ALM currently offers one well-established Topic Group, Maths in Prison, and three provisional additional groups. Brief summaries are provided below.
Maths in Prison
The Adults Learning Maths (ALM) Topic Group on Maths in Prisons focuses on exploring the teaching and learning of mathematics within prison settings. It brings together researchers, educators, and practitioners to share insights, challenges, and innovations aimed at improving maths education for incarcerated adults. You can find more about the work of the ALM Maths in Prisons group here.
Maths in and for the Workplace
In this topic group we will discuss the ways in which adults develop mathematics skills in vocational education and training, and how mathematics is used in the workplace. Questions about what mathematics adults need in preparation for the workplace will be explored and the suitably of different policies and teaching approaches to enable adults to function effectively in a modern work environment.
Theoretical Perspectives
The discussion in this topic group will include a consideration of various theoretical perspectives that can help us make sense of research and practice in the field of adult numeracy and mathematics. By building on previous conversations and revisiting key ideas in the light of more recent studies, we will explore the value of different frameworks and how these may enhance our understanding of adult numeracy or mathematics learning in the future.
Teaching Numeracy to Adults
The question of how to teach numeracy to adults is an international concern, especially when the results from surveys such as PIAAC indicate little improvement in general levels of competency. In this topic group we will discuss the needs of adult learners and existing evidence of effective teaching approaches by sharing experiences and knowledge of relevant research in different contexts.