Teaching Math to Adults

By Laura Ruddock

Adults who need to brush up their math skills in order to succeed in post secondary programs and technical occupations can now access a curriculum specifically designed for the adult learner.

Math in The Real World and Applied Math 40S (MRW/AM40S) is a comprehensive package developed by McLeod Adult Learning Centre that targets higher level numeracy skills, making practical connections between occupational workplace tasks and the advanced math taught in adult learning centers. The curriculum builds on the latest research related to teaching math and excels in making the learning of math skills meaningful for adults.

The program stems from a curriculum - Math in The Real World (MRW) - originally developed by the McLeod Adult Learning Centre in 2000-2001. MRW was an adaptation of Manitoba’s grade 11 physics course, with a module on math upgrades. The course was intended to prepare students for grade 12-level math and physics courses that are requirements for technology courses at community colleges.

In 2003, research was conducted to discover the nature and extent of the difficulties students in technology courses encountered. Interviews were conducted with students and instructors, and key issues repeatedly emerging included problem solving skills, math ‘sense’, the language of math, and key mathematical methods such as factorization and quadratic functions.

A curriculum was developed in 2004 to address these issues, using MRW as the starting point. The resulting teaching framework takes into account such relevancies as adult learner characteristics, the learning climate, and facilitation of curriculum. Also included are such granular (and welcome!) details as a first day’s schedule outline for instructors, complete with tips on how to develop a comfortable learning environment.

Learning techniques that prove most successful with adults are highlighted, such as group discussions and ‘Show and Do’. Additional information and website links are also provided, giving instructors a truly well-rounded and near-exhaustive math resource for adult-centred learning.

Math in The Real World and Applied Math 40S (MRW/AM40S) was developed by Angela Tessier, Emerald Educational Services, in collaboration with Angela McCanny at Maththoughts Tutoring. McLeod Adult Learning Centre of the River East Transcona School Division initiated the project, while funding was provided by the National Literacy Secretariat through the Workplace Education Manitoba Steering Committee (WEMSC) and Employment and Training Services Branch: Manitoba Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade.

For more information about the MRW/AM40S curriculum, contact pmcburney@retsd.mb.ca at the River East Transcona School Division.