Mathematical Eyes: A Bridge between Adults, the World and - ALM

373 Pages·2012·10.08 MB·English

Mathematical Eyes:
A Bridge between Adults, the World and
Mathematics

th
Proceedings of the18 International Conference of
Adults Learning Mathematics - A Research Forum (ALM)

Hosted by:

The Institute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.

Tallaght, June, 2011

Edited by: Theresa Maguire, John J. Keogh and John O’Donoghue
Published by: Adults Learning Mathematics (ALM) – A Research Forum.

Editorial Team: Theresa Maguire, John J. Keogh and John O’Donoghue.

Copyright (C) 2012 by Adults Learning Mathematics – A Research Forum.

Permission to make copies of individual articles, in paper or electronic form, including
posting on personal and class web pages, for educational and scientific use is granted without
fee, provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and
that copies bear the following copyright notice: Copyright Adults Learning Mathematics – A
Research Forum 2012. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-0-9551218-1-4 Format – Paperback book

A soft copy of these proceedings is available from the ALM website at
http://www.it-tallaght.ie/events/alm18conference/index.html

A series of images of the conference and the recorded presentations of the plenary speakers
are also available on the same website.

These proceedings include both refereed and non-refereed papers.

People writing papers for the conference were able to choose whether or not they wanted to
go through the conference review process. All papers recommended as part of this process
are marked with an asterisk (*) next to the title in the table of contents.
ii
Table of Contents
Page
About ALM vii
Preface x
Acknowledgements xv

Section 1 Plenary presentations
(Plenary video is available at http:\\www.it-tallaght.ie\events\alm18conference\index.html)

Lars Gustafsson, National Center for Mathematics Education (NCM)
Adults mathematical literacy - starting a Grundtvig Multilateral Network 1

Kees Hoogland , APS – National Center for School Improvement
Images of Numeracy 2

C.D.Hussey, University of Limerick
Eeny – Meeny – Miny – Mo: Count and be Counted! 15

Bill Lynch, NCCA – Project Maths Co-ordinator
Project Maths 24

Ciarán O’Sullivan, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin
But what use is this 'maths stuff' in the real world? - One practitioners' quest
to provide answers 25

Section 2 – Paper Presentations

Sonja Beeli-Zimmermann and Armin Hollenstein
Financial literacy of microcredit clients – Results of a qualitative exploratory
study and its implications for educational schemes 26

Beth Kelly
Learning in the workplace, functional mathematics and issues of transferability 37

Catherine Byrne, Theresa Maguire, John O’Donoghue
Mathematics Behind Bars 47

Diana Coben and Barbara Miller-Reilly
An International Comparative Study of Adult Numeracy in New Zealand and the UK
– what can we learn from surveys? * 61

Javier Díez-Palomar
Being competent in mathematics: adult numeracy and common sense * 90

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Javier Díez-Palomar, Clive Kanes, Margarida César, Maria Lo Cicero,
Benedetto Di Paola
Family Math for Adult Learners * 103

Jeff Evans
Adult Students' Response to Images of Mathematics in Advertising * 118

Sílvia Franco
Ethnomathematics: An Intercultural Dialogue * 129

Eileen Goold and Frank Devitt
The role of mathematics in engineering practice and in the formation of engineers * 134

Graham Griffiths
Turn and face the strain ‐ towards a model for analysing the changing mathematical
needs of the workplace * 155

Jackie Ashton, Graham Griffiths, David Kaye, Beth Kelly and Daian Marsh
Family mathematics/numeracy: identifying the impact of supporting parents
in developing their children’s mathematical skills * 163

David Kaye, Beth Kelly, Jackie Ashton and Graham Griffiths
Financial Literacy Competencies - the story so far * 176

Kees Hoogland, Rinske Stelwagen
New Dutch Numeracy Framework * 193

Patrick Johnson and Maria Gonzalez
A Qualitative Study of the Mathematical Experience of Commencing Tertiary
Adult Learners * 203

Marcus E. Jorgensen
Relevance as a Bridge between College-Preparation Adults and the World * 213

Section 3 - Paper Presentations

John J. Keogh, Theresa Maguire and John O’Donoghue
Mathematics in the Workplace – Invisible to Whom? * 228

Leonid Khazanov and Fred Peskoff
Incorporating Study Skills Training into an Elementary Algebra Course * 238

Padraig Kirwan
A Mature Student Maths Programme 246

Christopher M. Klinger
On the role of language and interpretative fluency in addressing mathematics
anxiety in adult learners * 247
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Miriam Liston, Niamh O’ Meara and Blathnaid Ní Chinneide
The challenges faced when integrating numeracy and literacy in the development
of a ‘Real World Maths’ training pack * 256

Devorah MacLean
Playing the Board game for Algebra Review (Beginner & Intermediate) 268

Tibor Marcinek
The world through the mathematical eyes of college students: Images from a pilot
competency course in quantitative reasoning * 269

Ann McDonnell
An exploration of the impact of functional skills: on young people and adults life
chances and employability 279

Mesquita, M, Franco S., Matias, M, Matos I, Madeira M, and Marques, J.
The Collaborative Group of GEMP as context-building knowledge and the
relationship with the knowledge 280

Zaeed Mohammed
Functional Skills 281

Ruth Moulton
Education Projects in Honduras & Nicaragua 282

Fiacre Ó Cairbre
The Positive Impact of Storytelling in Mathematics for Adults * 295

Joan O’Hagan
(When) can we trust ourselves to think straight? – and (when) does it really matter? * 305

Tracy Part
What is Mathematical Wellbeing? What are the Implications for Policy and Practice? * 316

