Program Guide - Department of Human Resources, Labour and ...

Level III Mathematics
Introduction
Level III Mathematics has been substantially revised and now offers General,
Academic and Advanced streams. The rationale for the revised focus may be traced
to a combination of issues. First, the review process revealed that the existing
Algebra component presented content in an improper sequence, resulting in
confusion for students and instructors. Second, the rate of attrition in Technology
programs largely resulted from inadequate pre-requisite Mathematic skills. It must
be noted that ABE students were not alone in this respect; secondary graduates also
experienced difficulty.
Recognizing this problem, inadequate mathematic skills, the secondary system
reviewed the Mathematics program and implemented substantial changes to high
school courses. Subsequently, the ABE Instructor Validation Team felt that it was
necessary to examine the new secondary courses and agreed that the revised ABE
program should incorporate the revised content. Hence, the new ABE courses are
largely consistent with the high school courses.
It must be noted that the objectives for the Advanced stream appear at, first glance,
to be less specific than those of the Academic stream. The key distinction between
the two streams is the depth to which the objectives should be addressed, with the
Advanced courses requiring a much more rigorous exploration of concepts.
Practically every post-secondary program is, or will be, specifying increasingly
rigorous prerequisite Mathematics skills as a reflection of encroaching technologies.
It is incumbent upon all ABE instructors to counsel students into the Academic or
Advanced streams in most instances. The General stream has its place, but it may
not provide most students with the skills they will require in subsequent postsecondary
programs. Students who insist upon completing only the General
component, should be strongly cautioned.
Reference Materials
Most delivery institutions have invested quite heavily in textbooks and other
resources so the reference list includes these titles where possible. However, it
should be noted that the Academic and Advanced streams include texts used in the
secondary system and instructors are strongly encouraged to acquire sufficient
quantities of these texts.
It should be noted that the reference to the Westviking College Gopher is accessible
under the Stem~Net Post Secondary and Professional Development directory. This
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ABE Level III Curriculum