Short version of the column method for addition?

[Crocky]

DS's homework states that his target is to be able to use the short version of the column method.
Can someone just put this into English for me.
Is this the way we used to add up??

Yep. It just means to add the numbers as we used to and not break them down into other figures for separate addition.

Thank you

Yes it is because there is now an expanded version (which I have just come to be teaching) where you add all the units and put the total as the whole number eg 15 and then the next line you add up the 10s etc and eventually you add up all the units, 10s etc and it involves no carrying. Like below.

1 2
2 8
-----
1 0
3 0
---
4 0

Thank you. They really do like to confuse us.