Damien Raftery and Sharon McDonald
Assessing for learning and quantitative literacy 325

Katherine Safford-Ramus
A Review and Summary of Dissertation Research in Adult Mathematics Education:
- The Next Decade * 326

Katherine Safford-Ramus
Professional Development for Middle School Teachers: A Summary of Recent
Research in the United States - Final Report * 333

Valerie Seabright
MATHEMATICS -Visible but Unseen 341
v
Yvonne Seiler and Armin Hollenstein
Computer Literacy – A Trojan Horse to Adult Basic Education? 344

Participants’ Contact Details Appendix 1

ALM 18 Bibliography Anthem Appendix 2
vi
About ALM

Adults Learning Mathematics – A Research Forum (ALM) was formally established in July
1994 as an international research forum with the following aim:

To promote the learning of mathematics by adults through an international
forum, which brings together those engaged and interested in research and
development in the field of mathematics learning and teaching.

Charitable status

ALM is a Registered Charity (1079462) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (Company
Number 3901346). The company address is: 26, Tennyson Road, London NW6 7SA.

Objectives of ALM
ALM's aims are the advancement of education by the establishment and development of an
international research forum in the life-long learning of mathematics and numeracy by adults
by:
• encouraging research into adults learning mathematics at all levels and disseminating
the results of this research for the public benefit;
• promoting and sharing knowledge, awareness and understanding of adults learning
mathematics at all levels, to encourage the development of the teaching of
mathematics to adults at all levels, for the public benefit.

ALM Activities

ALM members work in a variety of educational settings both as practitioners and researchers,
improving the learning of mathematics at all levels. The ALM annual conference provides an
international network which reflects on practice and research, fosters links between teachers
and encourages good practice in curriculum design and delivery using teaching and learning
strategies from all over the world.

Board of Trustees

ALM is managed by a Board of Trustees elected by the members at the Annual General
Meeting which is held at the annual international conference.
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ALM Officers and Trustees 2011-2012
Chair
Dr Chris Klinger, University of South Australia Adelaide, Australia

Secretary
Institute of Education, London
Graham Griffiths London, UK
Learning Unlimited
Treasurer
Ruth Moulton Freelance London, UK
Membership Secretary
Joanne Kantner Joliet Junior College Illinois, USA

Officers
Beth Kelly Freelance, Learning Unlimited London, UK
Catherine Byrne Education Unit, Wheatfield Dublin, Ireland
Prison
Dr Terry Maguire Institute of Technology Tallaght Dublin, Ireland
Zaeed Mohammed Kendall College Kendall, UK
Eileen Goold National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland
Maynooth
Honorary Trustees:
Prof. John O'Donoghue University of Limerick Limerick, Ireland
Prof. Dr Jürgen Maaβ University of Linz Linz, Austria
Prof. Diana Coben King's College London London, UK
Dr Alison Tomlin King's College London London, UK
Dr Katherine Safford Saint Peter’s College New Jersey, USA
Dr Mieke van Groenestijn Utrecht University of Netherlands
Professional Education
Lisbeth Lindberg Goteborg University Sweden
David Kaye LLU+ London South Bank UK
University
Dr Marj Horne Australian Catholic University Melbourne, Australia
Dr Gail Fitzsimons Monash University Melbourne, Australia

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How to become a member

Anyone who is interested in joining ALM should contact the membership secretary. Contact
details are on the ALM website: http://www.alm-online.net

Membership fees for 2012

Sterling Euro U.S. Dollar
Individual £20 €24 $32
Institution £40 €48 $80
Student / Unwaged £4 €6 $8
Low waged – contribute between full and unwaged rate

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Preface
Mathematical Eyes:
A Bridge between Adults, the World and Mathematics.

18th International Conference Adult Learning Mathematics
The Institute of Technology Tallaght. Dublin, Ireland.

The Institute of Technology Tallaght is delighted to have hosted the 18th International Conference of
Adults Learning Mathematics in June 2011, and to have welcomed the International Research
Community to Ireland.

The conference came at a time of change in terms of the school mathematics in Ireland. The largest
curriculum reform in second level mathematics in Ireland, ‘Project Maths’, was in the process of
being implemented on a phased basis (see www.projectmaths.ie ). The emphasis of this reformed
curriculum is on forging strong links between the mathematics taught in the classroom and real
world applications.

‘Project Maths’, aims to provide for an enhanced student learning experience and
greater levels of achievement for all. Much greater emphasis will be placed on
student understanding of mathematical concepts, with increased use of contexts
and applications that will enable students to relate mathematics to everyday
experience
Project Maths Development Team (2012).
However, the concept of mathematics is strongly linked to each individual’s own school experience,
is often considered abstract, and not relevant to everyday life. At community level, there was a sense
that ‘Project Maths’ was new and unknown, and as a consequence, feared. In response, the Institute
took the decision to build confidence in mathematics at community level, by opening the
community’s ‘Maths Eyes’. The initiative ‘Looking at Tallaght with Maths Eyes’, took the
innovative and novel approach of sowing the seeds of the importance of mathematics competence in
real life situations in the local community. To provide synergy between the conference and the
community initiative, the theme of the International conference was ‘Mathematical Eyes: A Bridge
between Adults, the World and Mathematics’. The conference mirrored, to a large extent, the theme
of the local initiative, ‘Looking at Tallaght with Maths Eyes’.

Central to the thinking and planning of the community initiative from the outset, was the notion that
the target audience was the Community of Tallaght; not just the schools. As a result, a number of
different approaches were incorporated into the initiative to introduce and reinforce the concept of
having ‘Maths Eyes’, and making the link between mathematics and the real world. The key aims of
the initiative were to:
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