Teaching Adults: A 2014 GED® Test Resource Book

Exciting Strategies and Technology to Prepare for 2014 GED® Test Instruction

March 7, 2014MISD

Detroit, MI

Meagen Farrell

Author, trainer, consultantGED instructor

@farrellinkFacebook.com/farrell.inkFarrellink.com

Agenda1. What to expect in January 20142. Facilitating engaging lessons: “Up in Arms

Over the Second Amendment”3. Small group work:

1. Log in to Edmodo.com2. Create your own interdisciplinary lesson plan3. Find technology to use in your lesson plan4. Explore test item samplers and required

technology skills for the 2014 GED® Test.

4. Report back: What did you learn?

Rules for the Road

• Stay with the group! Don’t get distracted by your mobile device or side conversations.

• Questions? Yes, please! Just raise your hand and tell me your name & location.

• One speaker at a time!!!• Everyone participates and contributes in

the group work.

What is new on the 2014 GED Test?

The Big Changes

Common Core State

Standards

Depth of Knowledge

100% Computer-

Based Testing

New Test Pricing

Four Intertwined

Subjects

The Big Changes

• The motto of the Common Core State Standards is “______er, _______er, ______er.”

• GED Test items connected to the Depth of Knowledge Levels: Level One: ____% Levels Two & Three: ____% Level Four: ___%

• For the 2002 GED Math Test, the first time passing rate was ___% for paper-based and ___% for computer-based testing.

The Big Changes

• The “wholesale” price of the 2014 GED Test is $_____ for the first two years.

• _____________ sets the price for test-takers.• The 2014 GED writing sections will include:– ____ min extended response in Reasoning through

Language Arts.– ____ min extended response in Social Studies.– ____ short answer responses in Science.

Common Core State Standards

• GED assessment targets are based on the CCSS and other career & college readiness standards

• Also used for standards-based instruction• Skills standards in English Language Arts &

Mathematics (not content standards)• “Fewer, clearer, higher”

Depth of Knowledge

Replaces Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Measures cognitive complexity of a task.

GED test items:• 20% level 1• 80% levels 2 & 3

1

•Verbatim Recall

•Paraphrasing

2

•Main point, patterns

•Identify relationships

3

•Inference & synthesis

•Prediction, elaboration

4

•Generating hypotheses

•Complex analysis

Computer-Based Testing

2012 CBT Testing Results(2002 series test)

Partnering with computer-based testing provider Pearson VUE

2014: Automated scores available within 3 hours

Reduced Stress!

Increased scores Time left over

Math Passing Rate (1st Time)

83% on computer 30% on paper

Overall Passing Rate

88% on computer 71% on paper

New Price for GED Test

• Cost for test battery $120 for 2014 & 2015-- Jurisdictions may set student fee higher/lower

Value of the GED Test

• Adults with a high school equivalency diploma earn $250,000+ more over their lifetime.

• GEDTS is protecting the value of the credential for test-takers:– Litigate to protect GED name: 40 fraudulent companies

shut down already– Improve customer service to test-takers: great YouTube

videos & tutorials!– Continue to research value of passing the GED Test &

market to colleges and employers

Four Intertwined Subjects

Reasoning through

Language ArtsScience

Social Studies Mathematical Reasoning

Content from Real Life Scenarios

Reasoning through

Language ArtsScience

Social Studies Mathematical Reasoning

Writing Constructed Responses

Reasoning through

Language ArtsScience

Social Studies Mathematical Reasoning

Interpreting Data

Reasoning through

Language ArtsScience

Social Studies Mathematical Reasoning

Questions?

Find a Partner• Over the break, discuss how you think the

new 2014 GED® test will impact instruction & curricula. How will it affect you? your students? your program?

• As a reminder, the 5 changes we discussed:– Common Core State Standards– Depth of Knowledge– 100% Computer-Based Testing– New GED Test Pricing– Four Intertwined Subjects

15 MINUTE BREAKDISCUSS IMPLICATIONS

Implications for Instruction & Curricula

Implications for Instruction & Curricula

• Who would like to share?– Name one effect on you– Name one effect on your students – Name one effect on your program

My Two Cents on Teaching Adults

• GED test prep programs are like marathon training programs at a gym.

• Single-subject instruction is like running alone on the treadmill, day after day.

• Interdisciplinary group instruction is like working out with a team.

InterdisciplinaryGroup

Instruction

My Two Cents on Teaching Adults

Q: How do we keep it fresh?

A: The book provides strategies, you add the content.

Questions?

Facilitating Engaging Lessons:Field Tested in Cleveland, Ohio

You Choose the Lesson:

• Up in Arms Over the Second Amendment• Orange You Glad?• Education Pays

EXCITING TECHNOLOGY FOR GED TEST INSTRUCTION

Computer-Based Test Taking SkillsIn addition to using a mouse, test-takers must:• Scroll down a page• Navigate between tabs to read pages• Select answers from drop-down menus• Drag-and-drop answers to a graph or chart• Use a virtual calculator (TI-30XS)• Type two short answers and two extended

responses (~25 WPM)• Use basic word processing tools

Inspiration from Signapore

• Source: Edutopia’s “Schools That Work” Series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_pIK7ghGw4

Immortalized by Google Street View

Google Glass. For real.

Photo Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/04/google-glass-visor-geordie/

Imagine:

Source: http://thesoundsofhistory.com/martinlutherking.html

The future is here.

Source: http://bigthink.com/trend-world/ubiquity-of-hal-signals-real-life-space-odyssey

Pros & Khans of New TechnologyThis is the best ever!

This is the worst!

I’ll make it work.

New Feature!

Terrible!

What does this mean for us as educators?

• Take a minute to write down your thoughts before we discuss. What does these changes mean for:– How we select technology?– How we teach using technology?– How we learn using technology?

LUNCH: 30 MINUTES

GROUP WORK!

Create Groups of Four

• Each group should have:– One Tech Savvy member– One Experienced Educator

• Please designate one person to be:– Recorder: type up your responses to post online– Timekeeper/Discussion Leader: ask everyone to

contribute & keep the group to timelines– Reporter: at the end, give your group’s one minute

report back of top lessons learned

Rules for the Road

• Stay with the group! Don’t get distracted by social media or your mobile device.

• Everyone participates and contributes in the group work.

• Questions? Yes, please! – First, ask your group.– Next use Edmodo Help Center.– Finally, send me questions directly on

Edmodo: Meagen Farrell.

Take It Home

• The powerpoint, handouts & links are available for view or download in our Edmodo group.

• You have permission to use these workshop materials in your programs as long as you attribute Meagen Farrell and New Readers Press.

GED® is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education administered by GED Testing Service LLC under license. This work is not endorsed or authorized by the GED Testing Service.

Your Turn! Create Your Interdisciplinary Lesson Plan

• Each person will create an account at Edmodo.com. As a group:• Spend 10 minutes on your scavenger hunt.• 30 minutes to create a lesson plan. Save & post it to

Edmodo.• 10 minutes to view and post positive comments on

others’ lesson plans.• 10 minutes to take your quiz!

More Group Work

• You will find more assignments on Edmodo!• Use this afternoon to:– Find specific technology for your lesson plan.– Review and comment on other groups’ lesson plans &

technology.– Explore the item samplers from GED Testing Service.– Take a quiz to test your knowledge of the 2014 GED Test.