1B: What is ‘success’ in learner achievement?

Jayne, 32, won a place to do a degree at the University of Hull, thanks to learndirect and the National Certificate in Adult Numeracy.

Just a few weeks before her course started, Jayne discovered it required students to have a GCSE or equivalent in maths.

‘I hated maths at school, and actually failed my GCSE not once but twice,’ says Jayne. ‘It was a nightmare to discover I’d have to try it again, and if I failed I’d be putting my place at university in jeopardy. When I did some further investigation I couldn’t find a GCSE course which didn’t take a year to complete. At 32, I was devastated at the prospect of having to wait another 12 months before I could start my degree.’

Luckily, Jayne got in contact with learndirect and found out about the new National Certificate in Adult Numeracy. She says, ‘I checked with Hull, and they were happy to keep my place open and wait for the result. I had four weeks to learn everything I’d failed to learn in three years at school!’

Jayne started off with a number skills check which identified the areas where she needed to brush up. She then worked on these skills with a Numbers Direct course, and took a Preparation for National Testing package at Level 2 to give her more confidence in her ability to succeed.

‘learndirect were really supportive,’ says Jayne. ‘I had reservations about learning on a computer as maths seemed such a big mountain to climb, but the course was actually really good. The sections were easy to follow and you can check your progress and go back over everything you’ve done. I did most of my learning from my computer at home and popped back into the centre to talk through anything I had difficulty with.’

Jayne took her test four days before her place at the University of Hull expired. She says, ‘the learndirect centre opened up especially for me. It was just me, the computer and two invigilators. They accessed the test for me and I sat down and got on with it for the next hour and 15 minutes. I hadn’t done a test online before, but it was a natural progression from the course itself. I felt really well prepared, which is more than I can say for previous maths exams! As well as the maths, the course taught me how to read the questions properly, and understand what the examiner wanted.’

Jayne’s result was sent straight over to the University of Hull to secure her place. ‘I was delighted when I got the call from Hull confirming I could start my course in just a few days – I got through by the skin of my teeth! I really never thought I could get a qualification in maths because it’s always been such a huge obstacle. It’s almost a bigger achievement than getting my degree will be!’ Jayne says.

‘I’m really proud of myself, and the difference has to be sheer motivation,’ adds said Jayne. ‘As a 16 year-old I didn’t really have any idea what I wanted to do. With nothing to aim for and nothing to lose I just didn’t have the determination I had this time. It’s really good as an adult to have the chance to go back and give one hundred per cent.’

Online@Wareham is a Community Learning Centre run by an independent voluntary organisation in Dorset. A course was set up to attract new and existing learners and to improve people’s basic skills. The group taking the course had two tutors, a basic skills tutor and an ICT tutor, both of whom had qualifications in the other’s subject area.

All learners were given an initial assessment to work out their literacy and numeracy levels and all had individual learning plans. Although the course was marketed with an ICT hook and designed to teach people CLAIT, it was also made clear from the beginning that there would be sessions on literacy and numeracy.

One task for the learners at Entry Level 3 in numeracy combined conventional learning with e-learning. Learners were asked to investigate a subject of their choice, such as booking a holiday or buying a new hi-fi. They were asked to write down the different prices and compare them before creating a spreadsheet to demonstrate the results.

Another task linked Speaking and Communicating at Level 1 with ICT. This time, learners researched information on the Data Protection Act 1998 on the Internet. To complete the task, learners then wrote a short piece on the computer, giving the information they felt was important. Finally, learners told a fellow learner what they had found out.

One learner who completed the course told us, ‘I have enjoyed being involved in the project at Online@Wareham. I have had help with my spelling and also long division which I could not even do at school. I have greatly improved my word-processing skills and would like to carry on learning more about computers and also to improve my spelling and maths.’