INTRODUCING NUMERACY

Strategies for Success

Devora Geller & Gowun Park Hostos QR fellows Workshop Agenda

• Introductions: what do you hope to learn today? • QR/QL/Numeracy Overview • Developing a QR activity – Initial Considerations – Anticipating Challenges – Best Practices – Troubleshooting QR, QL, Numeracy ... • Using “the power and habit of mind to search out quantitative information, critique it, reflect upon it, and apply[ing] it in ... public, personal, and professional [life].” (National Numeracy Network, vision statement) • Low levels of QL among college graduates, but we are drowning in quantitative data • Promotes critical thinking and comfort with quantitative information • Rock as the neigh-inevitable result of economic integration and the rise of the radio. • Much of what we call “Early Rock” is actually R&B covers • Early rock was lyrically, musically simple • Same song structure as country blues. • Cars, girls, adventure. • Lyrics were 'cleaned up' in Rock covers of R&B, so as not to offend middle-class listeners. Initial Considerations • Relevance – How does a QR activity fit with the larger lesson? Unit? – What does the QR activity demonstrate that a lecture/qualitative activity does not? • Support – What information/materials will students need to succeed? – How will you anticipate/address obstacles students might face? • Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley (1956) • 1. Blue Suede Shoes; 2. I'm Counting on You; 3. I Got A Woman; 4. One-sided Love Affair; 5. I Love You Because; 6. Just Because; 7. Tutti Frutti; 8. Trying to Get to You; 9. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You); 10. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin'); 11. Blue Moon; 12. Money Honey • The Rolling Stones, England's Newest Hitmakers (1964) • 1. Not Fade Away; 2. Route 66; 3. I Just Want to Make Love to You; 4. Honest I Do; 5. Now I've Got a Witness; 6. Little by Little; 7. I'm a King Bee; 8. Carol; 9. Tell me; 10. Can I Get a Witness; 11. You Can Make It If You Try; 12. Walking the Dog • The Yardbirds, Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds (1966) 1. You're a Better Man than I; 2. Evil Hearted You; 3. I'm a Man ; 4. Still I'm Sad; 5. Heart Full of Soul; 6. The Train Kept A-Rollin; 7. Smokestack Lightnin’; 8. Respectable; 9. I'm a Man; 10. Here 'Tis • The Animals, The Animals (US album, 1964) 1. House of the Rising Sun; 2. The Girl Can't Help It; 3. Blue Feeling; 4. Baby Let Me Take You Home; 5. The Right Time; 6. Talkin' Bout You; 7. Around and Around; 8. I'm in Love Again; 9. Gonna Send You Back to Walker; 10. Memphis Tennessee; 11. I'm Mad Again; 12. I've Been Around Anticipating Obstacles

What kinds of challenges might our students face when confronted with a QR activity? • Aversion/resistance to “math” • (Lack of) English fluency • Weak mathematical knowledge Developing a QR Activity

Best Practices: – Low-risk (in terms of grading) – Significant – Relatable (larger context and application) – Collaborative (group work; interdisciplinary; involving critical reading/writing) – Flexible – More than one (?) When Things Don’t Go As Planned ...

• Don’t panic! • Prioritize components of an activity to get to the most important part(s) • Allow extra time (when possible) • Demonstrate/model quantitative skills if students are struggling with the math • Revisit the activity (or a similar one) to map student improvement Further resources

• Our QR Initiative page, accessed through the CTL Commons website • Email us: – [email protected] – [email protected]