Georgia Northwestern Technical College was selected to be part of the pilot class for the math initiative referred to as the Adult Numeracy Instruction Professional Development Field-test Program (ANI-PD), according to a press release.

ANI-PD is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s vision for adult education. It is also a National Leadership activity under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA).

The program is designed to improve mathematics instruction at the Adult Basic Education, pre-General Education Development, and General Education Development levels. It will consist of field testing which will allow ANI-PD to conduct research to determine how adults learn and improve math skills.

GNTC was one of the 10 technical colleges in Georgia selected to be in the first class to roll out the program. Eventually, the program will expand to other states, colleges, and instructors.

It will take approximately nine months to complete the instructor training, classroom implementation, and data collection phases of the project.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the expected outcome from the project includes a more in depth understanding of mathematical content knowledge, a better comprehension of how adults learn and comprehend math, and more effective math instruction.

“Math is the area in which most of our students struggle,” commented Susan Hackney, vice president of Adult Education. “Our overall goal in adult education is to graduate students who will be successful in their college or work life. This requires a higher level of math competency,” added Hackney. “GNTC will ultimately benefit from the ANI-PD Field-test Program by developing adult education graduates who are prepared at a higher level.”

The Adult Education program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College offers classes and instruction in Adult Learning Centers in Cedartown, Rome, Rockmart, Calhoun, Summerville, Trion, Rock Spring, Lafayette, Ringgold, and Trenton. Adults of all ages can enroll for free classes. The centers have computer labs, study materials and resources, and professional adult education staff for both daytime and evening programs. There is group-based and/or individualized instruction based on the individual learning needs and goals of students.