Mathematics in everyday life: developing functional literacy

Functional literacy is the ability to apply the knowledge, skills and competencies that a person acquires at school to solve a wide range of life problems.

One of the components of functional literacy is the mathematical literacy. Students who have mastered mathematical literacy are able to: identify problems they face in various areas of their life that can be addressed using mathematics; formulate these problems in the mathematical terms; solve these problems using mathematical facts and methods; analyze the methods applied; interpret the obtained results taking into account the original problem; formulate and record the results of their findings. 

Örken East Kazakhstan Regional Scientific and Methodological Center for Informatization and Education Development of Education Administration of East Kazakhstan region, jointly with Rustem K. Tyulyubergenev, a teacher of mathematics of Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of Ust-Kamenogorsk city held a workshop on the topic: “Mathematics in everyday life: developing functional literacy” for teachers of mathematics of schools of the region.

The goal of the workshop was to enhance the professional competencies of teachers in developing students’ functional literacy.

The program of the workshop consisted of 2 parts: theoretical and practical.

The theoretical section of the workshop included:

An introduction to the concept of functional literacy. Features of its development during mathematics lessons.

During the practical section of the workshop, the participants examined examples of mathematical problems aimed at developing functional literacy, discussed methods for fostering mathematical literacy through applied problems, and explored ways to integrate real-life tasks into the educational process.    

The workshop allowed teachers not only to deepen their knowledge on this topic, but also to apply their new knowledge into practice, using classroom tasks aimed at developing functional literacy among schoolchildren.