NZQA registered unit standard
21199 version 3
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Title
Demonstrate knowledge of adult numeracy learning and introductory
numeracy knowledge
Level
4
Purpose
Credits
10
This unit standard is for people with, or developing, specialist
expertise to improve the numeracy skills of adult learners in
Aotearoa New Zealand. It provides a broad introduction to
concepts which underpin the teaching and learning of adult
numeracy.
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: the
learning and teaching theories that underpin how adults acquire
and develop numeracy within the cultural and contextual nature
of their own numeracy practices; maths anxiety experienced by
adult numeracy learners; key number knowledge and related
strategies used by adult learners; key measurement concepts
and related strategies used by adult learners; and probability
concepts, and introductory statistical concepts and related
strategies used by adult learners.
Classification
Adult Education and Training > Adult Literacy and Numeracy
Education
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
For the purposes of this unit standard, adult numeracy education includes design,
delivery, assessment, and evaluation.
2
Learning Progressions for Adult Literacy and Numeracy (Tertiary Education
Commission, 2008) and supporting professional development resources should be
referred to within the context of this unit standard.
3
Definitions
Strategies refer to the deliberate application of knowledge and/or skills in a way to
solve a problem. A strategy could be carried out mentally, visually or in written form,
and may be formal or informal. Strategies may develop or be combined as a solution
unfolds.
Discussion refers to a process of comparing, contrasting and illustrating.
Whole and part number forms refer to whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and
percentages.
Early algebraic thinking refers to the recognition of numerical and geometrical
patterns in given situations, and the formulation of informal or formal rules to describe
these patterns.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
21199 version 3
Page 2 of 4
Introductory statistical concepts refer to representing, analysing and interpreting data.
Measures of location refer to key values or scores which represent the data. Some
of these measures of location are central tending, or averages (eg means and
medians) of the data.
Measures of variability refer to how the data is spread out or distributed.
Reasonableness refers to a judgement based on how reasonable or plausible the
numeracy answer is, bearing in mind the known details and the context. Strategies
may be used to obtain reasonable numeracy answers, or for guiding the user
towards close estimates of the answers.
For the purposes of this unit standard conversions refer to the rewriting of one
measurement unit as another; for example 1056 millimetres as 1.056 metres.
Time concepts refer to familiarity with analogue and digital times, how these may be
represented in 24 hour time, and calculating straightforward time durations.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe the learning and teaching theories that underpin how adults acquire and develop
numeracy within the cultural and contextual nature of their own numeracy practices.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Description includes how adult learning and teaching theories relate to adult
numeracy.
1.2
Description includes use of contemporary definitions of numeracy.
1.3
Description includes a discussion of the cultural and contextual nature of adult
numeracy practice.
Outcome 2
Describe maths anxiety experienced by adult numeracy learners.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Description includes a discussion of anxiety around mathematics and the
potential causes.
2.2
Description includes ways of overcoming maths anxiety.
Outcome 3
Describe key number knowledge and related strategies used by adult learners.
Range
number strategies include – formal and informal use of whole numbers and
fractions, early algebraic thinking.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
21199 version 3
Page 3 of 4
Evidence requirements
3.1
Description includes the relationship between knowledge and strategies for
everyday contexts of adult learners.
3.2
Description includes strategies to develop reasonableness within problemsolving in everyday situations requiring number.
Outcome 4
Describe key measurement concepts and related strategies used by adult learners.
Range
key measurement concepts include – metric system, conversions, time
concepts.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Description includes the relationship between concepts and strategies used in
measurement within the everyday lives and contexts of adult learners.
4.2
Description includes strategies to develop reasonableness within problemsolving in everyday situations requiring measurement.
Outcome 5
Describe probability concepts, and introductory statistical concepts and related strategies
used by adult learners.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Description includes the relationship between theoretical and long run
probabilities within given situations.
Range
introductory probability concepts include – theoretical probabilities
and experimental probabilities.
5.2
Data representations include graph(s), and/or tables which reflect the data set.
5.3
Description includes the analysis and interpretation of data sets drawn from
contexts, using selected data measures.
Range
5.4
description of data may include but are not limited to – gaps,
clusters, trends, outliers;
interpretations of data may include but are not limited to –
observations, comparisons, predictions and conclusions;
data measures may include but are not limited to – measures of
location (mode, quartiles, high and low values, central tending
values, measures of variability).
Description includes strategies to develop reasonableness within problemsolving in everyday situations requiring the analysis of data.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
Planned review date
21199 version 3
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31 December 2016
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
23 September 2005
N/A
Review
2
21 May 2010
N/A
Rollover and
Revision
3
20 June 2013
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0045
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016