University of Nottingham, England. Ordförande i ALM, Adults Learning Mathematics
Title: Living and learning mathematics: making sense of a patchwork of different learning experiences for adults.
As educators, the presence of mathematics in our daily lives may be obvious, but research evidence suggests that students in education, both children and adults, often have difficulty seeing the connections between classroom learning and life experiences. The challenge of piecing together fragmented experiences of mathematics in different situations into a meaningful learning journey is a concern not just for individuals but also for teachers and educational institutions. This presentation will focus on ways of connecting students’ fragmented experiences of mathematics in education, life and work. Key findings from recent studies of vocational education in England will be discussed, with particular reference to the development and assessment of mathematical competencies within new technical qualifications, the implementation of a Whole College Approach, and Maths Mastery teaching in Further Education.
Title: Living and learning mathematics: an exploration of practical strategies to connect students’ experiences in education, life and work
This will be an interactive session with the opportunity for further discussion about some of the research findings and practical strategies referred to in the keynote presentation. Relevant samples of materials for teachers and managers from the research projects will be available. These will be used to illustrate the underlying design principles of the resources and stimulate discussion about the potential broader applicability of the findings to adult learning beyond the English Further Education sector.
Diane is a semi-retired Assistant Professor at the School of Education, University of Nottingham, UK. She spent over 20 years in teaching and management roles within English Further Education colleges, before commencing a full-time doctorate at the University of Nottingham and then progressing to a full-time position as Senior Research Fellow. She has worked on various national and international research projects in the field of mathematics education but has taken a special interest in mathematics within vocational education. Recent research has included an extensive project about Mathematics in Further Education Colleges, which led to the design and implementation of the government-funded Whole College Approach to mathematics. She has also been involved with trials of Maths Mastery in Further Education and research into the embedding of mathematics competencies within new technical (T Level) qualifications in England. She is currently Chair of Adults Learning Mathematics, an international research forum for practitioners and researchers who share an interest in this important area.