[Maths-Education] IoE London seminar: Learning about the mathematics of manufacturing, 16 May [REMINDER]

[Phillip Kent]

** PLEASE CIRCULATE - ALL WELCOME **
*Learning about the mathematics of manufacturing*16 May 2006, 5pm - 6.30pm

Arthur Bakker, Chand Bhinder, Celia Hoyles, Phillip Kent and Richard Noss
Techno-mathematical Literacies Project, Institute of Education - London
Knowledge Lab

Venue: Room 901, Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL

One of the interesting mathematical characteristics of modern manufacturing
industry is the use of summative measures which abstract complex processes
into simple numbers, which are then used collectively by the entire
workforce to monitor and improve quality and efficiency. This poses a
particular challenge in helping production line workers to participate in
data analysis and decision-making, since this involves skills which
traditionally have not been expected of such workers. We will describe
research in which we have had the opportunity to visit a large car factory
which is going through the process of implementing summative measures into
its manufacturing operations, and training its production line workers to
engage with these measures. We have investigated how workers make sense of
mathematical techniques in their work, and how they make sense of the
training they receive about these. We will describe our analysis of their
difficulties in understanding, and our response to these in the form of
learning interventions based on exploratory software tools.

RSVP: p.kent at ioe.ac.uk

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Dr Phillip Kent
London Knowledge Lab - Institute of Education
23 - 29 Emerald St
London WC1N 3QS
p.kent at ioe.ac.uk
tel 020 7763 2156   mobile 07950 952034
www.ioe.ac.uk/tlrp/technomaths
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