Katherine Safford-Ramus is an associate professor of mathematics at Saint Peter’s College, a Jesuit College in New Jersey, USA. She has been teaching introductory mathematics courses at the tertiary level for 24 years at a community college. This book is based on her doctoral thesis. In Chapter 1, Unlatching the Gate deliberates a rich specra of conditions for, and peculiarities of, mathematics learning by adults in a formal environment. Influential theories and empirical findings in the fields of educational psychology, adult education and mathematics education are surveyed with a focus on adult learners and – of course –teachers and institutions. The text does not discuss empirical research undertaken by the author; it examines her broad personal teaching experience in the light of the above-mentioned body of knowledge and proposes directions for the development of adult mathematics education. In this sense, Unlatching the Gate is a theoretical book reflecting on practical issues. The target audience would be adult educators and students of post secondary mathematics education.
{"title":"Unlatching the Gate – Helping Adult Students Learn Mathematics by Katherine Safford-Ramus, (2008)","authors":"Armin Hollenstein","doi":"10.5130/LNS.V18I1.1432","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5130/LNS.V18I1.1432","url":null,"abstract":"Katherine Safford-Ramus is an associate professor of mathematics at Saint Peter’s College, a Jesuit College in New Jersey, USA. She has been teaching introductory mathematics courses at the tertiary level for 24 years at a community college. This book is based on her doctoral thesis. In Chapter 1, Unlatching the Gate deliberates a rich specra of conditions for, and peculiarities of, mathematics learning by adults in a formal environment. Influential theories and empirical findings in the fields of educational psychology, adult education and mathematics education are surveyed with a focus on adult learners and – of course –teachers and institutions. The text does not discuss empirical research undertaken by the author; it examines her broad personal teaching experience in the light of the above-mentioned body of knowledge and proposes directions for the development of adult mathematics education. In this sense, Unlatching the Gate is a theoretical book reflecting on practical issues. The target audience would be adult educators and students of post secondary mathematics education.","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"53 30 1","pages":"67-69"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80476952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In 2000, Skills for Life, a new strategy for literacy, numeracy and language education was introduced in England. It included new core curricula, tough new targets for learner achievement, and significantly increased accountability requirements for teachers and colleges. Many teachers found aspects of this new system difficult. This paper analyses interviews carried out with teachers in 2002 to identify the reasons underlying their resistance. In the interviews, teachers consistently drew on a welldefined discourse which defined ‘good’ teaching as teaching that is responsive to the learner, negotiating teaching in response to learners’ goals and characteristics, and flexible in the teaching moment. Resistance arose when aspects of the centralised strategy were perceived to constrain teachers’ ability to respond to learners in this way, being driven more by external demands and advance planning than by responsiveness to learners. Teachers attempted to develop strategies to maintain responsiveness while working within the new strategy.
{"title":"‘I am not a “good” teacher; I don’t do all their paperwork’: Teacher resistance to accountability demands in the English Skills for Life strategy","authors":"Karin Tusting","doi":"10.5130/LNS.V17I3.1396","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5130/LNS.V17I3.1396","url":null,"abstract":"In 2000, Skills for Life, a new strategy for literacy, numeracy and language education was introduced in England. It included new core curricula, tough new targets for learner achievement, and significantly increased accountability requirements for teachers and colleges. Many teachers found aspects of this new system difficult. This paper analyses interviews carried out with teachers in 2002 to identify the reasons underlying their resistance. In the interviews, teachers consistently drew on a welldefined discourse which defined ‘good’ teaching as teaching that is responsive to the learner, negotiating teaching in response to learners’ goals and characteristics, and flexible in the teaching moment. Resistance arose when aspects of the centralised strategy were perceived to constrain teachers’ ability to respond to learners in this way, being driven more by external demands and advance planning than by responsiveness to learners. Teachers attempted to develop strategies to maintain responsiveness while working within the new strategy.","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"6 1","pages":"6-26"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84358312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Notes on LNS 17.3 contributors, subscription information, editorial policy and notes for contributors
关于LNS 17.3贡献者的说明、订阅信息、编辑策略和贡献者的说明
{"title":"LNS 17.3","authors":"Alisa Belzer, Ralf St. Clair","doi":"10.5130/LNS.V17I3.1400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5130/LNS.V17I3.1400","url":null,"abstract":"Notes on LNS 17.3 contributors, subscription information, editorial policy and notes for contributors","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"79 1","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74021234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This article begins with a systemic overview of the historical background of literacy education in Turkey from the beginning of the Turkish Republic in the 1920s to the present day. The middle part of the discussion focuses on the legal basis of adult literacy and basic education, the programs that are in use, and the accountability and assessment systems. Finally, a qualitative study illustrates how these systems apply to the everyday practices of adult literacy education in Turkey.
