This survey paper examines selected issues related to the intersection of three broad scholarly areas: "numeracy," "adult education," and "vulnerability." Numeracy encompasses the ways in which people cope with the mathematical, quantitative, and statistical demands of adult life, and is viewed as an important outcome…

This paper examines perspectives regarding the mathematical skills expected of adults and school graduates, comparing ideas developed as part of two major multinational comparative assessments of skills: the Programme for International Student Assessment and the Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (also known as the OECD…

Governments and other stakeholders have become increasingly interested in assessing the skills of their adult populations in order to monitor how well prepared they are to meet the challenges of the new information world. The current paper provides an overview of the conceptual framework for the assessment of numeracy developed for the OECD's…

Discusses the importance of numeracy with the national focus on global competitiveness and a reemphasis on the importance of lifelong learning. Discusses several initiatives and groups dealing with adult numeracy issues. (JOW)

Offers new insights into learning and teaching critical numeracy. Makes distinctions between generative or computational numeracy tasks and interpretive numeracy tasks, and between mathematically confined interpretation and critical evaluation that leads to action. (Author/VWL)

This report discusses the place of numeracy in adult education, examines conceptions of what numeracy and numeracy provision might include, and explores links between literacy and numeracy provision. Section A takes a critical look at how much attention is being paid to mathematics education in adult education/adult literacy programs and addresses…

Data from the National and International Adult Literacy Surveys and the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicate the quantitative skills of many adults may be lower than desired. The level of numeracy instruction in adult basic education may be higher than reported, but opportunities for teacher training in numeracy instruction appear…

The current state of adult numeracy research and practice was examined. Data were collected from available literature and test data about adult numeracy instruction, as well as from telephone interviews with directors and teachers in 30 randomly selected adult education programs in three states. Among the key findings of the study were the…

This report identifies 13 instructional strategies for teaching adult numeracy skills that address issues of assessment, development of mathematical skills, and development of problem-solving skills. The rationale and suggestions regarding the following 13 instructional principles are described: address and evaluate attitudes and beliefs about…

A national survey examined the following: the extent of math-related activities in adult literacy programs, staff training in math, assessment frameworks being used, and the use of computers for teaching math. Of the 605 programs that received the questionnaire, 350 (57.9%) completed questionnaires. The 350 programs served more than 750,000 adult…

Baseline information about numeracy education provision in the United States was collected in a questionnaire completed by 350 (57.9%) of 650 adult education programs surveyed. The usable responses yielded data about numeracy education provided to 774,955 students in 15 states. Among the study's main findings were the following: more than 80% of…

This document, which was developed for participants in a videoconference examining a new approach to adult numeracy instruction, contains information and resources to help literacy trainers improve their numeracy programs. Presented first are the following: 12 instructional goals/principles that are based on the premise that numeracy educators…

This report describes a low-cost, adaptable methodology for assessment of basic learning competencies (BLCs) in diverse cultural contexts. Following the introduction, section 2 provides a policy framework and covers priority populations; policy and assessment needs; challenges for policy-driven assessments; and questions policymakers might have.…