A Rationale For Technology Software And Its Uses In An Adult ABE/ GED ® Classroom For The 21 st Century Presented by

1. A Rationale For Technology Software And Its Uses In An Adult ABE/ GED® Classroom For The 21st Century Presented by Al Alba, PhD And Commentary On Aztec Software By Ivelisse Santiago May 2012 Thank You To Martin D. Kehe and Daphne Atkinson, GED® Testing Service

2. Benefits Of Technology • Adapts to range of students’ abilities. (Vygotsky’s Zone Of Proximal Development) • Immediate feedback is provided to response. • Visuals and positive prompts can motivate students.

3. Benefits Of Technology • Students will be familiar with technology both for careers and future schooling. • Find, apply, and perform jobs online. • Obtain jobs that require familiarity with computers. (e.g. teaching, administrative assistance, telemarketing, computer aided design, automotive diagnostics, accountant.) • Personal Use : Computers can facilitate completing school work, taking on-line courses, paying bills, banking, social networking, research, games, and shopping.

4. Benefits Of Technology • If a student misses a class lecture or needs extra review, the content can be reviewed with computer access. • Software can present a wider range of materials in a shorter period of time.

5. Benefits Of Technology • Through visuals, prompts, and animation, software can provide simulations to help explain concepts. • Software can acclimate students to taking the CASAS assessment, the diagnostic tests, the official GED® Predicator/Readiness Tests, and the forthcoming 2014 GED® Tests on the computer.

6. Benefits Of Technology • Network -- Teachers can check on students’ progress and examine students’ activities. Students can work on a group or individualized lesson. • Stand Alone –- Teacher can have students work on diverse lessons in one class. (Student or students are not restricted to listening to a lecture on material already mastered.)

7. Benefits of Technology • A software program can provide a range of levels from ABE to GED® and Career Readiness Modules. • A program that can help students develop a positive self-esteem, ethics, responsibilities, self-worth, and interpersonal skills will be of benefit.

8. Benefits Of Technology • Computer scored essays will eliminate subjectivity in scoring based on the reader’s background and/or the Halo Effect. • Computer timed practice tests with scaled scores will increase the predictor validity of test. • Fewer students will take the exam who are not prepared. • The results for an exam can arrive within a day rather than several weeks.

9. What to Look For In A Software Company and Software Program? • Can the program be used for a wide range of students being serviced? Is there an ABE and GED® component? • Does the program include CASAS and TABE type instructional lessons ?

10. What to Look For In A Software Company and Software Program? • The software company modifies and makes changes to its content and delivery, so it will adapt to new knowledge and Depth Of Knowledge questioning for the 2014 GED® Examination.-Assessment Guide 2 • The teacher and student can review progress on assigned lessons.

11. What to Look For In A Software Company and Software Program? • Does the program have a Pre-Post Test Exam to determine initial placement and areas that may need additional review respectively? • Does the Post Test have a good predictive validity? The cost for the complete test will be $120.00

12. What to Look For In A Software Company and Software Program? • The content and types of questions should represent the actual GED® Exam. The content of the new exam will be changing. For example, the math on the 2014 GED®Examination will require more algebraic problem solving. Computing surface area and solving the Quadratic Equation will be new topics. • Adobe or MS-Word files would allow one to print out a lesson review or quiz sheet.

13. What to Look For In A Software Company and Software Program? • The GED® software should require students to complete a GED® Essay for analysis. A computer generated essay score will add predictive validity to the essay score with respect to the scoring rubrics. • The revised program should allow students to gain practice and be assessed for the Extended Response, Short Answer Response, and problem types noted in Assessment Guide 1.

14. What to Look For In A Software Company and Software Program? • A program that can be accessed on line and offline will increase access to everyone. • Classrooms without internet access can benefit from software that can be installed on networks, laptops, and desktops. • The revised software program would benefit if a scientific calculator can be used as part of the math lessons and assessments.

15. What to Look For In A Software Company and Software Program? • The upgrade policy for the software and its cost for upgrading should be considered. • An update of all GED® software programs will be needed to be in line with the 2014 GED® Exam. Make sure the software company is working with the GED® Testing Service to develop updated software.

16. Aztec SoftwareCharacteristics • Provides ABE and GED® instruction. • Program has CASAS and TABE type modules or questions. • Many instructional modules with Spanish audio. • Requires reading as part of instructional lessons that are complemented with narration. • Pre-Post Test Assessment. Pre-Test recommends areas needed for review.

17. Aztec Modules • Occupational Foundations Series • GED® SERIES • Financial Literacy Series Examples Of Relevant Workplace Competencies: Managing Emotions, Health and Appearance, Positive Thinking, Team Work, Time Management, Dealing With Supervisors, and Relating to Others.