{"title":"Literacy, Learners and Laws: A Turkish case study of surviving regulation","authors":"Özlem Ünlühisarcıklı","doi":"10.5130/LNS.V17I3.1397","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5130/LNS.V17I3.1397","url":null,"abstract":"This article begins with a systemic overview of the historical background of literacy education in Turkey from the beginning of the Turkish Republic in the 1920s to the present day. The middle part of the discussion focuses on the legal basis of adult literacy and basic education, the programs that are in use, and the accountability and assessment systems. Finally, a qualitative study illustrates how these systems apply to the everyday practices of adult literacy education in Turkey.","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"74 1","pages":"42-56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74148424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The authors of this book have set out to create a compilation of the theories behind different models of adult literacy to assist planners internationally in their development of new adult literacy programs. The book offers no ‘quick-fix’ solution or adult literacy program template, but is rich with examples and ideas emerging directly from literacy teachers ‘at the chalk face’ from diverse areas of the globe. Case studies demonstrate how ideas have been put into practice, with a focus on the learning experience being a collaborative process between a facilitator/teacher or between learners and their peers in the classroom. There is also a focus on learning in outdoor learning environments
{"title":"DEVELOPING ADULT LITERACY: APPROACHES TO PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING, AND DELIVERING LITERACY INITIATIVES","authors":"J. Bunt","doi":"10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1281","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1281","url":null,"abstract":"The authors of this book have set out to create a compilation of the theories behind different models of adult literacy to assist planners internationally in their development of new adult literacy programs. The book offers no ‘quick-fix’ solution or adult literacy program template, but is rich with examples and ideas emerging directly from literacy teachers ‘at the chalk face’ from diverse areas of the globe. Case studies demonstrate how ideas have been put into practice, with a focus on the learning experience being a collaborative process between a facilitator/teacher or between learners and their peers in the classroom. There is also a focus on learning in outdoor learning environments","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"1 1","pages":"89-90"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74960769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
What should professionalism mean in the literacy field? Quigley cites the results of a survey of literacy practitioners. According to one participant, ‘To act “professionally” in literacy and adult education is to self-educate in professional development.’ Another replied that literacy practitioners act professionally when they view ‘students as most valued clients and attempt to engage their individual needs and goals within a high-quality program of basic skills instruction.’ The theme of caring was one of the strongest points made. Quigley quoted from another survey participant: ‘To act professionally in adult literacy one is service-oriented, friendly and accountable. A professional is ethical (with) strong values, especially those pertaining to literacy and the population one serves’.
{"title":"BUILDING PROFESSIONAL PRIDE IN LITERACY","authors":"Denyse Edney","doi":"10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1282","url":null,"abstract":"What should professionalism mean in the literacy field? Quigley cites the results of a survey of literacy practitioners. According to one participant, ‘To act “professionally” in literacy and adult education is to self-educate in professional development.’ Another replied that literacy practitioners act professionally when they view ‘students as most valued clients and attempt to engage their individual needs and goals within a high-quality program of basic skills instruction.’ The theme of caring was one of the strongest points made. Quigley quoted from another survey participant: ‘To act professionally in adult literacy one is service-oriented, friendly and accountable. A professional is ethical (with) strong values, especially those pertaining to literacy and the population one serves’.","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"50 1","pages":"95-95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78767456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Social practice research can be seen to illuminate the practices of marginalised learners in ‘borderlands’, areas outside of formal educational frameworks. This paper examines the issues and challenges of social practice researchers as they explore borderlands logic set against a critique of the prevailing skills-based educational philosophies that dominate in the knowledge-based economies of the US and England. Social practice research highlights meaning-making through a wide-angled view of the learning contexts of marginalised groups. This paper introduces the themes and sets the scene in a series of papers in this volume from leading social practice researchers.
