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WILLIS N. HACKNEY LIBRARY

Quantitative Literacy (QL)

A resource guide for quantitative literacy at Barton College.

What is Quantitative Literacy?

Quantitative Literacy (QL) is a habit of mind demonstrated by competency and comfort when working with numerical data in a variety of perspectives and everyday life situations.

Outcomes of the Barton College Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

A Barton College student with strong QL skills will...

  • Reason and solve quantitative problems
  • Evaluate quantitative information in terms of what evidence is used, its format, presentation, and context
  • Create arguments supported by quantitative evidence
  • Communicate arguments in a variety of formats (using words, tables, graphs, mathematical equations, etc.) as appropriate
  • Describe/interpret significance and implications

Objectives of the QEP Program

Curricular Changes

  • To improve students' quantitative literacy skills through revised foundational math courses
  • To emphasize quantitative thinking in QL-associated courses in the social sciences courses within the General Education curriculum
  • To accentuate QL in major-specific courses

​Support for implementation

  • To provide professional development for faculty of QL-associated courses
  • To create a repository of QL resources to advance student learning and faculty development
  • To create a network of supplemental instruction and peer tutors for students in QL-associated courses
  • To develop a QL Rubric to provide consistent feedback and a common language for QL discussions
  • To establish a QL Center to support student learning and assist alumni in preparing for standardized tests

​Assessment

  • To assess development of QL skills with a nationally normed instrument
  • To annually analyze student performance and evaluate plan progression