18. Aztec Software—Accommodates Pre-GED Students • ABE – Reviews basic skills in math, writing, social studies, science, and economics. • Reviews foundations of reading and spelling. • What makes the Aztec Software a diverse program? In addition to the GED® Modules you receive the ABE, the Occupational, and the Ready For Work Series.

19. Aztec Software • Aztec Software requires students to click or drag to select an answer. • Aztec math modules have the ability to readily create repeated practice for problems by randomly generating new numbers for the problems presented.

20. Aztec Software Company is in contact with GED® Testing Services with respect to revising program for the New 2014 GED® Exam. Aztec offers free webinars and access to staff prior to purchase.

21. The GED Academy • Instruction is in modules where a teacher is instructing to a class of 4 students. • Students interact with teacher. • Pre-Test is used to recommend lessons. • Post-Test gives you a GED® – Scaled Score related to GED® test score. • Web-links provided for educational web-pages.

22. The GED Academy • Company is working on revising program. New program will be revised for the new 2014 GED® test. One section will be for 4th -9th Grade ABE-Pre- GED®, and the other section will be for 9th -12th High School Level. • Program provides instruction in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. • A computer essentials course will be created next year.

23. The GED Academy • Response type questions: multiple choice and fill in type response. Some math questions have grid response items. • Essay must be typed. Essay is then graded by GED Academy Intelligence Computer Software. Score is sent back electronically with guidance for improvement. Total Writing Exam score combines parts one and two to get a GED scaled score.

24. The GED Academy • Allows One To Easily Download Adobe Type Files For Reference: • GED® Smart Text • The GED® Academy Writing Rules • The GED® Academy Math Formula Review

25. The GED Academy • Company is in contact with GED® Testing Services with respect to revising program for the New 2014 GED® Exam. • The GED Academy offers free webinars/access to staff prior to purchase.

26. Technology Is Needed For Preparation Of The 2014 GED TEST • Students will need keyboarding and mouse operation skills. • Scientific Calculator will be embedded in the 2014 GED® Test. Therefore students will need to gain familiarity using a scientific calculator as part of a software program. • Official Pre-Test and Diagnostic Tests will be on line. • CASAS will be online. .

27. Technology Is Needed For Preparation Of The 2014 GED TEST • Typing skills instruction will be required. If the GED® software program does not have a typing tutorial, a software typing instructional program should be purchased.

28. Suggestions On Software Implementation • Label each desktop or laptop in the classroom. • Assign students to only one Laptop or Desktop with a unique student password. • Ear Buds or headphones should be available for all computers.

29. Suggestions On Software Implementation • Assign the students the instructional module(s) they will be studying. • Verify students’ activities. You may want a sign in sheet with time on/off, date, and module(s) studied • Examining students notes will be of benefit to examine instructional tasks.

30. Suggestions On Software Implementation • Software can present a lot of information in a short period of time. If students do not take notes, much of students’ learning will not be retained. • Constructivism-Students need to be actively engaged in learning process. • If students do not have good note taking skills, a lesson on note taking should be presented. Samples or templates can be distributed.

31. Suggestions On Software Implementation • A network will allow a group lesson that can be supplemented with a classroom worksheet. The worksheet can be used to examine students’ comprehension. • Ideally, the teacher should preview the software module that would be presented to the class. • Teachers may want to generate open note quizzes that students need to complete after viewing the lesson.

32. Teachers Are Needed. • Social Constructivism- Without the social interaction with other more knowledgeable people, it is impossible to acquire social meaning. Wikpedia.org Encyclopedia • Computer software is preset to give one method to solve aproblem. A teacher needs to let students know there are multiple ways to solve problems in life.

33. Teachers Are Needed • The teacher is needed to answer questions that arise from the instructional software. • Cognitive dissonance is agood thing. Explain to students. • The teacher needs to provide students with the skills and activities that will enable students, so students can retain the information presented by the software. (e.g. note taking skills, critique notes, board review of lessons, handouts, critique practice essays with rubrics)

34. Teachers Are Needed • Computer software can have anomalies. • Students need to be informed some software content can be wrong. • The teacher should report the anomalies to the company’s representatives.

35. Teachers Are Needed • Computers can never replace the human element and the Reflective Practitioner. • All students learn differently and may require the instructor to present using multiple modalities. Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence. • A computer program will always need to be supplemented with classroom instruction and materials.

