National Adult Literacy Database

Authors: Anne Docherty, Sandra Lavallie, Dee McRae

This guide grew out of a project entitled "From the Ground Up: A Research-in-Practice Approach to Outcome-Oriented Program Evaluation," undertaken in British Columbia.

The authors explain that the guide was originally intended to be an informal introduction to measurement in literacy practice. As they wrote, they found themselves thinking more about the complexities of literacy itself and the essence of literacy practice.

As a result, the guide became a conversation for practitioners and tutors in adult literacy settings about the nature of literacy and the implications for practice. It is intended as a professional development tool that will encourage reflection about how literacy and literacy progress are defined.

The authors present the material mainly through dialogue balloons, similar to those seen in comic books or graphic novels.

They have included a list of websites that provide information and resources relevant to the guide’s recurring themes.

Added: 2012-01-24

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Series: Learning on Demand: Numeracy - The Basics - Video Tutorials

Authors: Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM)

In this video tutorial, the instructor discusses decimals, fractions and percent specifically in terms of measurement and basic conversions from one format to another.

Using an Imperial ruler, he points out the markings for quarters, eighths and sixteenths of an inch. Then he explains, step by step, how to convert those fractions into decimals and percentages.

Added: 2012-06-06

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Series: Learning on Demand: Numeracy - The Basics - Video Tutorials

Authors: Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM)

This video gives learners the chance to become more familiar with decimals, fractions and percent as they relate to the eighths and sixteenths fraction families.

It includes three problems of increasing complexity. Learners are asked to pause the video while they work out the problems on their own, then restart it to see the instructor’s detailed solutions.

The instructor also offers some shortcuts to speed up common calculations. For example, based on earlier instruction, learners already know that one-eighth is equal to 0.125 or 12.5 percent. Therefore, if they need to convert three-eighths into another format, they can simply multiply 0.125 or 12.5 percent by three.

Added: 2012-06-06

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Series: Learning on Demand: Numeracy - The Basics - Video Tutorials

Authors: Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM)

This video tutorial introduces the concept of perimeter, the distance around an object. The instructor notes that while any object has a perimeter, he is limiting this tutorial to triangles, circles and rectangles.

For the triangle and rectangle, he simply uses a ruler to measure the length of the sides, then adds those figures together to come up with the perimeter.

However, measuring the perimeter of a circle poses a challenge. The instructor explains that the perimeter of a circle is also called its circumference and can be calculated by multiplying its diameter by pi, usually given as 3.14.

Added: 2012-07-05

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Series: Learning on Demand: Numeracy - The Basics - Video Tutorials

Authors: Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM)

This video tutorial gives learners a chance to practise their skills at calculating the perimeter of an object.

It includes three examples, involving either a rectangle, a triangle or a circle. The learner is asked to pause the video and work out the problems on his own before restarting the video to see the instructor’s solutions.

Added: 2012-07-05

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Series: Learning on Demand: Numeracy - The Basics - Video Tutorials

Authors: Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM)

This video introduces the concept of area, which the instructor explains is simply the amount of surface an object covers.

He focuses primarily on right-angle triangles, rectangles and circles, calculating the area for one example of each of those shapes.

He points out that in order to calculate the areas of those shapes, it is essential to know and remember the necessary equations.

Added: 2012-07-10

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Series: Learning on Demand: Numeracy - The Basics - Video Tutorials

Authors: Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM)

Learners can use this video tutorial to practise their skills at calculating the area of a shape.

It includes three sample problems that involve either a rectangle, a triangle or a circle. The learner is asked to pause the video to work out the problems on his own and then restart it to see the instructor’s solutions.

Added: 2012-07-10

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Series: Learning on Demand: Numeracy - The Basics - Video Tutorials

Authors: Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM)

This video tutorial provides an introduction to the concept of volume in geometry. The instructor explains that volume is the amount of space an object takes up. For example, the amount of space available for storage inside a box is the volume of that box.

Volume is always measured in cubic units and involves calculations that include the three dimensions of length, width and height.

To illustrate the concept, the instructor uses various calculations based on the hypothetical case of a manufacturer who must figure out the size of the boxes he will need to ship his products.

Added: 2012-07-16

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Series: Learning on Demand: Numeracy - The Basics - Video Tutorials

Authors: Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM)

This video tutorial gives learners the chance to practise their skills at calculating the volume of rectangular solids.

It includes three problems, all based on a rectangular box. The learner is asked to pause the video, work out the problems, and then restart the video to see the instructor’s detailed solutions.

Added: 2012-07-16

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Series: Everyday Math Skills

Authors: Lisa Campbell, NWT Literacy Council

Home Math is one of three workbooks in the NWT Literacy Council's Everyday Math Skills series and can be used in conjunction with the booklet Simply Math. Home Math is designed for adult learners and is written in plain language. It is divided into three sections, each covering a variety of math concepts, followed by worksheets and a review page.
Section one, Measurement in Your Home, covers area, perimeter, circumference, temperature and time. Section two, Environmental Math, shows how to help the environment and save money at the same time by cutting down on water consumption, electricity use and garbage. Section three, Paying Bills, deals with handling bills for utilities, credit cards and mortgages.

Added: 2010-01-13

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