According to Eric Gaze of Bowdoin College the difference between learning mathematics and quantitative literacy is the difference between learning how to build a pyramid and being an archaeologist. (See Gaze’s video “What Is Quantitative Literacy?”) A pyramid builder learns the foundations and builds each layer upon the previous. An archaeologist takes bits of information and, through inquiry and problem solving, builds a picture of what is going on.

This is true when we look at the ways in which typical mathematical education is approached; usually, the basics are taught first and then application is brought in, often abstractly, from the real world context. In contrast, quantitative literacy education strives to use the context and draw upon quantitative tools and reasoning to solve problems and make sense of situations. Two good articles on this shift in perspectives are

• Susan Elrod, “Quantitative Reasoning: The Next ‘Across the Curriculum’ Movement”
• Rikki Blair and Amy Getz, “A Brief History of the Quantitative Literacy Movement”

Both articles will help you shift your view of mathematics and statistics as things we do to a way of thinking about the world around us.

But let’s stop for a minute and think about what mathematics is all about. Mathematics is about patterns, the patterns that we observe in the world around us. It is also about a language we use describe these patterns. We use these patterns when we try to make sense of what is happening in our lives, at work, and in the world. Humans are pattern makers and storytellers, and by codifying these patterns we can share and build upon common observed experiences.

For example, at a very young age children begin collecting and counting objects. Toddlers routinely gather objects and sort them into clusters based on color, size, shape, etc. They make their piles bigger and smaller as they sort through different possibilities. Through these activities, children develop their ability to add and subtract and to see relationships among objects. This type of play is essential for children’s development; it allows them to make sense of the vast amount of information they observe each day. Our brains continue to develop throughout our lives. As we mature, patterns and relationships become coded into our neural networks. Our brains use these neural networks to determine how new experiences are similar to or different than previous ones. These processes of comparing and contrasting are at the core of our ability to analyze our experiences, solve problems and make decisions.

The following video, How Does the Brain Do Math?, describes the regions of the brain that are connected to learning and using mathematics. It’s lengthy (22 min.), but it’s worth the watch, because the video explains how learning and using mathematics is connected to how we use language and function in space. The video is not overly technical (although at times it may feel that way as the presenter goes through brain regions), and it pulls all the information together at the end. Understanding how we learn mathematics helps put the process into perspective.

Our increasing use of technology makes quantitative literacy critically important. Technology touches every aspect of our lives. We use technology tools to keep track of and compute data and information; however, with all the information generated by computers, we still need human beings to interpret, make sense of, and respond to this information. A publication by the Strada Institute for the Future of work, Robot-Ready, Human + Skills for the Future of Work, emphasizes that people need to have skills that are above and beyond what robots and computers can do. The report draws from research on the knowledge and skills essential and in demand for work today and in the future. Quantitative literacy is an essential part of this skills repertoire.

Data and quantitative information bombard us in every aspect of our lives, from product information to the news. All of this information is needed to make decisions, know when to move into action, or shape an opinion. Making sense of the data can be overwhelming, but by increasing your quantitative literacy you can develop the skills to make sense of all this information and more effectively make decisions in your work and life. In addition to the fundamentals of quantitative literacy, understanding the particular demands of quantitative information in your field is also important.

How can you develop greater quantitative literacy? Quantitative literacy is about the relationship of numbers, the ways in which these relationships help us understand what is going on around us, and the decisions we need to make based on these relationships. As such, we can think of quantitative literacy as having four aspects:

• the numbers,
• the relationship of these numbers and the information that these relationships provide,
• the context within which these numbers provide information, and
• the response or action that is taken based on the information.

The SUNY General Education requirement for Quantitative Literacy focuses on similar skills.  The policy states:

Students will show competency in the following quantitative reasoning skills:

• arithmetic
• algebra
• geometry
• data analysis
• quantitative reasoning

Numbers and their relationships are often part of mathematical studies.  You can develop your mathematical skills further through the following approaches:

Take some math assessments.

• SUNY Empire State College offers a quick math self-assessment.
• Khan Academy has a large variety of assessments, with accompanying lessons.
• MathUSee offers very basic to more complex math assessments.
• College Level Mathematics Pretest from Mercer Community College will give you a sense of what’s expected in very traditional college-level math courses.
• Search the internet for “math tests” and you’ll find more self-assessments.

Brush up on your math skills or learn a few new ones from on-line opportunities.

• Coursera’s Learning How to Learn was originally written to help learners of math.
• Udacity’s Introduction to Descriptive Statistics has a free version that can be opened and/or downloaded.
• Udacity’s Introduction to Statistics also can be opened or downloaded.
• Purplemath includes a number of learning activities and additional math resources.

Take some courses at the College.

Know that ESC has traditional and non-traditional math courses, the latter intended for adult students who need to develop competency with quantitative information (e.g., Voter Math, Math Across Generations, Visualizing Math, and more)

Research the type of math you’ll need for your field.

Learn the context in which you’ll be using quantitative information. This may be the most important action you can take. For example, statistics is important not only in business, but also in studying psychology and sociology in which you’ll research and use many studies that themselves use statistical methodology. The website We Use Math has a careers option that discusses the type of math background needed for many, many careers.

In addition to learning about how math is used in your field, also explore the ways in which data are used to shape how problems are approached and solved; math is directly associated with critical thinking in every field. Think about the questions that are being asked and the strategies employed to solve those questions. What are the types of data that are available and still are needed? How can you use the data to solve your own questions?

And—the most important thing to remember—talk with your mentor about math competencies needed to meet your goals and courses appropriate for you to pursue.