This paper explores the contributions of research to the field of adults learning mathematics (ALM) in the last twenty years. The results of the review of the literature on ALM show that the most cited studies that have been published in the last twenty years tend to focus on the field of numeracy to understand health data (such as understanding how to dose a medicine in a medical treatment). However, we know little about key aspects of how adults learn mathematics, what obstacles they encounter, and how they overcome them. This paper identifies the main gaps that ALM research faces in the coming years.
This paper is a summary paper of the Thematic Working Group (TWG) on Adult Mathematics Education (AME). As the only thematic working group that focuses on adults’ lived experiences of mathematics, the research makes an important contribution to the field of Mathematics Education. The main themes in this group identify that adult numerical behaviour goes beyond the mathematics skills, knowledge, and procedures taught in formal education It is multifaceted, requiring the use of higher order skills of analysis and judgement, applied within a broad array of life’s contexts, experienced through a range of emotions. The research in this group points to the need to raise the profile of research that shows the benefits to adults of learning mathematics but also the long term economic disbenefits in the neglect of teaching and teacher training for this group.
In het hoger onderwijs wordt het pedagogisch klimaat veronachtzaamd. Het concept wordt niet mee in beschouwing genomen bij onderwijsinnovatie en onderwijsonderzoek. Dit artikel definieert het concept voor het hbo en werkt het uit op basis van de Zelf-Determinatie Theorie van Ryan en Deci (2000). Zowel voor volwassen werknemers als voor jonge leerlingen geldt dat zij binnen een klimaat dat tegemoet komt aan hun psychologische basisbehoeften aan relatie, competentie en autonomie, beter presteren en een hogere mate van welbevinden ervaren. Belangrijke factor daarin is de stimulans van hun autonome motivatie. Verkennend onderzoek onder studenten en docenten van de Academie voor Sociale Professies wijst op toegevoegde waarde van het in beschouwing nemen van een pedagogisch klimaat bij het overwegen van maatregelen om studiesucces te verbeteren. Een heldere kijk op het pedagogisch klimaat kan het ondersteunen van de motivatie van studenten en zodoende het verbeteren van hun leren theoretisch en empirisch verankeren. ABSTRACT In Dutch Higher Education, no attention is being paid to the Pedagogical Climate in schools. The concept is omitted in educational research as well as in innovative practices. This article defines the concept for use in Higher Education, making use of Ryan and Deci's Self Determination Theory (2000). The performance and well-being of adult employees as well as schoolchildren improve when their basic needs of relation, competence and autonomy are satisfied. A Pedagogical Climate that does so facilitates autonomous motivation. Explorative research done among teachers and students of the Academy of Social Work indicates surplus value of taking into account the Pedagogical Climate when considering various policies aimed to improve study success. Having a clear theoretical and empirical view of the Pedagogical Climate can firmly root initiatives to support students' motivation and help their learning.
