Publications:
A Framework
for Adult Numeracy Standards:
The Mathematical Skills and Abilities Adults Need
To Be Equipped for the Future
INTRODUCTION
In October 1995, the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) funded eight planning
grants for system reform and improvement as part of the Equipped for the Future (EFF)
project. World Education, Inc., in cooperation with five state literacy resource
centers, accepted the grant on behalf of the Adult Numeracy Practitioners Network (ANPN).
The purpose of the ANPN Planning Grant is to begin the work of developing Adult
Numeracy Standards for adult basic education. We are augmenting previous work done
in this area (e.g., NCTM, SCANS, Massachusetts ABE Math Standards) by interviewing adult learners,
teachers and other stakeholders.
This project, while furthering the work of other projects, was exciting in that the
voices of the adult learner as well as stakeholders were added to the mix. Based
on all the voices along with the work done previously in the area of adult numeracy,
the following seven themes emerged and serve as the foundation for adult numeracy standards:
- Relevance/Connections
- Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Decision-Making
- Communication
- Number and Number Sense
- Data
- Geometry: Spatial Sense and Measurement
- Algebra: Patterns and Functions
Along with the seven themes noted above, adult learner and stakeholder voices also
gave us greater insight into affective issues. A section on Competence and Self-confidence
was added to ensure that adults' voices were heard and their feelings considered as this document is read.
1
We not only asked adults what they need to know and be able to do to be productive
citizens, workers, and parents, but also we encouraged the adults we spoke with to
share their opinions on how math instruction should be changed. Adult learners shared
how math instruction should be changed in the classroom while stakeholders tended to
look at system reform issues. From the uniformity of voices of adults across the
country, Recommendations for System Reform have been drafted and are reflected in
the final chapter of this document.
What We Need Is an Honest List!
In March, 1994, over 100 adult educators, mathematics educators and other stakeholders
in the field of adult education and training came together for three days to discuss
the topic of adult numeracy. One of the major suggestions of the Conference on Adult Mathematical Literacy was that an important next step would be to develop an honest
list of the skills and knowledge that adults really need to be mathematically literate.
The participants called for a serious rethinking of the content and relevance of the adult basic education mathematics classes as they are currently taught. Through
analysis of the mathematical demands on adults in today s society, educators can
refocus the adult numeracy curriculum in a meaningful way.
A Massachusetts cohort of adult education teachers, inspired by the National Council
of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics,
had already begun this task in earnest. However, because the cohort reflected the
input of teachers only, many participants at the conference felt that more research
was needed. That research should include consideration of data from the Secretary's
Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) Report</ |
