• View
• Edit
• History
• Print

Releases 15 June 2010

 

Home Page

The Ministry of Education has released the final reports from three research projects on adult literacy, language and numeracy

E-learning for adult literacy, language and numeracy

This research aimed to provide greater understanding of the potential of e-learning for adult literacy, language and numeracy. It investigates how e-learning can be employed as a means of reaching greater numbers of adult learners and how to better meet their learning needs. The overarching research question was:

What characteristics of programmes, such as e-learning, mixed mode, and distance learning, have been successful in raising the literacy, language and numeracy skills of adult learners and could be used to supplement workplace training?

The main message from the research is that e-learning is relevant to and useful for most adults with literacy, language and/or numeracy learning needs. However, these benefits rely on a learning programme that is carefully designed to fit each individual’s needs and lifestyle, his or her proficiency with digital technologies, and his or her level of reading literacy.

There are three reports on the Education Counts website:

• Summary of findings
• A review of the literature
• A case study of a polytechnic

’One size does not fit all’: how five tertiary education organisations embed literacy, language and numeracy

The overarching research question guiding this project was:

How do tertiary education organisations profile, develop and deliver effective literacy, language and numeracy within programmes?

Answers were drawn from five case study institutions: a wānanga, a polytechnic, two private training establishments, one of which specialises in English as an additional language, and an industry training organisation. Each organisation was in a different phase of implementation and went about embedding literacy, language and numeracy slightly differently.

Eight common findings were identified across the five case studies, as well as findings specific to each case.

There are two reports on the Education Counts website:

• Summary report
• Case study findings

Numeracy for adults: building skills with online learning links

This report describes a project that supplemented workplace learning with online numeracy activities. It found that simple online tasks that trainees completed in their own time helped them to improve their numeracy skills.

This report is also available on the Education Counts website.

This research follows on from Numeracy for adults - latest findings from teaching and learning research, which identified critical factors for successful numeracy learning in tertiary education. It was based on the latest teaching and learning research from New Zealand and overseas and set out the practical implications of these findings for how providers teach numeracy, particularly as part of vocational qualifications.

Home Page