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ALM Newsletter No.2
December 1995
A Research Forum on the Internet...
ALM is an international research forum bringing together researchers and
practitioners in adult mathematics/numeracy teaching and learning in order
to promote the learning of mathematics by adults
ALM Officers 1995/6
Chair: Dr Diana Coben, Department of Educational Studies, Goldsmiths
College, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK.
fax: +44 (0)171 919 7313
Email: d.coben@gold.ac.uk .
Secretary: Dhamma Colwell
Treasurer: Sue Elliott
Membership Sec: Kathy Safford
WELCOME
to the second issue of the ALM Newsletter - an essential read for ALM
members and a way of making contact and keeping in touch with developments.
ALM MEMBERS WORLDWIDE
ALM now has members in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark,
Finland, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovenia, South
Africa, Sweden, UK, USA and Zimbabwe.
TO JOIN ALM
Contact Diana Coben at the address above - unless you live in
Australia, New Zealand or the USA, where the following ALM members have
kindly volunteered to act as agents for ALM:
Australia: contact Dr Janet Taylor, OPACS, University of Southern
Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia
New Zealand: contact Barbara Miller-Reilly, Student Learning Centre, The
University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, N.I., New Zealand
USA: contact Kathy Safford, 1317 Curtis Avenue, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742, USA.
If you are interested in becoming a local ALM agent please contact Diana
Coben (address above)
PUT THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY NOW:
ALM-3 THE THIRD ALM CONFERENCE July 5-7 1996
Come and share ideas, information and research findings about adults
learning mathematics at the Third ALM Conference and AGM to be held at the
University of Brighton, UK, July 5-7 1996.
All welcome, reductions for ALM individual members.
Further details of ALM-3 including details of how to book your place will
be sent to all current ALM members in the New Year.
OUT NOW:
'Mathematics with a Human Face (ALM-2) - the Proceedings of the second
international conference of Adults Learning Maths - A Research Forum
(ALM-2) held at the University of Exeter, Exeter, UK, from 7-9 July 1995'
published by Goldsmiths College, University of London in association with
ALM.
ISBN: 0 901542 98 9.
One copy will be sent FREE to ALM-2 participants and current ALM members.
Additional copies cost £5 each, including postage and packing, from Diana
Coben (address above); cheques should be in pounds sterling only please
and made payable to Goldsmiths College.
ALM-2 The second international conference of Adults Learning Maths - A
Research Forum:
Researchers and practitioners (not mutually exclusive categories in ALM)
from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden,
the UK and the USA came together for a week-end of lively discussion and
sharing of ideas and research at every stage from initial idea to finished
report.
The conference proceedings give an insight into some of the wealth of ideas
and research in the developing field of adults learning mathematics.
Who did what at ALM-2?
In the final plenary session ALM member Joan O'Hagan analysed who did what
at the ALM-2 conference. Here are the main points: 70% of the participants
were women; 52% of the session leaders were women; two-thirds of the men
who came led sessions; less than one-third of the women who came led
sessions; 22% of the participants were from outside the UK; 24% of the
session leaders came from outside the UK; 41% of the UK people led
sessions; 45% of the non-UK people who came led sessions. Joan asked:
Why aren't more women leading sessions? Why aren't more non-UK people
coming to the conference? What should we do about questions 1 and 2?
Answers please to Diana Coben (address above)
Thanks:
Thanks to all those at the university who helped to make the week-end such
a productive and enjoyable experience, especially Anne Chammings and her
colleagues.
Finally, ALM member Eddy Demeerrseman from Belgium won the competition for
a snappy title for the conference proceedings with his title: 'Mathematics
with a Human Face', from an original idea by Jeff Evans: thanks to both.
STILL AVAILABLE:
ALM-1 1994 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
The Conference Proceedings from the founding conference, ALM-1, held at
Fircroft College, in Birmingham, UK in July 1994, ISBN: 0 901 542 78 4 are
still available - order your extra copy now. One copy is sent free to
current ALM members and everyone who attended the ALM-1 conference; £5
sterling per additional copy including postage and packing (if ordering
through Diana Coben, please make cheques out to Goldsmiths College).
