in mathematical problem posing: conceptualization, advances, and future directions for research. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 105(3), 287–301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-020-10008-x
Cai, J., & Rott, B. (2024). On understanding mathematical problem-posing processes. ZDM - Mathematics Education, 56(1), 61–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11858-023-01536-w
Cai, Z., Gui, Y., Mao, P., & Wang, Z. (2023). The effect of feedback on academic achievement in technology-rich learning environments (TREs): A meta-analytic review. Educational Research Review, 39(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2023.100521
Carrera-Rivera, A., Ochoa, W., Larrinaga, F., & Lasa, G. (2022). How-to conduct a systematic literature review: A quick guide for computer science research. MethodsX, 9, 101895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2022.101895
Chahine, I. C. (2018). Exposing the Conscious Self: Lived Problem Solving Experience in a Socio-Cultural Context. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.12973/iejme/3880
Emre-Akdoǧan, E. (2023). Examining mathematical creativity of prospective mathematics teachers through problem posing. Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications, 42(2), 150–169. https://doi.org/10.1093/teamat/hrac006
English, L. D. (2020). Teaching and learning through mathematical problem posing: commentary. International Journal of Educational Research, 102(June), 0–1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2019.06.014
Fernández, E., & Molina, M. (2017). CORRESPONDENCE Marta Molina martamg@ugr.es. 12(3), 799–826.
Geteregechi, J. (2025). An examination of undergraduate students’ problem-posing and its interaction with problem-solving processes. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education , 20(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/15738
Herlinawati, H., Marwa, M., Ismail, N., Junaidi, Liza, L. O., & Situmorang, D. D. B. (2024). The integration of 21st century skills in the curriculum of education. Heliyon, 10(15), e35148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35148
Kosko, K. W., & Wilkins, J. L. M. (2010). Mathematical communication and its relation to the frequency of manipulative use. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 5(2), 79–90. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/251
Kozakli Ulger, T., Bozkurt, I., & Altun, M. (2022). Analyzing in-service teachers’ process of mathematical literacy problem posing. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 17(3), em0687. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/11985
Lee, Y., Capraro, R. M., & Capraro, M. M. (2018). Mathematics Teachers’ Subject Matter Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Problem Posing. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 13(2), 75–90. https://doi.org/10.12973/iejme/2698
Lindenbauer, E., Infanger, E. M., & Lavicza, Z. (2024). Enhancing mathematics education through collaborative digital material design: Lessons from a national project. European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 12(2), 276–296. https://doi.org/10.30935/scimath/14323
MacFarlane, A., Russell-Rose, T., & Shokraneh, F. (2022). Search strategy formulation for systematic reviews: Issues, challenges and opportunities. Intelligent Systems with Applications, 15, 200091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswa.2022.200091
Mishra, S., & Iyer, S. (2015). An exploration of problem posing-based activities as an assessment tool and as an instructional strategy. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41039-015-0006-0
Papadopoulos, I., Patsiala, N., Baumanns, L., & Rott, B. (2022). Multiple Approaches to Problem Posing: Theoretical Considerations Regarding its Definition, Conceptualisation, and Implementation. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 12(1), 13–34. https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.878
Peng, A., Li, M., Lin, L., Cao, L., & Cai, J. (2022). Problem Posing and Its Relationship with Teaching Experience of Elementary School Mathematics Teachers from Ethnic Minority Area in Southwest China. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.29333/EJMSTE/11534
Rellensmann, J., Schukajlow, S., & Leopold, C. (2017). Make a Drawing. Effects of Strategic Knowledge, Drawing Accuracy, and Type of Drawing on students’ mathematical modelling performance. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 95(1), 53–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-016-9736-1
Rizos, I., & Gkrekas, N. (2023). Incorporating history of mathematics in open-ended problem solving: An empirical study. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13025
See, B. H., & Ibbotson, L. (2018). A feasibility study of the impact of the Kodály-inspired music programme on the developmental outcomes of four to five year olds in England. International Journal of Educational Research, 89(March), 10–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2018.03.002
Tang, D. M., Nguyen, C. T. N., Bui, H. N., Nguyen, H. T., Le, K. T., Truong, K. L. G., Tran, N. T., Vo, N. K., & Nguyen, T. T. (2023). Mobile learning in mathematics education: A systematic literature review of empirical research. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 19(5). https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13162
Tong, D. H., Uyen, B. P., & Quoc, N. V. A. (2021). The improvement of 10th students’ mathematical communication skills through learning ellipse topics. Heliyon, 7(11), e08282. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08282
Vale, I., & Barbosa, A. (2024). Exploring the creative potential of mathematical tasks in teacher education. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(4), em0790. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/15075
van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2010). Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics, 84(2), 523–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-009-0146-3
Zhang, L., Stylianides, G. J., & Stylianides, A. J. (2024). Enhancing mathematical problem posing competence: a meta-analysis of intervention studies. International Journal of STEM Education, 11(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-024-00507-1
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nadya Bosra, Muhammad Ammar Naufal, Ja’faruddin, Jacinta Johnny

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The authors certify that:
- if the manuscript is co-authored, they are authorized by their co-authors to enter into these arrangements.
- the work described has not been formally published before in a registered ISSN or ISBN media, except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, or thesis.
- it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere,
- its publication has been approved by all the author(s) and by the responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
- they secure the right to reproduce any material that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere (it does not infringe on the rights of others).
- they agree to the license and copyright agreement.
All articles published are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Authors retain copyright and other proprietary rights related to the article.
- Authors retain the right and are permitted to use the substance of the article in their own future works, including lectures and books.
- Authors grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post or self-archive their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.













