Better maths education: from long division to numeracy

After WWII, in the third quarter of last century (1950-1975), there was a broad consensus that mathematics in primary education should consist of practicing operations on bare numbers according to fixed procedures by hand and on paper: adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. The long division is the iconic image of this perspective. Was that a … Lees verder

Tackling low-numeracy in a digital world

Soon (mid-June 2019) the Parliament of The Netherlands will discuss a government policy letter on how to deal with low-literacy in the Netherlands in the coming years. A lot of attention will be paid to the language problems of individuals. This is an important and relevant policy choice. It is estimated that 1.3 million Dutch … Lees verder

Numeracy for Vocational Education – Open Badges

Analysis of the problem There are a number of persistent problems with numeracy in vocational education. 1. There is insufficient consensus on the form and content of numeracy based on what is useful and necessary for vocational students in this century. 2. Due to the recent policy history of top-down mandatory (exam) tests, there is … Lees verder

Fighting against low numeracy is urgent

Fill in tax forms, pay at the checkout, rent, buy, save, budget, use of medicines, jobs in and outside the home, understand offers and quotations, understand chance and statistics, understand headlines, VAT issues. It is too much to mention what a modern citizen encounters on a daily basis in so-called numeracy situations. Mostly unconsciously and … Lees verder