While it's not a requirement of the course, I find it useful for learners to know about the processing and storage of information behind the scenes when creating and storing digital images, and with this in mind I took the opportunity to cover the basics of storing and presenting Colour data in Hexadecimal format. This included converting between number bases, calculating totals and applying algorithms.
While the learners came into the lesson not expecting to be tested on their mathematics skills, they managed to employ mental arithmetic effectively to provide the correct answers.
Additionally some commented that they found the session useful for their Computer Systems session in which they are learning binary number systems.
Anyway, just a quick post, but I thought it interesting to find a use for numeracy in a subject less directly associated with the topic.
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ReplyDeleteFor me embedding numeracy is a key area for computing and in particular Computer systems architecture and Control systems.
ReplyDeleteUnderstanding and grasping Binary (Base 2) and how it is used enables me to link Denary (Base 10) and Hexadecimal (Base 16) and other number systems and representations to support the use of binary across the curriculum.
Teaching Spreadsheet modelling allows me to fully integrate the use of a learners numerical understanding and applying this to a virtual/modeled representation of a real world scenario where we can model what if scenarios and statistically analyse data using a variety of mathematical techniques within Excel.
Computing as a whole requires a fundamental understanding of number systems and a heavy reliance on a basic grasp of numeracy and its application to the real world.
I find it incredibly easy to embed numeracy in all areas of the curriculum I teach.
Learners become aware of the importance of Binary when attending other units that use a variety of key concepts that use the Binary and Hexadecimal number systems to represent data be it graphical or other data formats.
Business resources lecture sessions allow me to included Numeracy from a profit and loss perspective, company accounting, and a learners ability to interpret numerical data using the skills attained in the Spreadsheet modelling unit mentioned above.