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Breakout Session: Quantitative Literacy/Quantitative Reasoning

Initial Publication Date: October 12, 2006

Quantitative Literacy/Quantitative Reasoning

The definition of quantitative literacy is like greywacke - it's ambiguous. quantitative literacy and quantitative reasoning and numeracy are synonymous; numeracy is a British term that's probably been around a lot longer.

Lynn Steen's book, Quantitative Literacy and Democracy, is available online at the MAA site but not through Amazon.com. Steen uses the term QL.

The math skills described by Steen would seem to develop a quantitatively literate society, whereas those skills listed on the SERC quantitative skills website appear to benefit geology majors, but not the public as a whole; most students in our introductory classes do not continue on to pursue a degree in geology.

Gave some ideas about membership to NNN - the National Numeracy Network:

  • Reduced fees to $25
  • Monthly email from NNN to members regarding a large scale social issue
  • Reduced membership fees to faculty whose institutions join the NNN