INFORMATION LITERACY : MATHEMATICAL LITERACY : STATISTICAL LITERACY: Numerical Literacy
David P. Dillard
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INFORMATION LITERACY :
MATHEMATICAL LITERACY :
STATISTICAL LITERACY:
Numerical Literacy
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Numerical Literacy
http://sites.wiki.ubc.ca/etec510/Numerical_Literacy
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Numerical literacy, or numeracy, is currently a topic of great educational
concern. Provincial curriculum developers across the country, and
throughout the world, are working to address the issue of numeracy. In
general, the term numeracy can be used to describe two different, but
related, areas of ability:
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1.The ability to use basic math skills and interpret data in daily life
and work.
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2.The ability to engage in mathematical discussion and knowledge
building
at a higher level.
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The first issue is of immediate concern to educators while the second
issue has a more limited scope within the mathematical community.
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Contents
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1 Numeracy 1.1 Why is Numeracy Important?
2 Innumeracy 2.1 Causes of Innumeracy 2.1.1 Math Anxiety
3 Improving Numeracy from an Educational Perspective
4 Numeracy and Upper Level Mathematics
5 Great Math Reads
6 Additional Information and Related Sites
7 References
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Content Sample:
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Why is Numeracy Important?
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Proficiency in numeracy is related to successful completion of high school
and successful transition to post-secondary education and the work
force.[2][3]
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Numeracy is necessary to be able to interpret and verify information in
the media: Results from political polls, survey data, and statistical
"facts" cited in commercial advertisements are just a few examples.
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Numeracy is imporant in making educated choices in health care - for
example, understanding the probabilities behind false positive or false
negative test results. A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine
reported that "Numeracy was strongly related to gauging the benefit of
mammography" and that "Higher numeracy scores were associated with greater
accuracy in applying risk reduction information" as it applied to
mammography.[4]
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Numeracy is important for understanding mortgage rates, investments and
loans.
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Numeracy is found in the skills needed to make measurements for home
repair or renovation, such as determining how much paint to buy to paint a
room.
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Numeracy is a requirement in a wide variety of employment opportunities.
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Attention to numeracy is well-documented throughout curriculum in Canada
and globally. In British Columbia, the Premiers Technology Council
addresses numeracy in its publication A Vision for 21st Century Education.
Queensland, Australia, addresses numeracy in Numeracy Lifelong Confidence
with Mathematics. Many other provinces and jurisdictions around the world
have similar documents available online to indicate how they are dealing
with the issues surrounding numeracy in their educational systems. In
their plan for improving literacy and numeracy in Ireland, the Department
of Education and Skills states that "The skills of literacy and numeracy
equip young people to make the most of learning opportunities, to take up
satisfying careers and to contribute to and participate fully in all
aspects of our culture and society". [5]
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Innumeracy
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Innumeracy was a term developed to convey a person's inability to make
sense of numbers. Basically innumeracy refers to a lack of numeracy.
Innumeracy was coined by cognitive scientist Douglas R Hofstadter in the
early nineteen eightees. Dr. Hofstader wrote several Metamagical Thema
columns for Scientific American.
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Later that decade mathematician John Allen Paulos published his book
Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences.[6] In this book,
many numeracy concepts were explored and explained in an entertaining and
meaningful manner. The book was written with the hope of drawing attention
and creating action to address the issue. David Letterman, who himself has
self confessed difficulty with numbers, interviewed John Allen Paulos.
Innumeracy interestingly, was a national best seller.
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Causes of Innumeracy
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Innumeracy, like illiteracy, has many causes. As with all types of
learning, culture plays a pivotal role in innumeracy. In his book,
Mindstorms, Seymour Papert refers to the concept of mathophobia. Papert
states that, The mathophobia endemic in contemporary culture blocks many
people from learning anything they recognize as math, although they have
no trouble with mathematical knowledge they do not perceive as such."[7]
He goes on to state that difficulty with mathematics in school is often
the first step in perceiving oneself as either mathematically capable or
not. What may have started as a lack of understanding, opportunity or
experience may become internalized as a personality characteristic and
becomes a block to future learning. In essence, students have difficulty
learning math simply because they think they cannot.
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In his article, Counting Past 10: Numeracy versus Literacy, Drew Cayman
sums up North American society's attitude towards mathematics. He states
that:
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"Numeracy, at heart, is a cultural value. As Americans, we do not
typically pride ourselves on understanding our mortgage contracts or
multiplying in our heads, and this is not a source of shame. We readily
admit Im not very good at math, but would be silent if we had similar
troubles with reading. There are late night infomercials for Hooked on
Phonics, but not Hooked on Fractions. We feed children alphabet soup.",[8]
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Math Anxiety
snip
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Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University
(215) 204 - 4584
jw...@temple.edu
http://workface.com/e/daviddillard
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