Contact: Avanti Books, 8 Parsons Green, Boulton Road, Stevenage SG1 4QG,
UK or Diana Coben (address above)
...........
PLANNED BOOKS:
ALM members Diana Coben and Gillian Thumpston are planning to co-edit a
book bringing together research on adults learning maths. If you submitted
an abstract, we'll be contacting you soon.
ALM member Ed Jacobsen is planning a book for UNESCO which will include a
section on teaching mathematics to adults.
Contact:
Ed Jacobsen, 4900 Dake Road, Webster, WI 54893, USA.
...........
COMING SOON
ICME-8: WG18
The ICME-8 conference will be held in Seville, Spain, 14-21 July 1996 and
includes a Working Group (WG18) on 'Adults Returning to Mathematics
Education'. Australia-based ALM member Gail FitzSimons is Chief Organiser
of the Working Group and ALM Chair Diana Coben and ALM member John
O'Donoghue are on the Advisory Panel; Antonio Reguiano is Local Organiser.
The ICME programme will include a wide variety of scientific activities and
an extensive cultural and social programme for delegates - an opportunity
to exchange views and discuss new ideas about the basis of mathematical
education in an international setting.
Contact: Secretaria TŽcnica ICME-8, Apartado de Correos 4172,
41080-Sevilla, Spain. fax: +34 5 421 83 34
SOUTHERN AFRICA:
SOUTHERN AFRICAN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES ASSOCIATION (SAMSA)
SAMSA is holding an international conference on Mathematics for
Development, 18-23 December 1995, University of Zimbabwe Mathematics
Department.
Contact: The Secretary, Local Organizing Committee, SAMSA '95, Department
of Mathematics, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP167, Mt.Pleasant, Harare,
Zimbabwe, tel. (263) (4) 303211 extn. 1177 or 1907, fax. (263) (4)
333407/335249, email: mugochi@maths.uz.zw
...........
RECENT EVENTS
BCME-3: BRITISH CONGRESS OF MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
BCME-3 was held at Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK,
13-16 July 1994. BCME is the British organisation related to ICME. ALM
members Gillian Thumpston, Diana Coben, Wendy Fortescue-Hubbard and Sylvia
Johnson attended the conference and gave papers.
Contact: Frank Eade, Manchester Metropolitan University, Centre for
Mathematics Education, Didsbury School of Education, 799 Wilmslow Road,
Manchester M20 2RR, UK.
THE MATHS SUPPORT ASSOCIATION
The Maths Support Association is a network of lecturers who work to support
the mathematics learning of students in both Further and Higher Education
in the UK.
ALM member and founder of the Maths Support Association, Ian Beveridge,
reports on the Second Maths Support Association Conference at the
University of Luton, UK:
Ros Sutherland, the opening speaker, reported her findings on the
backgrounds of students entering Higher Education. In the light of the
Cockcroft Report (1982), algebra has been embedded in familiar contexts,
and pupils have lost the ability to manipulate symbols confidently.
The conference sought to encourage dialogue. David Bowers of Suffolk
College and ALM Steering Group member Sybil Cock of the University of
North London ran seminars on drop-in maths workshops. Jeremy Levesley of
the University of Leicester and a student demonstrated SI as a peer
support programme. Peter Samuels, University of Newcastle, demonstrated
the new TLTP diagnostic programme. Malcolm Swan of the Shell Centre,
Nottingham University, opened a discussion on teaching GCSE as a diagnostic
teaching experiment. Viv Ferguson of Cheltenham and Gloucester College of
Higher Education presented a successful college-wide numeracy module.
James Wisdom of SEDA entertained us with his research into student
perceptions of maths as it is taught. One delightful anecdote related an
Oxford Professor awarding a -35% score.
