VCE VM Numeracy

VCE Vocational Major Numeracy focuses on enabling students to develop and enhance their numeracy skills to make sense of their personal, public and vocational lives. Students develop mathematical skills with consideration of their local, national and global environments and contexts, and an awareness and use of appropriate technologies.

This study allows students to explore the underpinning mathematical knowledge of number and quantity, measurement, shape, dimensions and directions, data and chance, the understanding and use of systems and processes, and mathematical relationships and thinking. This mathematical knowledge is then applied to tasks which are part of the students’ daily routines and practices, but also extends to applications outside the immediate personal environment, such as the workplace and community. 

VCE Vocational Major Numeracy is designed around four complementary and essential components:

1) Eight areas of study that name and describe a range of different mathematical knowledge and skills that are expected to be used and applied across the three outcomes. 

2) Outcome 1 is framed around working mathematically across six different numeracy contexts:

• Personal numeracy

• Civic numeracy

• Financial numeracy

• Health numeracy

• Vocational numeracy 

• Recreational numeracy

3) Outcome 2 elaborates and describes a four-stage problem-solving cycle that underpins the capabilities required to solve a mathematical problem embedded in the real world. 

4) Outcome 3 requires students to develop and use a technical mathematical toolkit as they undertake their numeracy activities and tasks. Students should be able to confidently use multiple mathematical tools, both analogue and digital/technological. 

VCE Vocational Major Numeracy incorporates the teaching of skills and knowledge in the context of ‘real life’ experiences. Learners apply what they have learnt by doing, experiencing or relating it to the real world. Students interests and experiences are considered in the design of learning activities.

Students can expect to plan, organise and budget for individual and group projects, design and construct collaborative projects such as planning, installing and maintaining a veggie garden and prepare for life beyond school while investigating and comparing everyday living expenses.

Successful completion of the VCE provides a pathway to apprenticeships, employment and further learning. Students pursue employment pathways in a range of industries and vocational settings.

• Mr Kieren Prowse - kprowse@cmc.vic.edu.au