36. Teachers Are Needed • While the computer can score essays on the actual predictor exam and the GED® exam, a teacher will be needed to critically review students’ writing during the learning phase. • Listening and correcting students’ reading and speaking problems are best performed by a teacher. Monitoring debates, modeling empathy, and instilling motivation are some humanistic reasons teachers cannot be replaced.

37. What computer skills are necessary? • CBT user interface is designed so that a learner with only basic computer skills is able to test successfully on computer.* • Basic keyboarding/typing skills (highly recommended for the writing and social studies extended response questions)* • Familiarity with hardware (a keyboard and mouse) and software (scrolling, graphics, and exhibit windows) * *Source GED® Testing Services 37

38. The 2014 GED Test • The New GED® Test Will Only Have 4 Exams • Math (45 Percent Quantitative 55 Percent Algebraic) Exam Time 1.25 hours • Literacy (Reading and Writing) (1-Extended Writing Section – 45 Minutes) 2 Short Answer Exam Time 3 hours Including a 10 minute break • Science (40 Percent Life Science 40 Percent Physical Science 20 Percent Earth and Space Science) 2 Short Answer Exam Time 1.25 hours • Social Studies (1-Extended Writing Section-25 Minutes) Exam Time 1.5 hours • Question Will Require More Critical Thinking verses Reading Comprehension Exams. • Depth Of Knowledge Vs. Bloom’s Taxonomy

39. The 2014 GED Test Question TypesAssessment Guide 1 • Multiple Choice • Multiple Select • Fill In The Blank • Drag and Drop • Cloze Items • Short Answer (SA)– 2 Items on Literature Test and 2 on Science Test (approximately 8-10 minutes each question) • Extended Response Items (ERI)– Literary Test (45 minutes) and Social Studies Test (25 minutes) • SA and ERI Are Constructive Response Items

40. The 2014 GED Test • Scoring Of Extended Response Questions • Three New Rubrics Will Be Used – Assessment Guide – Chapter 3 • Reading and Responding To A Source Text: Scoring : • Analysis Of Argument and Use Of Evidence. Essay will not examine asubjective opinion. • Development of Ideas and Organizational Structure • Clarity and Command of Standard English Conventions. • Source: GED® Webinar Power Point Presentation

41. The 2014 GED Test • The 2014 will recognize two achievement levels • Students who score within the low to average range of passing will be awarded a traditional GED® Diploma • Students who score in the upper range of passing will be recognized as Career and College Ready.

42. The 2014 GED Test • Casio Scientific Calculator will be used on-line as part of the mathematics exam. • Scores on the 2014 GED® Exam will be available shortly after the exam is completed. • An intelligent computer program will score essays on the exam. • The generated score report will show in greater detail the student’s strengths and weaknesses.

43. On Line Resource GED® Testing Service www.GEDtestingservice.com Access for webinars, updates, test locations. • The 2014 GED®Test Assessment Guides For Educators may be downloaded from the above site. The Guides are well worth reading. Chapters 1, 2, and 3, address type of questions, level of questioning, and scoring analysis. Webinars – With Recording and Corresponding Power Point For Each Chapter. American Council on Education http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=GED_TS Publishes the GED Examination. • The Official Site for GED tests. Students can complete an official online practice exam for $10.00 • Sample Test Questions • Resources for Students and Educators (The Community News- Research Reports-Fact Sheets) • Useful Links To GED Related You-Tube Videos

44. On Line Resource • CASAS sample items and online training modules are available at https://www.casas.org/ • Common Core Standards: • Instructional and Content Standards for the upcoming 2014 GED® Exam will be generated from the Common Core Content Standards: : http://www.corestandards.org/

45. Future On Line Resources • July 2012 : The GED® Testing Service will allow educators to see item test samples. Staff development modules will be available. • July 2013 : Online technology tutorial will specify types of computer skills student will need for 2014 GED® Exam.

46. Future On Line Resources • September 2013 : The GED® Testing Service will allow educators to see a Practice GED® Exam. The Practice GED® Exam is a transitional component that will be used from September 2013 until the release of the Readiness Test. • 2014 : The GED® Readiness Test will be released. There will be multiple forms for both the Practice GED® Exam and the GED® Readiness Exam.

47. Future On Line Resources • 2015: Diagnostic Test will be released. The Diagnostic Test will be administered to students upon entering the GED program. The Diagnostic will be an assessment of a student’s literacy and math levels. • The Diagnostic Test will allow students to see their baseline literacy and math levels relative to the levels needed to pass the actual GED® Tests.

48. In Conclusion • I hope this presentation will help you make an informed decision on selecting an instructional software program for your educational program. • Regardless of what software you may be deciding upon I encourage you to ask the vendor to offer you a complimentary usage time to determine if the program will meet your needs prior to making any purchase.