Well, I guess I have to reply to all the e-mails and discussion that have arisen in regard to the GED possibly being computer-based.  Call me crazy, but isn't this part of our intiiative?  Whether our students go to college or not, we are in the 21st century people.  It is our responsibility, if at all possible to share, encourage, teach, train, educate the adults who come into our centers.  I have been in adult education for over 12 years, I have never met one student who has come into our center who did not want to learn "what" to do on the computer.  I have worked with students from 16 - 75.  Even the grandmothers want to learn to use the computer.  In my very first job as an  adult eduacation coordinator for 11 Head Start centers in the central and eastern counties of Kentucky with the mothers being young, old, grandmothers.....we had computer labs and they all wanted to use the computer....they just ddid't know how.  They have fears, like all of us had when we first began our journey into technology.
 
This should not be a discussion on if the GED test should be computer-based or should it not and how it will be "hard' for our students to use....it should be HOW are we going to integrate technology MORE into our classroom....prepare our students for this current world.  Granted, the older population is such as Gayle said wanting to get their GED for a personal matter of self-satisfaction or self-esteem.  They have already "done their duty" and worked and retired.  But my father who is 80 and my mother who is 73 both have knowledge of the computer and what it can do and marvel at technology and are still learning.  What a great product to help the elder population keep their brain stimulated!  It just takes a little more time to assist in this.....people....but we need to be doing this.
 
I am an adult educator just like all of you.  I work in the little old state of Kentucky.  We wear shoes now and not all of our grass is blue....but we do have computers and our country has access to more computers than any other country in the world......we all need to get on the bus or the bus is leaving without us.  Our country does not need us to hesitate on "discussing" whether or not to use the computer for a test!  For heavens sake, we expect this from our High School students and students in college.  We should expect to teach, train and educate all of our adult population and our expectation should be that they can learn and they will learn.  We have to trust and believe in our adults in our country.
 
I know I might offend everyone and many of the academia who are involved in this discussion list....but let's be real and live what our students live and know what they need to know so they can be successful.  My shoulders are broad.  If you want to blast this e-mail, below is my personal e-mail address.  You can write to me personally if you don't want to respond to the group.  I am not up for an argument or controversy over this issue, I am being an advocate for all of our students.  Come on, let's get fired up and win this war against illiteracy.  We will never do this sitting around discussing how "hard" it will be for our students to take a test on the computer.  We need to be telling about our success stories and HOW we are doing this.  I am and I challenge you.....Pick out your hardest student, put a lap top in front of them and see what they say, see what happens......I bet literacy wins:)
 
Kay Combs, M.A.Ed.
Program Coordinator - GED/ESL
Center for Lifelong Learning
332 Champion Way
Georgetown, KY  40324
502-570-8984
kay.combs at scott.kyschools.us

________________________________

From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of Adult Education
Sent: Thu 10/22/2009 7:43 PM
To: The Assessment Discussion List
Subject: [Assessment 2244] Re: FW: [Technology 2386] The *new* GED & Tech


I am very concerned if all GED testing would be done via computer.  There is still a vast digital divide. With the push on advancement, are we also losing site of the student who has no desire to go on to postsecondary education?  Over the years I have had many students whose primary goal of obtaining a GED was a personal matter of self-satisfaction,self-esteem, or as a role model for children.
Gayle
ABE/GED/ESL/Family Literacy
--- On Tue, 10/20/09, Evelyn Brown <EBrown at parkland.edu> wrote:



	From: Evelyn Brown <EBrown at parkland.edu>
	Subject: [Assessment 2228] Re: FW: [Technology 2386] The *new* GED & Tech
	To: "The Assessment Discussion List" <assessment at nifl.gov>
	Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 1:47 PM
	
	
	The GED is a gateway to employment for many.  To pose a possible barrier by requiring the GED to be online is not a good idea.  To keep options open and go toward the one that is most cost effective seems to make sense to me.   The problem with computer based test would seem to be those who have problems with reading off of a computer and those intimidated by a computer.  
	I would want the option to test in a setting to get the most accurate measurement of testable knowledge.
	Evelyn
	
	Evelyn Brown
	Academic Development Specialist
	Parkland College
	2400 West Bradley
	Champaign, IL 61821
	217.351.2587 
	ebrown at parkland.edu <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ebrown@parkland.edu> 
	
	>>> "Ellithorpe, Kathy" <KathyE at monte.k12.co.us <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=KathyE@monte.k12.co.us> > 10/20/2009 12:08 PM >>>
	
	I like the idea of computer based testing for GED students.  It offers so much more flexibility and accountability.  I am not sure about the cost...would it be more costly?  Why?  It might be an initial cost for testing sites...would this necessarily be visited on the testers?
	As for students taking it online-I think computer literacy is a necessary skill in the work world. We should be including that in  our curricilums anyway... There are not many jobs anymore that don't require a minimum knowledge of computers.  All post secondary education requires an in depth knowledge of the use of computers.  
	
