Colleagues,

Given the interest on this list during the recent GED discussion  
here, I would like to call your attention to an announcement of a  
discussion that will be held next week on the Assessment discussion  
list.

David J. Rosen
Special Topics Discussion Moderator
djrosen at comcast.net

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Discussion Announcement

Dear Colleagues,

This announcement can also be accessed at:  http://dev.nifl.gov/lincs/ 
discussions/assessment/07creativityGED.html

To subscribe to this discussion, go to:  http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/ 
listinfo/Assessment

I'm pleased to announce the following Guest Panel Discussion, which  
will be held during the week of October 8:

Topic: Creativity and the GED:  Learning Outside the Practice Books

Guest Participants:

Kate Brandt
Staff Development Coordinator
Language and Literacy Programs
City University of New York
Kate is part-time ABE/GED staff developer at the City University of  
New York Adult Literacy/GED program.  She has worked as a teacher in  
the adult literacy field since 1990.

*****
Anson Green
San Antonio, Texas
Anson has extensive experience providing training and consulting  
services in the areas of workplace literacy, e-learning initiatives,  
curriculum development, and learning disabilities. Anson developed  
the Ready for Work! work readiness curriculum with students in his  
welfare-to-work GED and computer literacy classes.  He has published  
a variety of articles on the topics of workforce literacy and women  
and education.  After completing Ready for Work!, Anson taught  
developmental reading for Northwest Vista College in San Antonio  
where he also developed the college's first computer literacy and  
English as a Second Language programs.


*****
Crystal Hack
GED-i Coordinator
Center for the Application of Information Technologies (CAIT)
Western Illinois University
Crystal has worked in the field of adult education as an instructor,  
professional development trainer, and technology leader for over 15  
years. In 2001, Crystal took the lead in the curriculum and site  
development of Illinois’s first GED online learning tool. With her  
guidance and leadership, the GED-i system has grown from a state- 
wide, grassroots initiative to a national presence that is being used  
literally from coast to coast. Throughout the curriculum development,  
Crystal has guided the development team in their assessment  
practices, ensuring that the content incorporates a variety of  
assessment features which range from ‘self-checks’ to submitted  
teacher reviewed activities. In addition to ensuring that the  
learner’s progress can be evaluated, Crystal leads a professional  
development team that provides comprehensive training throughout  
Illinois and all partnering states. Crystal has often stated that  
working on the GED-i project and its related professional development  
opportunities is the highlight of her career.

Recommended preparations for this discussion:

Theme-Based Curricula Advantages
http://adulted.about.com/cs/ged/a/GEDcurricula.htm

Resources from City University of New York can be accessed at:
http://dev.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/assessment/07creativityGED.html

A short text entitled "CUNY's Approach to the GED" which gives a  
sense of the principles underlying GED instruction
A longer text entitled "Designing Courses Using Books" which is  
manual for teachers planning theme- and content-based courses.
A sample lesson from a curriculum on Colonialism in North America
Two sample lessons from a curriculum called The World's Water
A sample lesson from a curriculum created for a GED-to-work program


GED-i
www.gedillinois.org

A Program Overview of GED-i can be accessed at:  http://dev.nifl.gov/ 
lincs/discussions/assessment/07creativityGED.html


Project-Based Learning and the GED
by Anson M. Green
http://www.ncsall.net/?id=408

This is an account of one teacher's journey using ambitious and  
effective student-based projects within his GED class. He was able to  
blend the GED skills work with these exciting projects, which  
inspired the students to gain confidence, motivation and workforce  
skills along with the test skills, and at the same time connect with  
their community in a meaningful way. There are resources listed at  
the end.





Optional Background Materials:

The Chesterfield County (VA) Public Schools adult G.E.D. program  
recently experienced an over 200% increase, more than 400 applicants  
and test-takers in three weeks, thanks to a cell phone text message- 
based radio promotion.  Read about this at:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/education/mobile_marketing/prweb536274.htm


Focus on Basics, Transitions Issue (6D)
This contains several articles about different aspects of transitions.


Creativity and Innovation at the ALE Wiki
http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Creativity_and_Innovation
See the section entitled Creative GED Prep


GED teachers, especially, will find the following publication of GED  
outcomes data -- intended to be used by GED teachers and their  
students -- of special interest. It was written by Sara Fass and  
Barbara Garner in 2000, and updated by Eileen Barry in 2006. "Beyond  
the GED: Making Conscious Choices About the GED and Your Future"


Is the GED an Effective Route to Postsecondary Education?
A Conversation with John Tyler
by Barbara Garner
Recognizing that high school is not enough, growing numbers of adult  
basic education programs (ABE) are emphasizing the transition to  
postsecondary education. What impact does earning a certificate of  
General Educational Development (GED) have on the post secondary  
enrollment of high school dropouts? Brown University professor and  
NCSALL researcher John Tyler and a colleague, Magnus Lofstrom of the  
University of Texas at Dallas, examined this question using data from  
Texas. Focus on Basics asked John Tyler to summarize the results and  
discuss the questions they raise.


Webcast from the National Institute for Literacy: Research on the  
Economic Impact of the GED Diploma Panel Discussion
Moderated by Dr. David J. Rosen, and featuring Dr. John Tyler, Sara  
Fass and Sue Snider.

NCSALL GED Research Briefs
Seven briefs by John Tyler are linked on this page, among which are:  
"The Economic Benefits of the GED: A Research Synthesis", "So You  
Want a GED? Estimating the Impact of the GED on the Earnings of  
Dropouts Who Seek the Credential", "Who Benefits from Obtaining a  
GED? Evidence from High School and Beyond", and "Estimating the Labor  
Market Signaling Value of the GED"


Marie Cora
marie.cora at hotspurpartners.com
NIFL Assessment Discussion List Moderator
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/assessment

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