This book introduces case studies in mathematics education that provide teachers with opportunities to look at someone else's teaching in an objective way and analyze their own teaching with a critical eye. In addition, this book addresses many of the topics considered the hardest to teach and learn, including place value, number sentences, basic…

This paper presents five snapshots of data collected by adult basic math students taking part as co-researchers in a project to investigate the discourse of an adult basic math classroom. The work is presented against a background of the Freirean influence on adult literacy and numeracy. The notions of empowerment and dialogue in the Freirean…

This paper reports on the development to date of the numeracy conceptual framework for the Adult Literacy and Lifeskills (ALL) Project. The inclusion of a numeracy scale in the ALL survey offered a significant opportunity to develop a new conceptual framework for adult numeracy. This paper discusses the meaning of numeracy and the notion of…

This document discusses the term 'numeracy' which is also known as 'mathematical literacy' in some parts of the world. In Australia, the term numeracy carries different meanings based on the particular education system, which creates difficulties in both communication and research. The study investigates Australian children's numeracy achievement…

Over the last 20 years, the use of calculators and digital measuring equipment has to some extent replaced mathematical mental/written activity and also the use of analogue measuring equipment. This paper explores some aspects of number concept, reading the number line, and estimation from scales. The students being considered are mainly part of a…

Explores a workable definition of mathematical structure and a rationale for teaching mathematical structure in the secondary school. Continues with mathematical structure appropriate for secondary mathematics teachers and suggestions for teaching mathematical structure in the secondary school. Contains 11 references. (ASK)

Addresses the question of how the concept of "bildung"--which encompasses the process of personal development and change throughout life as well as the goal of the formation of shaping or forming--can be used as a tool for exploring goals of teaching numeracy to adults who lack basic mathematical skills. (Author/VWL)

Advocates an across-the-curriculum approach to quantitative literacy in higher education that incorporates and assesses: (1) foundational statistical and mathematical skills; (2) quantitative reasoning skills; and (3) attitudes and beliefs about mathematics and quantitative reasoning. (SLD)

Infants looked at visual displays of two or three items while listening to auditory sequences of two or three sounds. When the rate and duration of sounds were constant, infants looked longer at the visual display that was numerically equivalent to the auditory sequence. When the rate and duration of sounds varied, infants showed no preference for…

Explores prime numbers and their connections to related topics. (YDS)

Discusses the distribution of primes and focuses directly on one particular recurring pattern among them. (Author/NB)

Collaborative learning proved to be a key strategy in overcoming fear of math and developing adult numeracy skills. Working in groups enabled sharing, discovery, and reflection on the learning process in a confidence-building atmosphere. (SK)

Open-ended tasks for developing numeracy skills reflect the fact that real-life math problems are seldom closed or have a single right answer. The "giving a party" problem shows how different math concepts and problem-solving skills can be brought out in open-ended tasks. (SK)

Adults need both functional math skills (numeracy) and knowledge of mathematical concepts for full participation in society. Development of critical numeracy skills should take account of differing skill levels and the coping strategies adults already use. (SK)

Examined analog number representations in 5- to 7- year-olds. Found that subjects accurately estimated rapidly presented groups of 5 to 11 items. Children's data were qualitatively and to some degree quantitatively similar to adult data, with one exception. The ratio of the standard deviation of estimates to mean estimates decreased with age.…