	
	
	
	-----Original Message-----
	From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=assessment-bounces@nifl.gov>  [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=assessment-bounces@nifl.gov> ] On Behalf Of Peter Woof
	Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:41 AM
	To: The Assessment Discussion List
	Subject: [Assessment 2226] Re: FW: [Technology 2386] The *new* GED & Tech
	
	Many industry "certifications", such as CCNA, CCNP, CCDA, CCDP and the qualifying exams in CCIE, as well as the various Microsoft implementations of industry certification are done online. It may be a form of testing with which students will need to become familiar. Practice would help - for computer related issues. One issue that I have with computers and their screens in particular, is that the format of paper has remained the same for a long time (A4 or US letter), but screens are getting wider, but not deeper, meaning that the size of text is scrunched up, only half a document is readable, and for two column "journal" style PDF documents, reading is impossible.
	
	The Assessment Discussion List <assessment at nifl.gov <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=assessment@nifl.gov> > writes:
	>Some of us in Colorado are very concerned about computer-based GED 
	>tests-the cost is bound to be truly prohibitive for many students-and 
	>rest assured that the cost will figure prominently. Some people assure 
	>us that a computer-based test format  is bound to occur-just a matter 
	>of time. The digital divide still exists, though, and yet, as Jason 
	>alludes to in his question, shouldn't GED grads be at least minimally 
	>technologically proficient? This is a big can of worms as far as I'm 
	>concerned, and yes, it's a great question to put on the table.
	>
	> 
	>
	>Stephanie Moran
	>
	>Durango, CO
	>
	> 
	>
	>
	>
	>
	>From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=assessment-bounces@nifl.gov>  [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=assessment-bounces@nifl.gov> ] 
	>On Behalf Of Marie Cora
	>Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 5:24 PM
	>To: Assessment at nifl.gov <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Assessment@nifl.gov>  
	>Subject: [Assessment 2223] FW: [Technology 2386] The *new* GED & Tech
	>
	>
	>
	>
	> 
	>
	>Dear Colleagues,
	>
	> 
	>
	>There's been some discussion on the Technology & Distance Learning List 
	>(to subscribe, go to:  [ 
	>http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Technology/ 
	>]http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Technology/) regarding the new 
	>GED Test - some of you may be interested in joining in there.
	>
	> 
	>
	>I'm forwarding the post that started that discussion off - I am 
	>interested in the questions that Jason asks at the end of his email - 
	>what do folks think of the questions he poses?
	>
	> 
	>
	>"Should the new test be administered using computers? Should technology 
	>be added to the GED as a content area?  Would these changes help GEDTS 
	>frame the GED as gateway to college?  Would a more sophisticated GED 
	>test leave too many people behind who would otherwise have been able to 
	>pass the test?"
	>
	> 
	>
	>Thanks, I'm looking forward to reading people's thoughts on this.
	>
	> 
	>
	>Marie Cora
	>
	>Assessment Discussion List Moderator
	>
	> 
	>
	> 
	>
	>-----Original Message-----
	>From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=technology-bounces@nifl.gov>  [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=technology-bounces@nifl.gov> ] 
	>On Behalf Of Jason Keith Guard/AC/VCU
	>Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 1:42 PM
	>To: Technology at nifl.gov <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Technology@nifl.gov>  
	>Subject: [Technology 2386] The *new* GED & Tech
	>
	> 
	>
	>The GED Testing Service recently announced an apparent change in 
	>thinking about the content, purpose, and possibly method of delivery of 
	>the GED Test. (See their press release here:  [ 
	>http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/news/National_Needs_Al 
	>ter_Plans_for_GED_5th_Edition_100809.pdf
	>]http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/news/National_Needs_Alter_Plans_for_GED_5th_Edition_100809.pdf).
	> Although roughly 40% percent of high school seniors cannot pass the 
	>GED test, the issue of the test's adequacy for certifying the skill 
	>levels of high school completers has long been at issue.
	>
	>The press release describes the new GED as "a new, more comprehensive 
	>assessment program."  Two common areas of high school experience not 
	>addressed by the GED test are computer and digital literacy.  My 
	>questions depends on your interpretation of the GED Testing Service 
	>announcement, because some there appears to be a shift taking place 
	>regarding the GED. Should the new test be administered using computers?
	>Should technology be added to the GED as a content area?  Would these 
	>changes help GEDTS frame the GED as gateway to college?  Would a more 
	>sophisticated GED test leave too many people behind who would otherwise 
	>have been able to pass the test?
	>
	>Thanks for your consideration.  I look forward to sharing our respective
	>speculation.       
	>
	>Jason Guard
	>GED Specialist
	>Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center Virginia Commonwealth 
	>University 3600 West Broad Street, Suite 669 Richmond, VA  23230-4930
	>Phone:  1-800-237-0178 or  804-827-2635 Virginia GED Helpline: 
	>1-877-376-9433 eLearn Virginia: 1-888-589-9003
	>Fax:  804-828-7539
	>Email: jkguard at vcu.edu <http://us.mc500.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jkguard@vcu.edu>  
	>Twitter: jkguard
	>[ http://www.valrc.org <http://www.valrc.org/>  ]www.valrc.org
	>[ http://www.GEDVA.com <http://www.gedva.com/>  ]www.GEDVA.com
	>[ http://www.elearnva.com <http://www.elearnva.com/>  ]www.elearnva.com
	>
	>-------------------------------
	>National Institute for Literacy
	>Assessment mailing list
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	"We don't care what you know until we know that you care"
	
	
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