Numeracy: Life, School and Work

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Pre-teaching period:

During the pre-teaching period, students will be required to complete reading that will be provided via LMS.

170 hours

To complete the assessments, students are required to have access to a school and in particular to curriculum documents.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject provides an introduction to all the major themes of the course and to major DEECD initiatives and resources. The subject begins with the definition, roles and functions of numeracy. Evidence will be presented to demonstrate the importance of high level of numeracy to students for success at school, for future learning, and for full participation in the community and in the economy of the future. The way in which the use of complex technology requires higher cognitive skills will be exemplified. Participants will also examine: the roles of capacity, confidence and disposition in being numerate; Australian students’ performance in numeracy and mathematics in national and international assessments; government initiatives around numeracy; major assessment tools and their interpretation; the numeracy-related roles and needs of all teachers, the numeracy needs of interdisciplinary content areas.

On completion of the subject students will be able to:

• Explain the need for numeracy in modern society
• Describe achievement in numeracy from various perspectives
• Identify features of a curriculum to promote numeracy
• Link the above to policy and teaching practice.

• Cross curriculum audit of numeracy demands upon students (Mid semester, 2000 words, 40%)
• Report on school’s numeracy needs (End semester, 3000 words, 60%)

Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs/online classes) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject aims to build skills in:

• Analysing teaching practice and curriculum documents from theoretical and practical perspectives
• Taking an national and international perspective on local situations
• Being articulate and precise about numeracy goals, elements and achievements.