Adults Learning Mathematics

Adults Learning Mathematics

An International Journal

Chief Editor Katherine Safford-Ramus

Volume 5(1) June 2010 ISSN 1744-1803

Objectives

Objectives

Adults Learning Mathematics ? an International Research Forum has been established since 1994 (see alm-), with an anual conference and newsletters for members. 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. Since 2000, ALM has been a Company Limited by Guarantee (No.3901346) and a National and Overseas Worldwide Charity under English and Welsh Law (No.1079462). Through the annual ALM conference proceedings and the work of individual members an enormous contribution has been made to making available theoretical and practical research in a field which remains under-researched and under-theorised. Since 2005 ALM also provides an international journal.

Adults Learning Mathematics ? an International Journal is an international refereed journal that aims to provide a forum for the online publication of high quality research on the teaching and learning, knowledge and uses of numeracy/mathematics to adults at all levels in a variety of educational sectors. Submitted papers should normally be of interest to an international readership. Contributions focus on issues in the following areas: Research and theoretical perspectives in the area of adults learning mathematics/numeracy Debate on special issues in the area of adults learning mathematics/numeracy Practice: critical analysis of course materials and tasks, policy developments in curriculum and assessment, or data from large-scale tests, nationally and internationally.

The ALM International Journal will be published twice a year. ISSN 1744-1803 ? Adults Learning Mathematics ? an International Research Forum (2006)

Editorial Team:

Katherine Safford-Ramus, Ed. D., Saint Peter's College, Jersey City, New Jersey,

USA [Chief Editor] Dr. Chris Klinger, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia Kees Hoogland, APS - National Center for School Improvement, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Editorial Board: Prof. Alan Bishop, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Prof. Marta Civil, University of Arizona, U.S. Prof. Diana Coben, Kings College London, UK Dr. Jeff Evans, Middlesex University, London, UK Dr. Gail FitzSimons, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Prof. Gelsa Knijnik, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Brazil Prof. John O'Donoghue, University of Limerick, Ireland Prof. Wolfgang Schloeglmann, University of Linz, Austria Prof. Ole Skovsmose, Aalborg University, Denmark Dr. Alison Tomlin, Kings College London, UK Prof. Lieven Verschaffel, University of Leuven, Belgium Prof. John Volmink, Natal University Development Foundation, Durban, South Africa Prof. Tine Wedege, Malm? University, Malm?, Sweden

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Adults Learning Mathematics ? An International Journal

ALM International Journal, Volume 5(1), pp 3

Adults Learning Mathematics ? An International Journal

In this Volume 5(1)

Editorial

4

Katherine Safford-Ramus

Basic Mathematical Skills and Empowerment: Challenges and Opportunities

6

Finnish Adult Education

Marja-Liisa Hassi, Aino Hannula & Laia Sal? i Nevado

Correcting Students' Misconceptions about Probability in an Introductory

23

College Statistics Course

Leonid Khazanov, Lucio Prado

A measure of mathematical self-concept in young adults 16 ? 24 years old:

36

A cross-cultural comparison with a focus on gender and numeracy

Kjersti Lundetr?, Reidar Mykletun & Egil Gabrielsen

Adults Learning Mathematics: What We Should Know About Betting

52

and Bookkeeping?

Juergen Maasz & Hans-Stefan Siller

Student Participation in Mathematics Lessons Taught by Seven Successful

64

Community College Instructors

Vilma Mesa

People's mathematics in working life: Why is it invisible?

89

Tine Wedege

Volume 5(1) ? June 2010

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Editorial

Katherine Safford-Ramus

Saint Peter's College Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Editorial

Welcome to the spring issue of ALM-IJ for 2010. While the interim team was not able to publish a second issue in 2009, I hope you will agree that we have redeemed ourselves with this sextet of articles covering a broad range of topics. Adults Learning Mathematics has, from its inception, served as a forum where researchers and practitioners convene to share findings and ideas that promote quality mathematics instruction for adults. This issue of ALM-IJ testifies to that mutual commitment.

We begin with a report on the challenges and opportunities faced by adult mathematics educators in Finland where the government has a strong commitment to providing instruction for adults across the lifespan. Then we cross the ocean to a community college in Manhattan for a discussion of an instructor intervention that addressed misconceptions of students about concepts from probability. The third article brings us back to Scandinavia for a cross-cultural Norwegian study about young-adults that focuses on gender and numeracy.

The fourth article returns to probability with suggestions that capitalize on adult interests in gambling by using simulations of sports events and internet resources to drive home the likelihood of losing or winning when booking a sports bet. In the fifth article another United States community college study examines the classroom practice of instructors whom the institution deems "successful". The issue closes with a paper that revisits the dilemma of the invisibility of mathematics done by workers, a theme that can be traced back to early Adults Learning Mathematics conferences when Mary Harris spoke of her frustrating research with needlecraft workers who saw no mathematics in the work they accomplished.

This will be my only issue of the journal since a permanent editor has been selected. While I have enjoyed learning about the processes involved in the production of the journal I am delighted to turn over the reins to someone willing to make a long-term commitment to the post and return to the anonymity of reviewer. Happy reading.

Dr. Katherine Safford-Ramus Chief Editor 2009-2010

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Adults Learning Mathematics ? An International Journal

ALM International Journal, Volume 5(1), pp. 4-5

Volume 5(1) ? June 2010

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