Those working in the field of adult literacy and numeracy are currently (2010) anticipating changes in the near future as the federal government has flagged the development of a National Foundation ...Skills Strategy. 'Foundation skills' is a term that has recently been suggested as a way of simplifying discussions about literacy and numeracy, and it has gained traction in various Australian national policy environments. Foundation skills appear to encapsulate adult language, literacy and numeracy, and more broadly, they may also include so-called employability skills such as communication and teamwork. In this paper, the authors' main focus is on the adult literacy and numeracy dimensions of what is needed in the policy renewal. While there are no specific details available at this stage, the general focus of a new National Foundation Skills Strategy seems clearly evident. Similar 'human capital' arguments supporting the development of adult literacy and numeracy skills have been presented recently by the Australian Industry Group and the COAG Reform Council. The purpose of this paper is not to undermine the primacy of the human capital underpinnings of a new National Foundation Skills Strategy. In the current highly competitive, globalised economy, it is to be expected that a new national strategy will build on the perceived advantages of skills development for productivity and international competitiveness that were promoted in the previous national policy some 20 years ago. However, the authors maintain that in the development of a new national strategy, there is more than one perspective on the rationale for investing in adult literacy and numeracy. In this paper the authors highlight four dimensions of the adult literacy and numeracy field which they consider should be incorporated in a new strategy. They draw on recent work on social capital which has direct implications for social inclusion, but also for complementing the human capital rationale for adult literacy and numeracy. The article links this work to calls for more cross-sectoral partnerships, and it then highlights an area of VET that should receive greater prominence in a national strategy, the integration of literacy and numeracy in the delivery of VET courses. Finally, the authors consider professional learning and partnerships with universities in adult literacy and numeracy, and how the field can be revitalised. Author abstract, ed
This study aims to investigate the impact of using task-based activities in reading skill for the eight students of junior high school of SMPN 4 MDN. Quantitative research was employed in this ...research. It was quasi experimental research design which used pre-test – post-test control group design. The population of this research were the eighth grade students of SMPN 4 MDN. The samples of this research were 8B as experimental class and 8C as control class. The sample was taken by using random sampling. In collecting the data, the researchers used reading test. The researcher used independent t-test on SPSS version 21 to analyze data. The results shows that the students who are treated by using task-based activities are more effective than the students who are treated by using conventional teaching. It means that teaching reading by using task-based activities gives a better influence on students’ reading skill.
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