Research and Evaluation | Noteworthy Practices | Additional Links

Reading has been the primary emphasis in building research-based knowledge about how adults learn and improve their literacy skills. Because today's decisions are based on data, it is equally important for adult learners to develop and strengthen skills in mathematics, and for educators to identify what works best in developing those skills and create applications for adults. Mathematics skills are a gatekeeper for further education and training, and significantly affect employability and career options. Even for jobs requiring postsecondary education, employers seek employees who are proficient in mathematics, as well as reading, who can use math to solve problems, and communicate effectively. The role of adult basic education in strengthening mathematics skills is central to the U.S. Department of Education's vision for adult education.

Research and Evaluation

• A Review of the Literature in Adult Numeracy: Research and Conceptual Issues MS WORD (558 KB) is a report of OVAE-sponsored review of literature on the topic of adult numberacy and adult numeracy instruction. The Adult Numeracy Initiative is the first major effort of the U.S. Department of Education to improve the research and practice of adult numeracy, 2006.

• The purpose of the Numeracy Environmental Scan (EScan) MS Word (1.7M) is to examine recent and current adult numeracy professional development initiatives in the United States and inform future numeracy research and other initiatives at the state and federal levels. The EScan focused on the following research questions:

  • What types of professional development initiatives have been implemented at the state and local levels through federal funding that incorporate or focus on adult mathematics instruction?
  • What types of programs have been implemented at the state and local levels through federal funding that focus on adult mathematics instruction related to adult English language acquisition learners?
  • What instructional practices exist in mathematics education for adult learners that are worthy of replication? How should instructional strategies and programs differ across adult learner populations?
  • What practices exist in professional development and certification requirements for instructors of adult mathematics education that are worthy of replication?

• Strengthening Mathematics Skills at the Postsecondary Level: Literature Review and Analysis MS WORD (400 KB) addressed topics of: (a) defining the mathematical knowledge and skills necessary to pursue college-level mathematics and (b) identifying the elements of developmental mathematics programs within community colleges, the military, businesses, and organized labor that enable adult learners to transition from developmental to college-level mathematics.

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Noteworthy Practices

• The American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges maintains Beyond Crossroads Live! as part of an ongoing effort to support the document, "Beyond Crossroads: Implementing Mathematics Standards in the First Two Years of College." PDF (124 KB)

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Additional Links

• LINCS Science & Numeracy Special Collections of lesson ideas and math activities for teachers and tutors is arranged by topics suggested by A Framework for Adult Numeracy Standards based upon a study by the Adult Numeracy Network (ANN). Links are grouped in the following topic areas: number and number sense; problem solving: reasoning and decision making; data analysis, probability and statistics, graphing; geometry: spatial sense and measurement; and algebra: patterns and functions.

• The Student Learner—Numeracy section provides adult learners with resources for learning mathematics. The Web sites show the ways in which math skills are used in the real world. Links are organized in the same way as the page for teachers and tutors above.

• Drexel University Math Forum provides resources for improving math learning, teaching, and communication and has been active since 1992. Teachers, mathematicians, researchers, students, and parents use the site to learn math and improve math education.

• Math Doctors allows anyone to type in a math question and get a prompt reply.

• Math Tools allows exploration of the world of online tools for understanding math concepts and a chance to "talk" with teachers using them in the classroom.

• Teacher2Teacher (T2T) helps parents and teachers who have questions about teaching mathematics.

• National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy's Math page.

• Focus on Basics, Numeracy Needs of Adult Literacy Participants, provides learners' descriptions of how their numeracy problems reflect a need for everyday, concrete mathematics and describe the strong emotions associated with the need to learn mathematics.

• Focus on Basics Annual Review, The Inclusion of Numeracy in Adult Basic Education.

• Focus on Basics, Developing Adults' Numerate Thinking: Getting Out From Under The Workbooks.

• Focus on Basics, Teaching to the Math Standards with Adult Learners.

• Focus on Basics, A Foundation for Learning Math.

• Focus on Basics, A Conversation with FOB... Transitions and Math.

• Focus on Basics, The New York City Math Exchange Group: Helping teachers change the way they teach mathematics.

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