Explain the difference between formal and informal numeracy learning and thinking, including a definition of numeracy.

Understanding the development of numeracy as an
area of priority within Australian society—and the ways numeracy has been
shaped over time, and the difference between formal and informal numeracy
learning and thinking, positions educators to more effectively integrate
numeracy into their teaching across all discipline areas. This task will allow
you to demonstrate your knowledge of the place of numeracy within the
contemporary Australian curriculum, and to additionally prompt your reflection
of, and about, your own personal numeracy capacity.
This folio assignment is divided into two separate parts.
Part A: Critical analysis of the teaching of
numeracy across the Australian curriculum
Your critical analysis must:
·
explain the
difference between formal and informal numeracy learning and thinking,
including a definition of numeracy
·
critically
analyse the development of numeracy as an area of priority within Australian
society over time, including the legislative background to the establishment of
ACARA
·
analyse the
role of numeracy as a general capability within the Australian curriculum.
The key readings from Weeks 2–6 should be referred to in your analysis
(at least one from each week). In addition, you must draw upon at least one
other additional source of information (i.e. research or other literature) for
each weekly topic that assists to support your claims.

Part B: Reflective analysis of your own
personal numeracy
Your reflective analysis requires you to think about your own personal
numeracy. You should link this reflection to Part A by reflecting your own
personal numeracy in relation to how you define numeracy, formal and informal
learning and thinking, the role of numeracy as a general capability, and the
development of numeracy as a priority area.
You should commence this section by outlining the era in which you
attended school, the school system that you attended (e.g. government,
religious, independent, alternative), and your relationship with mathematics
throughout your schooling.
After you have provided this background information, you will need to
draw on your critical analysis in Part A to analyse your own personal numeracy.
Your analysis should be reflective, and should parallel and draw on the
literature that was examined in Part A to respond to the following questions:
·
What was
happening in relation to numeracy as an area of priority in Australian (or the
country you attended schooling) society when you were at school?
·
How might this
have contributed to the development of your own personal numeracy skills?
·
How does your
level of personal numeracy sit within the modern day societal views and
expectations of and about numeracy?
·
What might this
information mean for you as a numerate person?
·
What might this
information mean for you as a numerate educator?
Your reflective analysis should be around 750 words.
Primary Specialisation
In the “Primary Mathematics Specialisation” stream
it is expected that your assignment will reflect:
1. Expert content knowledge
2. Expert pedagogical content knowledge
3. Highly effective classroom teaching in their area of specialisation
The primary specialisation stream differs from the
standard unit by requiring students to demonstrate greater depth and breadth of
knowledge in the form of detailed, expert content and pedagogical content
knowledge which effectively links theory with practice. This must be
demonstrated through students’ engagement with the curriculum, moving beyond
simply describing it, to positioning it in relation to their understanding and
expectations of their future mathematics teaching practice. Students must
demonstrate strong links between relevant contemporary mathematics literature,
mathematics pedagogical literature and their teaching practice. They must
demonstrate innovative, insightful and highly effective classroom teaching
practices, including critical analysis of these practices.
Students in the primary specialisation stream must
complete extended readings which they will be expected to refer to in their
assignments for this unit.
For this assignment,
students in the primary specialisation stream must demonstrate knowledge gained
from their extended reading on numeracy across the curriculum. This will
include using contemporary literature to justify their responses to Part A.
Descriptive versus critical
and analytical writing
Through both parts of this folio you must demonstrate an ability for
critical and analytical writing. This means that it is not sufficient to merely
list and describe the features of numeracy within the curriculum and your own
personal numeracy. Your analysis must:
·
identify the
significance of this information
·
evaluate
strengths and weaknesses and weigh one piece of information against another
·
argue a case
based on evidence
·
show relevant
links between information.

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