Literacy and Numeracy Support at Wodonga TAFE

8/3/2019 Literacy and Numeracy Support at Wodonga TAFE

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Introduction to Literacy andNumeracy

Contents

What is Literacy and Numeracy? .............................................................................................. 2

Literacy and Numeracy strategy ............................................................................................... 2

Student's expectations ............................................................................................................... 2

Literacy ........................................................................................................................................ 3

How you read depends on your purpose for reading ................................................................. 3

Reading essential texts ............................................................................................................. 3

Essay Writing ............................................................................................................................ 3

Reports ...................................................................................................................................... 4

Helpful tools ............................................................................................................................... 4

Numeracy .................................................................................................................................... 5

Strategies For Overcoming Maths Anxiety ................................................................................ 5

Numeracy- problem solving ....................................................................................................... 5

Websites that can help .............................................................................................................. 6

Further assistance ...................................................................................................................... 7

http://www.wodongatafe.edu.au/



Literacy and Numeracy Page | 2 © Wodonga TAFE 2009 Return to menu

What is Literacy and Numeracy?

Literacy is being able to read and write.

Numeracy is being able to use or understand numerical techniques of mathematics.

Literacy and Numeracy strategy

Wodonga TAFE’s Literacy and Numeracy strategy aims to

• improve literacy and numeracy across the Institute

• to achieve greater parity of outcomes for all student groups

Student's expectations

I have the right:

• to learn at my own pace

• to ask a teacher for help

• to say I don't understand

• to feel good about myself regardless of my abilities

• not to base my self-worth on my literacy or numeracy skills

• to define success in my own terms




Literacy

To be literate within contemporary society requires students to read, write, talk and listen and think

critically in order to understand written, visual and technologically based information

How you read depends on your purpose for reading

• To locate specific information, skim over most things quickly until you find what you’re looking for.

• To understand reasons and facts = read slowly and deliberately.

• To enjoy words and descriptions, as in poetry and some prose = several readings may be

necessary to get the feel of the language or to picture a scene.

• To escape into a novel = skip the dull parts and pick up enough detail to see what happens and how

it ends, skimming some parts and dwelling on others.

Reading essential texts

• Scan the contents page before you begin reading. It will give you an overview of what the book

covers.

• Check the index at the back for key words.

• Skim through each relevant chapter by moving quickly through the paragraphs, reading only the key

sentences.

• Read the first and last paragraphs of chapters or articles. These will often provide a concise

statement of the authors’ major points.• Read the whole work carefully noting major points in your own words and recording which sections

are of particular interest so that you can find them again later.

Essay Writing

• Choose the topic

• Analyse the topic - look at the key content words and direction words

• Be selective in your reading - decide what you need and begin at least three weeks before it is due

• Organising and planning the material - create a logical order- this order should be indicated in your

introduction

• Write your first draft

Writing Tips

• Start writing the section you feel most confident with.

• There are actually many benefits in writing the introduction last!

• Be clear about the points you are making

• Do not use first person, such as, ‘I think …’, ‘I believe …’, ‘In my opinion …’, unless you are

permitted or asked to do so.

• Use simple and clear sentences when you write.

• Always reference other people’s ideas if you paraphrase or directly quote their work.

• Avoid slang and informal language.




Reports

Reports present information in a manner that is-

• Concise

• Logical

• Objective

Writing tips

• Use the structure headings to write some sections of the report before the research is completed.

• Explain terms that the reader may not know. Explain symbols, abbreviations, diagrams and statistics

if necessary.

• Decide on the numbering system before you start writing the draft.

• Be consistent in your use of headings, font type and font size.

• Be concise.

• If alternative interpretations can be made use words such as ‘probably’, ‘possibly’, or ‘usually’.

• Aim to write one draft only, which will be edited to provide the final copy.

• Keep your audience in mind as you write.

Helpful tools

• Spell-check- right clicking on the red lines will offer you some alternate spellings or Spell-check canbe found under ‘Tools’/ ‘Reviewing’ on the toolbar

• Thesaurus/Synonyms- will give you alternative words that mean the same- right click on the word

you’d like to change and go to ‘Synonyms’ or look under ‘Tools’/ ‘Reviewing’ on the toolbar

• The Windows button (see below) + S will read the text on the screen in Microsoft Word aloud to you.

Great for editing your work and for people who would rather listen to then read research information.

The Windows button

Source: http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/policies/literacy/index.htm




Numeracy

Numeracy is about being confident when you use maths skills at work and in everyday situations

Strategies For Overcoming Maths Anxiety

• Tackle maths rather than avoid it.

• Don’t become daunted if at first you don’t understand it..

• It’s OK to get the wrong answer.

• Maths is not a race: take things slowly.

•

Blocked? Calm down and come back to it later.• Seek help from someone supportive.

• Don’t always assume you’re wrong

• Learn tables!

• Learn specific needed skills eg. fractions, percentages

Numeracy- problem solving

• Problem solving occurs in all areas of your life and particularly at work

• It need not be a ‘hit and miss’ activity

• It helps if you can develop an approach to solving problems that can be used in most situations

Some steps to problem solving-

• understand the problem

• decide what maths you will use

• estimate an answer

• do the maths

• check your answer

Source:http://www.dest.gov.au/archive/ty/litnet/numeracy/home/nh_0025.htm




Websites that can help

There are many websites that can help you practise your maths

• Basic maths MCA online (Learning units) Maths Connexions for Adults is a website for TAFE

students seeking help in maths hosted by Victoria University (TAFE Division)

http://www.staff.vu.edu.au/mcaonline/units/index.html

• Vocational Numeracy Online, a website for improving your numeracy for work and training. It is

hosted by Department of Employment, Training and Youth Affairs.

http://www.dest.gov.au/archive/ty/litnet/numeracy/home/nh_0000.htm

• AAA Math is an American site is for elementary school students and teachers but is a good

refresher for those who aren’t confident of their skills. It provides interactive math exercises. Not allthe exercises are available online but quite a number are accessible.

http://www.aaamath.com/

• Ask Dr Math is the Math Forum at Drexel University and is useful for students from primary to

university level. The site is easy to search and also has a frequently asked questions section.

http://mathforum.org/dr.math/

• Daisy Maths, is an American site and is for elementary school students and teachers but is a good

refresher for those who aren’t confident of their skills. It provides interactive math exercises. This

site is hosted by Swinburne University http://mayflower.ma.swin.edu.au/dmex/

• BBC Skillwise, is a British website and is useful for students from primary to university level it has

worksheets; quizzes and games relating to a wide variety of maths skills applicable to most

vocational courses. This site is hosted by the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/




Further assistance

The Learner Services Department at Wodonga TAFE can provide free assistance in:

• Reading course material

• Computer skills

• Completing assignments

• Compiling bibliographies

• English language skills

• Mathematics

•

SpellingAll you need to do is contact them on 02 6055 6606 or email [email protected].

Documents

Literacy and Numeracy Support at Wodonga TAFE