STEPS - Library - Central Queensland University

Part One: The history of STEPS
Upon completion of the STEPS program, it was expected that the
participants would be able to demonstrate the following skills:
• read effectively and write precisely and accurately for academic
purposes
• deal with basic mathematical concepts and methods
• develop computer literacy and basic word processing skills
• gain confidence in themselves as learners
• acquire organisational skills for effective learning. 18
Milton Fuller remembers the first day of teaching and just how nervous the
students were. Some of the students’ highest mathematics qualifications
were at primary school level. Milton, however, was able to empathise with
his class as he, too, had gained his tertiary qualifications as an adult
learner. 19
Here is Milton Fuller’s story.
In 1986, the MLC was housed in Building 19, which was the
Information Technology Building, and so the STEPS students came
to us. At the time, this was a bit of a problem because it was quite a
walk for students.
I had gained my tertiary qualifications as an adult learner and so
could identify with how the new STEPS students felt. Some were
nervous having only completed the top end of primary school
mathematics. Others did not understand why we needed
mathematics and were very opposed to mathematics as a concept.
And some were quite keen. We had female mathematics tutors and
males in their forties attending the course, so in some cases there
was some resentment there because of their own inadequacy in that
discipline.
The very first curriculum that I wrote was based on my knowledge,
and it was a bit of a disaster. I had assumed that they would have a
certain level of prior knowledge, but it was beyond them. We
realised this very quickly and adapted the curriculum so that we
would start at the beginning.
We also devised appropriate written entrance tests, which would be
carried out prior to adults being accepted into the program. They
would ensure that students had adequate literacy and numerical
skills to undertake the program. Greg Harper encouraged adults who
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