Finally, Peter Samuels asked for support for a Maths Resource Handbook
with case studies of innovative practice. Ian invites you to tell Peter
about what you do well. Ring 0191-222-8884.
ALM Steering Group member Sybil Cock runs a new list based on the existing
maths support network called 'maths-support'.
To join this list, mail to: mailbase@mailbase.ac.uk
a message containing only the following text (substituting appropriately)
for further information relating
to this new list, contact its owner at
<maths-support-request@mailbase.ac.uk.
It's a forum for discussing all non-traditional forms of basic mathematics
teaching and learning in further and higher education.
For more information about the Maths Support Association, contact Ian
Beveridge, University of Luton, Faculty of Science & Computing, Park
Square, Luton, LU1 3AN, UK, tel: 01582 34111 extn. 2519; e-mail:
Ibeveridge@vax2.luton.ac.uk
ALM MEMBER IN THE NEWS
Wendy Fortescue-Hubbard's 'Perfect Times' game (see ALM-2 Proceedings) was
featured in the Times Educational Supplement 'Times Tables made easy by the
clock' on 6 October.
NETWORKING
Australasia: MERGA
the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) has an
Adult Learners Special Interest Group; they publish a newsletter.
Contact: Gail FitzSimons,
34 The Boulevard, Warrandyte, 3113 Victoria, Australia
email: gail@indsci.tafe.swin.edu.au
USA: ANPN - Adult Numeracy Practitioners Network
At ALM-2, US-based ALM member Mary Jane Schmitt invited ALM members to join
the US Adult Numeracy Practitioners' Network (ANPN) electronic listserve.
To subscribe (free) write to: majordomo@world.std.com
In the message area, type: subscribe numeracy
Information from: Esther D. Leonelli <edl@world.std.com
Community Learning Center, 19 Brookline Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
tel: +1 617-349-6363; Fax: +1 617-349-6339
ANPN was established in 1994 and met - for an extremely busy and exciting
day - in Boston in April 1995. ALM member Mary Jane Schmitt was one of the
organisers and the meeting was attended by ALM Chair Diana Coben and ALM
Membership Secretary and US local ALM agent Kathy Safford.
ANPN publishes 'The Math Practitioner: Newsletter of the Adult Numeracy
Practitioners Network'.
Contact: Ellen McDevitt, The Editor, The Math Practitioner, Office of
Community Education, Carlow College, 3333 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
15213, USA. tel: +412 578 6682 fax +412 578 6684.
The 'Philosophy of Mathematics Education Newsletter No.8', published by the
Philosophy of Mathematics Education Network includes an item about ALM.
The newsletter is published via the Internet at:
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~BBagilho/ernest/
CORRECTION: BSRLM MAILSERVER ADDRESS
The BSRLM (British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics)
mailserver acts as a fast forum for communication and debate. To subscribe
to the list (it's free) send the one word email message to
maths-education-request@nottingham.ac.uk. Apologies to anyone who tried to
access the mailserver using the address published in ALM Newsletter 1 -
there should have been a hyphen between maths and education. The list is
managed by peter.gates@nottingham.ac.uk
...........
PUBLICATIONS
PROCEEDINGS OF PDME-3: POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
The third PDME conference took place 24-28 July 1995 in Bergen, Norway.
Key themes: gender/race/class issues; politics of numeracy; anti-racist
mathematics education; deconstruction of mathematical knowledge;
mathematics for the masses.
ALM members were active in a very lively and stimulating conference,
including: Desi Angelis from South Africa; Celia Hoyles from the UK;
UK-based Marilyn Nickson'; Gelsa Knijnik from Brazil and Gillian Thumpston,
and Diana Coben (UK). The conference proceedings will be published soon.
