I agree that creativity is not the enemy of success on standardized test.  We need look no further then those who have been successful on any type of test.  We tend to use terms like natuarally gifted, just smart, etc.  If you speak to these folks they are well rounded, enjoy reading, mvies, theater, they tend to use terms like "I don't know, I just know stuff."  Researchers have found that this may be the reason for disparity between ethnicity. I believe there is more disparity between socio economic background then ethnicity. Exposure to the arts, banking industry, faculty, medicine, legal issues as part of your everyday life tends to offer more of an advantage when testing then someone whose only exposure is to go to school and study hard. My students participate in a quite a few creative projects and those that "get into it" tend to do better in all subjects. Those that feel it is a waste of time and they just want to "study for the GED" are generally frustrated when
 "all of their hard work does not pay off like they would like."  Creativity also leads to retention; especially those activities that have to be completed in increments.  Let's bring on more creativity!
  Shirley Ledet
  GED Instructor
  NHC-Carver 

djrosen at comcast.net wrote:
  Colleagues,

I am a proponent of creativity in adult literacy education -- indeed in all education. As Marc Tucker, President of the National Center for Education and the Economy, has said in a presention recently to the National Commission on Adult Literacy, http://www.caalusa.org/video/choices.html , the U.S. education system -- and he includes adult education, cannot be competitive without high academic standards AND creativity. 

But many GED teachers and administrators believe that their students will not pass the GED unless they focus on skills and knowledge needed to pass the test, that creativity is a "distraction" and a time-waster. (Many K-12 teachers, administrators or policy makers also believe creativity distracts from passing high stakes tests.) I hate to be the one to raise this issue, but it's the key question on the minds of many GED teachers and administrators, so I invite the panelists to address it. 

Is creativity a distraction or is it essential for success? Why? 


David J. Rosen
djrosen at comcast.net

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Marie Cora" 

> Hi everyone,

> 

> We've had several new subscribers over the past day, and so I wanted to

> give a quick reminder where you can get the information on this

> discussion. For the full announcement, information on guests, and

> suggested resources go to:

> 

> http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/assessment/07creativityGED.html

> 

> If you missed the posts from yesterday - there were a couple - you can

> catch up in the archives at:

> http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/assessment/2007/date.html

> 

> Please post your questions and also your own experiences to share now! 

> 

> Thanks!!

> 

> Marie Cora

> Assessment Discussion List Moderator

> 

> 

> 

> 

> Marie Cora

> marie.cora at hotspurpartners.com

> NIFL Assessment Discussion List Moderator

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/assessment

> 

> 




From: "Marie Cora" <marie.cora at hotspurpartners.com>
To: <Assessment at nifl.gov>
Subject: [Assessment 942] GED Discussion - what you need to know!
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 14:43:14 +0000

      
            Hi everyone,
   
  We’ve had several new subscribers over the past day, and so I wanted to give a quick reminder where you can get the information on this discussion.  For the full announcement, information on guests, and suggested resources go to:
   
    http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/assessment/07creativityGED.html
   
  If you missed the posts from yesterday – there were a couple – you can catch up in the archives at:  http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/assessment/2007/date.html
   
  Please post your questions and also your own experiences to share now! 
   
  Thanks!!
   
  Marie Cora
  Assessment Discussion List Moderator
   
   
   
   
  Marie Cora
  marie.cora at hotspurpartners.com
  NIFL Assessment Discussion List Moderator
  http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/assessment
   

   

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