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Education Commons

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Selected Works

Selected Works

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

David (Dave) Tout

Surveys

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Education

What International Surveys Tell Us About Australians' Mathematical Foundations, Dave Tout, James Spithill Jul 2015

What International Surveys Tell Us About Australians' Mathematical Foundations, Dave Tout, James Spithill

David (Dave) Tout

This presentation will look at some key messages from the Australian results of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), both released at the end of 2013. PISA assessed the mathematical literacy of 15 year-olds around Australia, whilst PIAAC assessed the numeracy proficiency of adults aged 15–74. What do the two surveys assess and are they telling a similar story? How solid are Australia’s mathematical foundations and what do they say about teaching and learning? How do Australia’s results compare internationally with those leading the field? What are some …


Part 1: Lessons Learnt From International Assessments, Dave Tout Dec 2012

Part 1: Lessons Learnt From International Assessments, Dave Tout

David (Dave) Tout

In the first of two related articles, this article attempts to explain what can be learnt from international assessments of adult literacy and numeracy skills, and why there is value and crucial and important lessons for all educators, and others, from the work underpinning these empirically based research endeavours. Whilst some criticism of the surveys is understandable and to be expected, this often blinds readers and the LLN sector from reading between and behind the lines and seeing what value can be generated, gained and learned from such investigations, data and research. The article describes the theoretical frameworks and quality …


Alls Survey Update : Initial Messages Regarding Numeracy, Dave Tout Jun 2007

Alls Survey Update : Initial Messages Regarding Numeracy, Dave Tout

David (Dave) Tout

In the initial analysis and results coming out from the first wave of the 2003 Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey (ALLS) countries, the data seem to be indicating that numeracy plays a more important role in economic returns for individuals than do prose or document literacy, and seem to confirm that men outperform women in the area of numeracy and mathematics. Some of the outcomes stemming from the results that will be of interest when the Australian results are released late in 2007 include: the overlap between respondents' abilities in literacy and numeracy was lower than expected; early school leavers …


All Is Happening With Numeracy : A New International Survey Of Adults' Numeracy And Mathematics Skill Levels., Dave Tout Dec 2006

All Is Happening With Numeracy : A New International Survey Of Adults' Numeracy And Mathematics Skill Levels., Dave Tout

David (Dave) Tout

An international survey of the numeracy abilities of adults was part of the Adult Literacy and Lifeskills (ALLS) survey conducted in Australia in 2006 and the start of 2007. This paper includes information on the construct behind the numeracy component of the survey, including the complexity scheme that attempts to predict the difficulty of test items, and reports on the initial data from the first wave of countries, highlighting the important role that numeracy plays in both human and social capital terms. First Australian results are due out in late 2007.


All Is Happening, With Numeracy Included, Dave Tout Dec 2004

All Is Happening, With Numeracy Included, Dave Tout

David (Dave) Tout

The Adult Literacy and Lifeskills (ALL) Survey (formerly known as the International Life Skills Survey (ILSS)) is a large-scale, comparative survey that goes beyond previous international literacy studies. In addition to the literacy skills measured in the previous International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), ALL is designed to identify and measure a broader range of skills in the adult population in each participating country. The skills to be directly measured are: prose and document literacy; numeracy; problem solving/analytical reasoning. In addition the assessment will be accompanied by a comprehensive Background Questionnaire, which will collect participant information and indirectly measure two other …


The Forthcoming Adult Literacy And Lifeskills (All) Survey, Dave Tout Dec 2004

The Forthcoming Adult Literacy And Lifeskills (All) Survey, Dave Tout

David (Dave) Tout

The Adult Literacy and Lifeskills (ALL) Survey is a large scale, comparative survey that goes beyond previous international studies. The skills to be measured are prose and document literacy, numeracy, and problem solving/analytical reasoning. Two other skill domains will also be measured: teamwork, and information and communication technology (ICT) literacy.


Numeracy Up Front : Behind The International Life Skills Survey, Dave Tout Dec 2002

Numeracy Up Front : Behind The International Life Skills Survey, Dave Tout

David (Dave) Tout

This paper presents some of the results of the Numeracy Working Group in the International Life Skills Survey (ILSS) and the what the author suggests is a wealth of ideas and concepts that can be of interest to the wider educational sector. The author looks at why numeracy was included in the ILSS and the numeracy framework that was established. Complexity factors, assessment items, results so far and issues, problems and benefits showing up in the survey are discussed.


Numeracy Gets A Guernsey Alongside Literacy, Dave Tout Dec 1998

Numeracy Gets A Guernsey Alongside Literacy, Dave Tout

David (Dave) Tout

This article discusses a proposed followup to the International Adult Literacy Survey called the International Life Skills Survey. This will assess performance in four skills domains - prose literacy, document literacy, numeracy and problem solving - and make behavioural reports in teamwork, practical cognition, and information and communication technology. This article looks at the numeracy aspects.