The second Utrecht/ICASE Symposium brought a variety of European colleagues together to discuss scientific literacy which has played an important role in curriculum development for the past 25 years. This proceedings contains papers presented at the symposium. Papers include: (1) "Teaching for scientific literacy: An introduction" (Elwin…

This is a discussion of research in the 'Schooled and Community numeracies focus within the Leverhulme funded Low Educational Achievement in Numeracy Research Programme. The intentions of the research in this focus are to seek explanations for underachievement in numeracy that derive from understandings of mathematics as social. We wanted to…

Over the past decade, institutions of higher education have come under increasing demands for accountability. Colleges and universities are expected to document student learning, beyond traditional course grades. The use of assessment as a tool to improve learning relies on the active involvement of faculty in planning, implementing, and refining…

This document details the National Literacy Strategy, a framework for primary school teachers in England helping their students master basic literacy skills in order to reach national literacy standards. This framework sets out teaching objectives from Reception to Year 6 to enable students to become fully literate. The framework is intended for…

Argues that the use of number sense can assist learners in their understanding of and calculating in mathematics. Reports on those aspects that were investigated with primary teachers' preservice teacher education students (N=6) at the commencement of a semester unit in mathematics education. Concludes that the students had at least a limited…

Examined the change in number knowledge and number strategies from school entry to year end among kindergartners. Found a wide range of knowledge and a broad span of achievements at both times. Overall, many children displayed considerable numerical competence at school entry, most displayed marked improvement over the year, whereas a small…

Understanding of the cardinality principle in children with Williams Syndrome (WS) was compared to that of typically developing children. Findings indicated that such understanding was extremely delayed in WS children and only at the level predicted by their visuo-spatial mental age. Findings suggested that visuo-spatial ability played a greater…

Describes strategies for using literature to teach number sense and problem solving. Reports that the rich class discussions reflected some of the students' thinking, gave students opportunities to share their approaches and understandings, and gave the teacher additional insights into students' thinking. (JRH)

Explores how to use Gardner's Multiple Intelligence theory to help students' master multiplication. Focuses on helping children use their different intelligence strength to attain conceptual understanding of multiplication, develop their own thinking strategies for harder facts, and build mastery through practice and problem solving. (KHR)

Reports on aspects of the Tasmanian Centre of the Adult Literacy and Numeracy Australian Research Consortium, which investigated the role of the Workplace English Language and Literacy program in supporting provision for literacy and numeracy in training packages. (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education)(Author/VWL)

Applies Gresham's Law ("bad money drives out good") to educators' overreliance on technology. Introducing more advanced "learning" technology without a concomitant emphasis on knowledge acquisition allows some students to operate at increasingly lower thought levels. Higher order thought processes will be displaced (and…

Math teachers who spend most of their time lecturing at a chalkboard or assigning textbook problems are not reaching many students. To achieve math literacy goals, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics encourages teachers to help students learn to value mathematics, gain confidence in their math abilities, and become good mathematical…

Examines the use of mental, written, and calculator strategies of numerical computation by 56 upper primary students. Finds that students introduced to a "calculator-aware" curriculum make greater use of mental computation, particularly multiplication strategies based on distribution and compensation. Notes implications for models of…

Emphasizes the need to teach probability and statistics to elementary school students. Explains that it will help them think more logically about arguments and enable them to explain their thinking with numerical information. Describes different exercises that will allow students to learn about statistics, probability, and data collection and…

Provides instructions for 23 mathematics learning activities for young children in early childhood settings. Includes activities for ordering, numeral recognition, counting, number sense and numeration, and a list of suggested music, movement, and book ideas for each area. (KB)