Literacy and NumeracyLiteracy and Numeracyin Everyday Context.in Everyday Context.

WorkplaceWorkplace

Nicholas Boreham (2004), Nicholas Boreham (2004), claims that a systems-level claims that a systems-level understanding of the work understanding of the work

process as a whole, enables process as a whole, enables workers to understand how their workers to understand how their

own actions interconnect with own actions interconnect with actions being taken elsewhere actions being taken elsewhere

in the system.in the system.

Literacy and numeracy in the Literacy and numeracy in the workplace needs to be workplace needs to be

integrated into the big picture of integrated into the big picture of the company in order to make the company in order to make

learning meaningful for workers.learning meaningful for workers.

Workplace backgroundWorkplace background

Metal casting company.Metal casting company. Experiencing issues with quality Experiencing issues with quality

standards, where staff were not standards, where staff were not adhering to company procedures.adhering to company procedures.

As a result the quality of their As a result the quality of their product was being compromised.product was being compromised.

High needs for number and High needs for number and measurement were identified.measurement were identified.

Understanding procedureUnderstanding procedure Stages of producing a metal casting is Stages of producing a metal casting is

like following a cooking procedure, in like following a cooking procedure, in that it involves mixing the correct that it involves mixing the correct proportions of ingredients in order to proportions of ingredients in order to achieve the desired quality outcome. achieve the desired quality outcome.

Slurry mixture ingredients had to be in Slurry mixture ingredients had to be in correct proportions in order for ceramic correct proportions in order for ceramic moulds to withstand the heat of the moulds to withstand the heat of the melted metal. melted metal.

Cooking is an experience in most Cooking is an experience in most people’s daily lives, involving people’s daily lives, involving procedures that are meaningful.procedures that are meaningful.

Before the Baking activityBefore the Baking activity

Fractions, decimals, measurement Fractions, decimals, measurement concepts and estimation skills were concepts and estimation skills were discussed in sessions prior to the discussed in sessions prior to the baking activity.baking activity.

Numeracy skills and strategies were Numeracy skills and strategies were developed using a situated approach developed using a situated approach in their workplace, encouraging in their workplace, encouraging reasoning, communication and reasoning, communication and problem-solving.problem-solving.

Before the Baking activityBefore the Baking activity

Microwave was the only cooking Microwave was the only cooking facility available in the lunchroom.facility available in the lunchroom.

Learners were given finished muffins Learners were given finished muffins to taste and the scenario was to taste and the scenario was explained that they were required to explained that they were required to follow the given recipe in order follow the given recipe in order produce the same quality of product produce the same quality of product required by the customer.required by the customer.

During the baking activity During the baking activity

Discussion about the steps being Discussion about the steps being followed and the reasons for these followed and the reasons for these steps being in the order that they steps being in the order that they were.were.

Which were the critical steps and Which were the critical steps and what might happen if we changed what might happen if we changed their order? their order?

After the baking lessonAfter the baking lesson

How we could adapt the recipe to How we could adapt the recipe to achieve a better outcome than the achieve a better outcome than the brief? brief?

We talked about how the importance We talked about how the importance of following procedure applies to the of following procedure applies to the company’s quality standards (ISO) company’s quality standards (ISO) commitments and obligations.commitments and obligations.

Feedback from Company Feedback from Company The company owner happened to be The company owner happened to be

in the lunchroom during one of our in the lunchroom during one of our baking sessions and observed the baking sessions and observed the communication that went on.communication that went on.

The feedback from him at a meeting The feedback from him at a meeting was that he was very impressed with was that he was very impressed with the problem-solving approach and he the problem-solving approach and he learnt how to ask questions and learnt how to ask questions and allow waiting time for responses.allow waiting time for responses.