This semester our VCAL Intermediate Numeracy classes are conducting an applied numeracy project. This requires our students to negotiate and produce six different numeracy-based projects. They must select four from the numeracy domains (ie: number, measurement, financial, probability and statistics) and also cover the three industry phases (input, process and output).
Through these projects they learn that an 'input' is something that is needed to conduct work (eg: education, certification, tools, materials etc.), a 'process' is what the person or industry does to turn the 'input' into an 'output' which is the finished item or service. The students choose the projects based on their Structured Workplace Learning Environment or their VET studies.
This week we had VCAL Leader Mrs Kristy Brown take the students into the College’s hospitality kitchens and give them a rundown of the day-to-day operations of a cafe. We then discussed the multifaceted elements of numeracy that the students could consider. The class then broke down the activities of making a product — baking a cake — and preparing it for sale.
It was their first exposure to the project and the students were given the task of establishing an overall cost of running a facility. This could include things like licensing of the venue, the cost and time of education (hospitality certification for example), using a formula to establish volumes, costing of individual ingredients, time management and ingredient ratios, the total cost of a cake divided into slices and potential profit, budget reconciliation and cost of labour.
We were honoured to have our Deputy Principal — Learning and Teaching, Mrs Anita Kay-Taylor, attend our class and observe the work our students are doing.
In light of current events, it is wonderful that our learning environment is such that we can modify and adapt our course work to maintain the 'hands-on' approach that program prides itself on.