{"title":"Outside Practices: Learning within the borderlands","authors":"Sondra Cuban","doi":"10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1274","url":null,"abstract":"Social practice research can be seen to illuminate the practices of marginalised learners in ‘borderlands’, areas outside of formal educational frameworks. This paper examines the issues and challenges of social practice researchers as they explore borderlands logic set against a critique of the prevailing skills-based educational philosophies that dominate in the knowledge-based economies of the US and England. Social practice research highlights meaning-making through a wide-angled view of the learning contexts of marginalised groups. This paper introduces the themes and sets the scene in a series of papers in this volume from leading social practice researchers.","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"2 1","pages":"5-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83016229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The social practices framework has had a major impact on adult literacy and numeracy research over the past quarter century in the US, the UK and other countries. To date, the social practices view has had far less influence on the development of policies and programs in adult literacy and numeracy education. To help this happen, new kinds of assessment tools aligned with the social practices framework are needed to support appropriate changes in curriculum design, learner assessment and program evaluation. In this article research is presented that illustrates how measures of adults’ engagement in literacy and numeracy practices can be used in conjunction with well-entrenched proficiency measures to provide a richer quantitative framework for adult literacy and numeracy development. Longitudinal data about learners indicate that adult education programs are more closely aligned with practice engagement measures than with proficiency measures. Program participation leads to increased practice engagement that, over time, leads to the very gains in proficiency currently valued by policy makers.
{"title":"Scaling Up and Moving In: Connecting social practices views to policies and programs in adult education","authors":"S. Reder","doi":"10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1276","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1276","url":null,"abstract":"The social practices framework has had a major impact on adult literacy and numeracy research over the past quarter century in the US, the UK and other countries. To date, the social practices view has had far less influence on the development of policies and programs in adult literacy and numeracy education. To help this happen, new kinds of assessment tools aligned with the social practices framework are needed to support appropriate changes in curriculum design, learner assessment and program evaluation. In this article research is presented that illustrates how measures of adults’ engagement in literacy and numeracy practices can be used in conjunction with well-entrenched proficiency measures to provide a richer quantitative framework for adult literacy and numeracy development. Longitudinal data about learners indicate that adult education programs are more closely aligned with practice engagement measures than with proficiency measures. Program participation leads to increased practice engagement that, over time, leads to the very gains in proficiency currently valued by policy makers.","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"18 1","pages":"35-50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89588036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this paper, I use a social practices view of literacy to challenge dominant conceptions of health literacy. Health literacy is frequently defined as an abstract skill that can be measured through individual performance tests. The concept of health literacy as a skill neglects the contextual nature of reading and writing in health care settings. It risks ignoring the many ways in which patients access and comprehend health information, make sense of their experience and the resources they draw on. The paper presents findings from a study of forty five literacy and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students’ health-related reading and writing practices in the north-west of England. I suggest that health literacy needs to be understood as a situated social practice and that it is a shared resource frequently achieved collectively by groups of people, for example families. I conclude with some reflections on the implications of my research for adult education practice.
{"title":"Literacy, Learning and Health – A social practices view of health literacy","authors":"Uta Papen","doi":"10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5130/LNS.V0I0.1275","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper, I use a social practices view of literacy to challenge dominant conceptions of health literacy. Health literacy is frequently defined as an abstract skill that can be measured through individual performance tests. The concept of health literacy as a skill neglects the contextual nature of reading and writing in health care settings. It risks ignoring the many ways in which patients access and comprehend health information, make sense of their experience and the resources they draw on. The paper presents findings from a study of forty five literacy and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students’ health-related reading and writing practices in the north-west of England. I suggest that health literacy needs to be understood as a situated social practice and that it is a shared resource frequently achieved collectively by groups of people, for example families. I conclude with some reflections on the implications of my research for adult education practice.","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"13 1","pages":"19-34"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2009-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83693635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Numeracy as social practice","authors":"D. Baker","doi":"10.4324/9781315269474","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315269474","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":52030,"journal":{"name":"Literacy and Numeracy Studies","volume":"45 1","pages":"37-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1998-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74205616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}