Contact: Ole Torkildsen, Institutt for Praktisk Pedagogikk, University of
Bergen, Johannes Bruunsgt.12, 5008 Bergen, Norway. email:
Ole.Torkildsen@psych.uib.no
PDME-2 Proceedings:
The proceedings of PDME-2, held in South Africa in 1992 are published as:
Julie, C., Angelis, D. and Davis, Z. (eds) (1993) 'Political Dimensions of
Mathematics Education 2: curriculum reconstruction for society in
transition'. Cape Town, S.Africa: Maskew Miller Longman
'Carefree Calculations for Healthcare Students' - a new book to be
published by Macmillans written by ALM Chair Diana Coben and healthcare
educator Elizabeth Atere-Roberts. This is a mathematics book with a
difference for healthcare students who are concerned about their
mathematics.
'Adult Numeracy Teaching - Making Meaning in Mathematics' (ANT) is an 81
hour training course designed to train and support teachers in the teaching
of adult numeracy and mathematics in the Adult Literacy and Basic Education
classroom. ANT is a timely initiative of the Australian National Staff
Development Committee for Vocational Education and Training.
Contact: Betty Johnston, School of Adult Education, University of
Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
THE NUMERACY GUIDE
Hampton Press, USA, are publishing 'The Numeracy Guide' in association with
the US National Center on Adult Literacy
Contact: Numeracy Project, NCAL, University of Pennsylvania, 3910 Chestnut
Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3111, USA for details.
ALM member Mary Harris is editor of 'Schools, Mathematics and Work' (1991)
Basingstoke: Falmer Press.
ALM member Gail FitzSimons is author of 'Teaching Mathematics to Adults
Returning to Study' (1994) Geelong, Vic.: Deakin University.
'Older Adults Needs and Usage of Numerical Skills in Everyday Life'
A report of research by ALM member Alexandra Withnall.
Contact: Department of Continuing Education, University of Lancaster,
Storey Institute, Lancaster, LA1 1TH, UK.
'Mathematics - A Practical Oddysey' by David D. Johnson and Thomas A.
Mowry, 2nd ed. 1995, PWS Publishing Co. Boston, MA, USA.
'Mathematics - A Human Endeavo'r by Harold R. Jacobs, 3rd edition 1994,
W.H.Freeman and Company, New York.
This is billed as "a book for those who think they don't like the subject".
'Teach Yourself Basic Maths' by Alan Graham, 1995, Hodder and Stoughton,
London - just received - to be reviewed in the next ALM Newsletter.
'Numeracy in Focus' No.1 January 1995, published jointly by the Adult
Literacy Information Office (ALIO) and the Adult Basic Education Resource
and Information Service (ARIS) Victoria, Australia.
Contact: ARIS, Level 9 VUT Building, 300 Flinders Street, Melbourne, Vic
3000 or ALIO, Foundation Studies Training Division, Western Sydney
Institute of TAFE, 6-8 Holden Street, Ashfield, NSW 2131, Australia.
'Common Threads: Women Maths and Work'
A new book by ALM member Mary Harris, published by Trentham, London.
ZDM is the 'Zentralblatt fur Didaktik der Mathematik' published by
Fachinformationszentrum, D-7514 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 2, Karlsruhe,
Germany
...........
COURSES
Do you offer any courses through which ALM members might do research into
adults learning mathematics? If so, let us know and we'll mention them in
future editions of the Newsletter (space permitting). Meanwhile, the MA
ADULT CONTINUING AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION at Goldsmiths College, University
of London, MA:ACCE, has a new look from October 1995 and includes an
option on adult literacy and numeracy. We also offer M.Phil/PhD
supervision.
Contact: MA Education Office, Room E206, Goldsmiths College, University of
London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK.
tel. +44 (0)171 919 7302
fax. +44 (0)171 919 7313
email:
aen01jl@gold.ac.uk
...........
This issue of the ALM Newsletter was written by Diana Coben. Many thanks
to all those who sent information.
Dr Diana Coben, Department of Educational Studies,
Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK.
e-mail: d.coben@gold.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)171 919 7214 Last updated: 8/12/95, 5.00pm
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