ABE Contextualized Math Modules: Driving a Truck—Reading Maps, Computing Distance, and Figuring Gas Mileage

This resource supports the teaching of specific education and training content that can be implemented by classroom instructors in the context of a particular career cluster.

Author(s)
State of Washington ABE instructors for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
Publication Year
2009
Resource Type
Instructional Material
Key Words
Product Type
Target Audience
Abstract

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in partnership with Washington Online supported the development of a series of contextualized math modules for Adult Basic Education (ABE). Written by instructors from across the state, each module consists of a PowerPoint file containing self-paced instructional content.  The files can be shared with students for direct use. Instructors can also use the PowerPoint file as a basis for lesson presentation.  The series teaches mathematics concepts within the context of occupations spanning the Health Science, Transportation, and Architecture/Construction career clusters.  The entire series of 12 modules is accessible at www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/_e-abepd_teachingresources.aspx

Driving a Truck, Part 1, provides scenario-based instruction to teach the mathematical concepts involved in reading maps, computing distance, and figuring gas mileage which are tasks commonly performed by truck drivers. Each task presents a scenario-based problem and teaches/reviews the math skills essential to solving it.  Practice problems are provided in both application and skill development formats, with answers available to allow learners to check their work.  Audio narration is provided for the workplace scenarios to support lower-level readers and ELL students.

Benefits and Uses

The focus of this math strand is on reading maps, computing distance, and figuring gas mileage. Students will be able to: (1) Read maps; (2) Read tables; (3) Multiply decimals; (4) Convert between miles and kilometers; (5) Round decimals; (6) Add time segments; (7) Convert between minutes and fractions of an hour; (8) Compute gas mileage per tank; (9) Compute gas mileage per gallon; and (10) Solve one and two-step word problems.

Resource Notice

This resource was reviewed and vetted through the Designing Instruction for Career Pathways initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education under Contract No. ED-CFO-10-A-0072/0001.