TASK 1: Topic 1 - Introduction (500 words)
NUMERACY AND MATHEMATICS
Mathematics is useful in our day to day lives. The world around us makes sense and we can manage our livelihoods with mathematics. When we use mathematics to solve problems, it becomes a huge powerful tool. Mathematics and numeracy are based on number, measure, shape, position, money, movement and information handling (“Numeracy and Mathematics”, n.d.).
Numeracy is the ability to make judgement about everyday issues that involve mathematical concept (James Watson, 2019).
To the best of my ability, I managed to administer a questionnaire to two participants. Joan, a middle aged woman, who is an accountant at local bank, holds a masters degree in business commerce. Peter on the other hand, an elderly man in his late 60s, is a poultry farmer with certificate in food and beverage. Joan’s argument deductively is in agreement with the definition from the source above. “I have to be comfortable with logic and reasoning in basic numbers”, she concludes. I understand that, once am completely able to manipulate basic numbers in full steps that should be followed, getting the desired and sound outcome, I am justified to be of numeracy ability. Peter deduces, “being able to check my change in shops comes with numeracy skills”. Being in full control of who to elect politically, use my money appropriately tells me I have acquainted myself with numeracy skills. If I have knowledge of numbers and I cannot apply them in real practical life to bridge a gap involving numbers, then I fail to have numeracy skills.
When it comes to the matter of relationship between mathematics and numeracy, Joan has this to educate us with, “for me to know mathematics, numeracy was in me, in support of my point, I knew basic numbers from my primary school and that is numeracy. This helped me to know mathematics when I entered into secondary school”. Numeracy is the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that students need in order to use mathematics in wide range of situation (“Numeracy for all Learners”, 2019). Being numerate involves using mathematics. I learn that Joan’s idea seem to marry with this definition. When I use skills on intended purpose, I have mathematical knowledge whose foundation was built on numeracy skill. Peter argues that, “Numeracy is the foundation of mathematics; I am able to carry out manipulation on fractions, algebra and percentages (mathematics) due to my ability to study operations like adding, subtracting, multiplication and division of simple numbers (numeracy)”. The access to vital ideas, skills and knowledge requires mathematics, and numeracy links these learning experiences with their individual lives and work.
In conclusion, we can say that not everyone is sure to handle mathematics. This can be attributed to various attitudes and misunderstandings about mathematics. Numeracy starts at an early age. This means that if I do not learn basic numbers and link them in application well, I am bound to have poor mathematics and numeracy skills. My ability to be intelligent, connect mathematics to experiences and ask queries on use of specific mathematical knowledge is in big question.








TASK 3: Topic 3 - Sustainability (500 words)
Green Class Technology
The need to have a cost effective learning environment and energy supply in our schools is a topic we are concerned with. I am convinced to come up with a power saving classrooms, a project that will reduce on cost of energy. I will give it a name, “Green Class”.
My classroom, in a sustainable spirit will improve learning results, be of care to the environment and bring forth value for schools as long as the school stays. The classroom is predesigned in an environment that ensures dependable quality, speedy construction and not all, disturbances to the school. Full utilization of Natural light and fresh air has been put into consideration. A special technology system that will time and again regulate the temperature and air intelligently is included. In so doing, a conducive environment is set up no matter the degree of hotness or coldness of the outside.
I will need a solar panel for all electrical connections. My Green Class is able to give out a more clean electricity than it can consume and can power other rooms. This is renewable energy, energy is saved.
Green Class type of classrooms are able to drive themselves, other rooms and battery, stores the energy, meaning classrooms can operate without the grid connection. An Internet of Things technology in Green class, monitors and takes care of the classroom’s performance data. This data is placed on user-friendly screen, showing the temperature in the class room, quality of air, energy usage and the savings.
My Green Class will be sustainable and of realistic implication since there will be 100% energy generation from solar panel, energy saving cost of $3000 per year, (“Hivve Sustainable Schools”, 2019).
PART TWO. NUMERACY DEMANDS INHERENT WITH NUMERACY GENERAL CAPABILITIES
The seven general capabilities of numeracy in Australian curriculum offer opportunities to add depth and richness to student learning (“Representation of General capabilities”, n.d). The numeracy demands in my Green class technology is inherent with this capabilities is as discussed below.
The first is Literacy in Mathematics, my students should be able to express, interpret and communicate the display of the Green class performance data to the display board.
Numeracy in mathematics is a capability that will enable my students be able to, understand the financial applications of mathematics to the cost of installation and managing the Green Class.
ICT in mathematics on the other hand offers my students ability to use the digital display for performance of data.
Critical and creative thinking in mathematics come on when my leaners will need to prove if the Green Class is cost effective as assumed in the beginning. If there are adjustments to be made, they are able to revise and reapply.
Personal and social capability in mathematics, another capability my leaners should be acquaint with, to help make decision at individual level, how powerful should the solar panel be. In working together understand the need to collectively conserve the environment.
Ethical understanding in mathematics factored in, my leaners understand that for there to be effective study, the room should be refreshed, and temperature kept regulated.
Finally, by intercultural understanding in mathematics, my leaners will be able to view the ideas laid by various students on how best to conserve the environment basing on their different area of origin.























References
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (2012b). Australian Curriculum: History.Retrieved 24 March 2012 from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/History/Rationale
Evidence and research in numeracy and mathematics. (2019, sept 26). numeracy and maths. Retrieved dec 06, 2019, from education and training: http://www.education.vic.gov.au
Hivve Sustainable Schools. (2019). The Hivve. Retrieved dec 06, 2019, from Hivve: https://hivve.com.au
Jane Watson, D. S. (2019). Developing Critical NUmeracy Across the Curriculum. Retrieved 12 06, 2019, from Numeracy in the news: www.tas-education.org
Numeracy for all leaners. (2019, sept 26). Education and training. Retrieved 12 06, 2019, from Numeracy and maths: http://www.education.vic.gov.au
Representation of General capabilities. (n.d). Representation of General capabilities. Retrieved dec 06, 2019, from Australian CURRICULUM: https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au












APPENDIX
QUESTIONNAIRE 1 FIRST RESPONSE
1.) What is numeracy?
First respondent( Joan, not her real name) –numeracy is the ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts. To be numerically literate, I have to be comfortable with logic and reasoning in basic numbers, orders of magnitude, geometry, algebra, probability and statistics.

2.) How are numeracy and mathematics related?
I knew basic numbers from my primary school and that is numeracy. This helped me to know mathematics when I entered into secondary school. In simple terms, for me to know mathematics, numeracy was in me.

QUESTIONNAIRE 1 SECOND RESPONSE
1.) What is numeracy?
Second respondent (Peter, not his real name) – numeracy is the ability to deal with numbers in practical life. Simply, it involves things like being able to check my change in shops and at a higher level it enables me to deal with the barrage of statistical and financial data inted to convince us to follow somebody’s political ideas or part with our money.
2.) How are numeracy and mathematics related?
Numeracy is the foundation of mathematics. The ability to study numbers like adding and multiplying, subtracting and dividing is numeracy. Fractions, algebra and percentages on the other hand are mathematics.