1. Department and Contact Information

• Subject Head: Mr Drickus Venter

• Contact Information: dventer@jeppeboys.co.za 

2. Subject Status

• Compulsory: Yes (either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy)

• APS Contribution: Yes, full points awarded

3. Relevance for Further Studies

• Required for Further Study: No, but there are various university and college degrees that can be studied with Mathimatical Literacy.

4. Course Content and Learning Outcomes

Curriculum Summary:

• Practical Component: No

5. Skills and Qualities Required

• Recommended Aptitudes: Mathematical Literacy develops competencies that allow individuals to make sense of, participate in and contribute to the twenty-first-century world – a world characterised by numbers, numerically based arguments and data represented and misrepresented in a number of ways. Such competencies include the ability to reason, make decisions, solve problems, manage resources, interpret information, schedule events and use and apply technology. Learners will be exposed to both mathematical content and real-life contexts to develop these competencies.  Mathematical content is needed to make sense of real-life contexts; on the other hand, contexts determine the content that is needed. 

• Student Attributes: Mathematical Literacy should enable the learner to become a self-managing person, a contributing worker and a participating citizen in a developing democracy.  The teaching and learning of Mathematical Literacy provides opportunities to analyse problems and devise ways to work mathematically in solving such problems.  Opportunities to engage mathematically in this way will also assist learners to become astute consumers of the mathematics reflected in the media.

6. Special Requirements/Recommendations

• 1. Materials and Resources: Textbook. Access to Internet-based programmes

  2. Prerequisites: Learners will benefit from strong foundations in Mathematical concepts acquired in primary school.

7. Teaching Methods and Learning Strategies

• Instructional Approaches: Mathematical Literacy is taught using a variety of instructional approaches, including, lecture; didactic questioning; demonstration; enquiry; modelling.

• Study Tips: Practise Mathematical Literacy daily and ensure that you do your homework. Make use of additional resources. Use past papers to prepare for assessments, working under assessment conditions. Ask for help when you are unsure.

8. Relevance and Application

• Real-World Connections: Extremely useful for practical, everyday life.

9. Career Opportunities

• Potential Careers: Advertising and Marketing, TV, Radio and Film, Education and academia, Politics and Advocacy, Writing and Publishing, Law.

• Industry Relevance: Mathematical Literacy provides learners with an awareness and understanding of the role that mathematics plays in the modern world.  Mathematical Literacy is a subject driven by life-related applications of mathematics. It enables learners to develop the ability and confidence to think numerically and spatially to interpret and critically analyse everyday situations and to solve problems.

10. Curriculum Summary and Assessment

• Assessment Structure: Assessment in Mathematical Literacy includes: examinations; class and cycle tests; assignments; and investigations.

• Key Learning Outcomes: Learners will develop skills in mathematical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving, in both theoretical and general contexts.

School-Based Assessment: