Developing functional literacy in math classes

Back in the IV century BC, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristippus, a student and friend of Socrates, said that “children should be taught what will be useful to them when they grow up.”

Functional literacy is the ability to apply knowledge, skills, and methods to address a wide range of tasks, extending beyond educational situations to tackle challenges unlike those acquired during the learning process. One of the components of functional literacy is the mathematical literacy.

Örken East Kazakhstan Regional Scientific and Methodological Center for Informatization and Educational Development of Education Administration of East Kazakhstan region, jointly with Aizhan B. Akiyeva, a teacher of mathematics from NIS of Chemistry and Biology of Ust-Kamenogorsk city, held a workshop on the topic: “Developing functional literacy in math classes” for teachers of mathematics of schools of the region, teaching in the Kazakh language.

The goal of the workshop was to enhance the professional competencies of teachers in developing schoolchildren’s functional literacy in math lessons.

The workshop included 2 parts, theoretical and practical.

The theoretical part provided teachers with a clarification of the conceptual framework of functional literacy, its components, as well as the features of developing functional literacy in math lessons, the review of the international study (PISA) and its role in assessing functional literacy.

The practical part delved into examples of mathematical problems, analysis of methods for developing mathematical literacy through applied tasks, integration of real-life tasks in the educational process, development and adaptation of assignments to enhance schoolchildren’s functional literacy.

The workshop placed a strong emphasis on the practical part, with a detailed analysis and review of various mathematical problems from various spheres of life. Teachers had the opportunity to extend their knowledge in the field of developing functional literacy in math lessons.