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Chapter 11 – Gintert & Leach

How has Technology Been Integrated into the way Adults have Been Prepared to Pass the GED in Ohio?

Table of Contents

What is the GED test?

History of the GED test

GED in the State of Ohio

GED Preparation Programs

Technology in GED Preparation Programs

Things to consider about technology in GED Preparation Programs

What does the future hold?

 

What is the GED test?

 

What can you share about the history of your office and the GED prep in Ohio?

How did Person Review become the test provider? Is it a national contract? How did that process work?

GED Preparation Programs

On April 25, 2017, during a conversation with expert in GED preparation, Meagen Farrell, she shared that the GED preparation is offered in four different realms: state funded operations, corrections, community-based organizations, and workforce development.  As mentioned before, in the state of Ohio, state-funded operations are available and called the Ohio Aspire program which is run through the Ohio High School Equivalence Office (Formerly: GED – General Educational Development).   Classrooms have computers and internet connections for GED preparation and offer practice test on the computer.  GED preparation at the corrections level is not as clear with respect to technology.
According to the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, they have ABLE GED classes held in designated classrooms as well as one-on-one instruction.  They also utilize the GED study books and the teacher-buddy system.  It is not clear what or if technology is utilized in this instruction.  Meagen Farrell indicated that there is difficulty allowing access to incarcerated GED preparation participants due to the lack of security on the computers.
Community-based organizations, like community centers and churches, are typically run by volunteers.  Just to mention a few, places like the Seeds of Literacy in Cleveland which was established in 1997 and currently serves over 900 active students with the help of around 250 volunteer tutors.  And the Godman Guild, that has provided Adult Education classes in Columbus Ohio, including GED preparation, since 1995.  And the St John Learning Center whose website did not disclose the number of students or volunteers.
Lastly, workforce development is a federal movement to involve companies in the GED preparation program to help it’s employees earn the GED.  The program is called GED Works.  Wal-mart, KFC, TacoBell, and SouthEastern Grocers were part of the inaugural program. Listen here to hear the public announcement that was released on October 19, 2015.

Technology in GED Preparation Programs

So what has been the experience with technolgy at ABLE (now Aspire) and in GED prep?

Information and research on technology incorporation in GED preparation programs is minimal.  We know that the preparation started in classrooms and that one of the first advancements was in 1993, when the GED preparation program was available as a program on television.   The program was called “GED – Get IT!” and was broadcast by more than 200 public television stations.  The one-hour program “encouraged viewers to study for and take the Tests of General Educational Development (GED)” (ACE, pg. 57).  Simultaneously, ACE widely aired ads on commercial radio and television as a public service announcement, encouraging adults to take the GED.  The state of Maryland started the process several years earlier and had celebrity commercials to encourage participation.  One particular ad featured Sugar Ray Leonard.  The commercial was released in 1987.  Watch it here.  Recently, in 2012, there is the Pep Talk Center sponsored by Dollar General.  It consists of several celebrities offering encouragement, like Danny Trejo and Ron Perlman.  They look to entertaining and inspiring.  The celebrities tell the participant to enter their zip code and find free local classes.  Christopher Lloyd is a favorite with 1,097 views.

As noted in the timeline above, the biggest leap in GED test with respect to technology is that the GED test is offered on computers.  But what about when GED preparation classes themselves and the incorporation of technology for the GED test taker?  Little research and information is available.  One particular GED instructor, Farrell, discussed this during a talk at a ProLiteracy conference in 2013.  During the presentation, from minute 9:51 to 14:33, she talks about the concern GED instructor and facilitators had with the tests movement from paper to computers.  She mentions that the positive aspect of computer-based testing is that the results are automated and available fairly quickly, 3 hours in Ohio.  But the concern is that the GED test taker needs to know how to use take the test.  GED testing service did a usability study.  The usability study consisted of a group of test takers.  GED testing service took the existing computer based test and put it on computer and disovered 500 errors.  The overall results however was astounding.  The passing rate was better and it reduced stress.

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This slide was taken from Farrell’s presentation.  It is slide 11 of 45.  Meagen is a true advocate for technology in GED preparation.  She urges other instructors and department employees in her presentation to consider usability when assessing programs for their participants.  Further on in the presentation she talks with the group about incorporating technology into the GED preparation classes.  One participant from Texas emphasized concerns changing her method from a projector to computer based practice.  She worried how to adjust.  One recommendation was using a clicker or to utilize the internet or even using twitter (minute 28:24 to 31:37).  The entire presentation is available on YouTube or her website Farrellink.com.

When you switched to the computer based version of the test, did you notice a drop in people looking for prep help?
Currently the GED test is not available online, but completed on a computer at testing sites.

Despite extensive searching, it was difficult to find any additional information on technology in GED preparation.  It seems that further research needs to be done on the subject.  We were surprised to not find studies on the equipment needs or uses in GED preparation with respect to test success or number of times the test was taken.  It would be interesting to research a true timeline and perhaps the only way to gather the information is to interview ACE or perhaps GED instructors.

Have you guys had any technology that you impemented and it didn’t work out? If yes, then why did you stop using it?

Do you do any GED prep testing online?

Things to Consider about Technology in GED Preparation Programs.

Technology costs money.

States can apply for grants through the U.S. Department of Education to obtain additional funding for their adult education and literacy services.  It is difficult to find data on the amount of federal money that is provided to the state of Ohio for adult basic education services. However, what can be found, indicates that the amount of funding for basic adult education is dwindling.  According to the website, ProLiteracy, there has been a decline in federal and state funding in the past 10 years.  A lack of funding can impact the ability to incorporate technology into the GED preparation. For example, the test went from paper based to computer based in 2012. During this time, many community-based preparation programs, like ones in churches, could not afford to buy the equipment to offer GED preparation and therefore discontinued their services.  Another aspect is that with each new GED test series, the preparation material and trainers need to be updated on the new test and therefore need training and materials which is an additional cost.

Technology learning curve.

According to the 2013 Annual Statistical Report on the GED test, the average age of GED test candidates is almost 29 years old (p.23).   Not all of the candidates have access to computers or internet services.  Nor do they have reliable transportation or cell phone service.  A majority are low-income.  Without having technology skills to search the internet for GED preparation or attend a GED class or webinar, they are at a disadvantage.

Do you spend a lot of time teaching people how to use technology?

What does the future hold?

It would be wonderful to assume that GED preparation will begin to reach new levels of access and affordability.  Right now, there are people that cannot afford to pay for the GED test and it appears that funding for the GED program is dwindling.  Ideally, the future shows that program embraces technology and has blended classrooms to guide students to get prepared to take and pass the GED test as well as gain the necessary and expected skills with technology.  Along with the prospects of a blended technology learning environment, we would hope that funding for the preparation program and research to find out what works best for the learner will grow.  It would also be wonderful to see the GED test being offered online so that it could reach more people.

Do you see technology as a benefit to these programs?

Do you know of any legislation that is being created that would impact your area?

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