Hooray.  I have been saying for years with no one listening that a person
should already be ready to enter college -whether it is a Community College
or Harvard or MIT.  they, at the very least, should be able to read with
fluency and understanding, have a grasp of alll kinds of history, at the
very least, what came before what AND the ability to write, on demand, a two
to three page something, fiction, non-fiction, a poem, an essay, -opinion
piece..
Money isn't the answer here - its demanding that in each grade - starting
with 1st that they get all the reading and writing skills they need at that
age.  I would also add the ability to research beyond Wikipedia or indeed
beyond the Internet.
I'll shut up now.  I could go on for a long time.
katie murdock
Ed. Coor.
Financial Education

On Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 9:11 AM, Nora Chahbazi <ooprc at comcast.net> wrote:


>  Dear Michael - and all,

> Michael, I agree with you that this statement is just rhetoric (and it

> certainly sounds good; wish it could possible!) and is impossible, even if

> the perfect potential change happened - teachers were actually taught how to

> teach reading in colleges and students were actually taught how to read in

> school - it would take a lot longer than 2020 to reap the benefits.  In the

> Diploma to Nowhere Report released last year -

> http://www.strongamericanschools.org/diploma-nowhere - it is reported that

> over $2 billion is spent yearly on remedial programs in colleges, 1.3

> million college students per year SEEK OUT remedial help including 43% of

> students from 2 year colleges and 29% of students from 4 year universities

> (this does not include the students who choose to not ask for remedial

> help), and 80% of those seeking remediation had a high school GPA of 3.0 or

> higher.  So, as for an answer to your question of what it means to be a

> college graduate even today: 'not much' would seem to suffice.  I think we

> would all agree that these statistics are alarming, to put it mildly.

> What can be done?  We must first, as a nation, admit the enormity of

> the problem, make a decision to institute sweeping reform and overhaul both

> the education system and colleges of education, and drop the illusion of

> change that has been cloaked in rhetoric as well as gluttonously and blindly

> throwing billions of dollars at the issue.  Illiteracy and education are

> both huge industries, with lots of sub industries surrounding them,  and

> lots of groups and businesses have benefitted hugely and stand to

> benefit further from the deluge of dollars from the government up for grabs

> and thrown in their direction.  The availability of such extensive amounts

> of money without a clear plan practically begs to result in waste, fraud,

> and abuse with lots of corruption sprinkled in.   Our children (who after

> just a few years transition into undereducated adults) are suffering, our

> society is suffering, and we are going to pay dearly as a nation in the not

> too distant future if something significant is not done to change the course

> of this situation that has long been wildly careening out of control.   We

> should learn from the excesses of the auto companies and financial

> industry...this can't go on forever without (further) dire consequences!

> Nora

>

>  Nora Chahbazi, President

> EBLI Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction

> Ounce of Prevention Reading Center

> www.ebli.org

> 810.732.4810

> fax 810.732.0366

>

>

> .

>

>  ------------------------------

> *From:* technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov] *On

> Behalf Of *Michael Gyori

> *Sent:* Friday, October 16, 2009 12:28 AM

> *To:* The Technology and Distance Learning Discussion List

> *Subject:* [Technology 2392] Re: The *new* GED & Tech

>

>  Greetings to all,

>

> The FAQ document states:

>

> President Obama recently asserted the need to graduate more high school

> students and to support their transition to postsecondary education or

> career training programs. “By 2020, America will once again have the world’s

> highest proportion of college graduates in the world.” (Address to Joint

> Session of Congress, February 24, 2009)

>

> Before that, by the end of the 2013-14 school year, all children will be

> reading at grade level, according to No Child Left Behind.

>

> I also wonder what it will mean to be a college graduate in 2020.  I'm not

> even sure what it means today.

>

> If 40% of all high school graduates, who have a high school diploma, cannot

> pass the G.E.D. test introduced in 2002, I really must wonder what any of

> this rhetoric really means, and whether teachers will be able to function

> with even more pressures on their plate.

>

> Why do I feel skeptical? After all, all we need to do is keep on pushing

> back the target dates...

>

> Michael

>

>

> Michael A. Gyori

>

> Maui International Language School

>

> www.mauilanguage.com

>

>

>  ------------------------------

> *From:* Jason Keith Guard/AC/VCU <jkguard at vcu.edu>

> *To:* The Technology and Distance Learning Discussion List <

> technology at nifl.gov>

> *Sent:* Thu, October 15, 2009 10:03:01 AM

> *Subject:* [Technology 2389] Re: The *new* GED & Tech

>

> The FAQ document released today by the GED Testing Service says that

> Computer Based Testing (CBT) with the GED will be piloted in 2010.  They

> will also begin field testing test items that will fill gaps between

> conventional wisdom concerning college/career-readiness and the current GED

> 2002 test series.

>

> Thought on this? Will the test become more challenging? Will instruction

> need to integrate technology more seamlessly to adequately prepare testers

> for CBT? Will these development help expand GED credentialing or will adult

> learners be left behind by these developments?

>

> I look forward to the discussion. Here is the document.

>

>

> http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/National_Needs_Announcement_FAQs.pdf

>

> 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

> Twitter: jkguard

> www.valrc.org

> www.GEDVA.com

> www.elearnva.com

>

>

>   *"Troy, Gail " <gtroy at nelson.k12.va.us>*

> Sent by: technology-bounces at nifl.gov

>

> 10/14/2009 05:18 PM   Please respond to

> The Technology and Distance Learning Discussion List        <

> technology at nifl.gov>

>

>    To

> "The Technology and Distance Learning Discussion List" <

> technology at nifl.gov>  cc

>

>  Subject

> [Technology 2387] Re: The *new* GED & Tech

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I too wonder about that brief press release.

>

> I believe that adding a test on-line to show digital literacy could be done

> and would be a great idea.

>

> If the test is to be made more difficult, so that it is even more difficult

> than obtaining a high school diploma, (as you noted now 40% of graduating hs

> students could not pass) – ACE has a huge reality problem .

>

> Gail Troy, M.Ed

> Lead Teacher

> Nelson County Adult GED

>

>

> ------------------------------

>

> *From:* technology-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov<technology-bounces at nifl.gov>]

> *On Behalf Of *Jason Keith Guard/AC/VCU*

> Sent:* Wednesday, October 14, 2009 1:42 PM*

> To:* Technology at 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_Alter_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

> Twitter: jkguard*

> **www.valrc.org**

> **www.GEDVA.com**

> **www.elearnva.com*----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Technology and Distance Learning mailing list

> Technology at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

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> Email delivered to jkguard at vcu.edu

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

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