[NIFL-FOBASICS:1444] Re: GED passage doesn't prepare students

From: Katrina Hinson (khinson@future-gate.com)
Date: Thu Aug 11 2005 - 19:09:23 EDT


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From: "Katrina Hinson" <khinson@future-gate.com>
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Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1444] Re: GED passage doesn't prepare students
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I'd have to agree with this..in part. I do think that someone with a low score, on the surface, may not do well initially. I think it would depend on other factors beyond the score though.   A score of 450 doesn't necessarily mean that a student won't be successful...and that quite simply, not all students "test" well when it comes to multiple choice tests. A test score alone may not be an adequate indicator to use, alone, to determine post secondary success.  

 A low score may or may not correlate to post secondary success.   I do think that if teachers have not done a good job at teaching...and not simply teaching for a test, but teaching students more than workbook material etc, then students who score lower might not be as prepapred as students who have teachers who actually teach critical thinking, analytical and synthesis skills and actively involve students in the learning process. We've all encountered students who only want to "pass" the test, and who don't seem to care about anything beyond that. The question becomes "why?" and "How do we change that?"  Also, I"m not sure this applies only to GED students, but I know from my own experience with Adult High School students, that some of them leave and enter post secondary education, even the community college, ill prepared to deal with the rigors of a college class. I've encoutered Adul High School Diploma teachers who never assigned homework and didn't feel they should - knowing that their students had college hopes and that by not preparing them for every avenue they'd face, the students were being set up for a difficult adjustment period if not out and out failure.  Some Adult High School Diploma students go into the program and only wish to  "barely" pass - they may or may not be prepared for post secondary education - Some of the preparation needed to help students succeed in post secondary education, lies with the instructor and their ability to instruct as well as with the students. The goal I'd think would be able to better bridge the gaps and provide the tools necessary for students to succeed after they leave our programs.

Regards
Katrina Hinson



>>> shellcraig@ix.netcom.com 08/11/05 6:21 PM >>>
Because of their eagerness to receive their GED,  many of my students pass
the GED with just a 450 average. I would say that this isn't a likely
indicator of success in other learning endeavors. If you correlate this
barely passing score with say CASAs scores for the same students in math
and reading, they are reading and doing math at a 6th grade
level.Similarly, what passes in a GED essay would not pass in English 1A. 
Is this college preparation? These students would not receive decent scores
on SATs or ACTs neccesary to enroll in  a four year college. Even at a two
year college they will probably score into the lowest remedial courses. The
GED test is not college preparation in my opinion. 

I would say that if the researchers checked the passage scores of GED
students who went on to college, the more successful students would be
those who scored at 600 or higher. I would like to see some kind of study
that would look merely at whether a student passed the test, but at how
they passed it.

Michele Craig
Woodland Adult School



We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are
pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are
different colors...but they all have to learn to live in
the same box.



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