Implementing GED ® CBT From the perspective of a community college testing center

1. Implementing GED® CBT From the perspective of a community college testing center

2. Presenters • Brian Hamilton, Director of Workforce Certification • Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana • Amy Sundby, Program Manager • GED Testing Service®

3. About Ivy Tech Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually.  Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

4. About GED Testing Service GED Testing Service is a joint venture between Pearson and the American Council on Education (ACE). GED Testing Service provides opportunities to transform lives, support families, and build stronger communities. We offer any adult who wants it the opportunity to earn a high school equivalency credential, prepare for a better job, support their family, and realize their dream for a better life Currently we’re creating a new GED® assessment and test delivery system that will fundamentally change adult education. The GED® test is the only high school equivalency program recognized by all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, U.S. insular areas, and Canadian provinces and territories. Since 1942 more than 18 million adults have earned their GED® test credential.

5. Ivy Tech Workforce Certification Centers • Statewide network of high-stakes testing centers. • Opportunity for Indiana residents to earn portable, • third-party credentials. • Services include: employment testing, skill • assessments, certification and professional • licensure testing. • 2011-2012 Activity • 220,982 Assessments Administered • 42,896 Certification Exams Administered

6. GED Testing Overview • Background and Mission • Policy • Exams- 2002 Series • Math (2 parts) • Language Arts, Writing (1 part) • Language Arts, Reading • Science • Social Studies

7. CBT Benefits • Improving access • Online registration • Online scheduling • Immediate access to score reports • Individual testing experience • Online payment

8. Indiana Implementation Team • Indiana Department of Workforce Development • Terri Banks, GED Administrator™ • Melinda McKinney, GED Alternate Administrator • GED Testing Service • Amy Sundby • Kris Keil, SR IT Project Manager • John Robinson, Senior Manager, Field Outreach • Ivy Tech Community College • Brian Hamilton • Malissa Garrison, GED Program Manager/GED Chief Examiner™ • Pearson VUE • Sandy Major, Academic Channel Manager

9. Anticipated Challenges • General acceptance of CBT by candidates • Registration and Candidate Scheduling • Accommodations • Test Center Scheduling • Technical /computer delivery issues • Superintendent Recommendation • Residency Requirement • 60 day completion

10. Remaining Challenges • Candidate registration remains difficult for some candidates • Some candidates struggle with credit card payment – no access to credit card • Apprehension of some test takers with the essay portion. No immediate results

11. Benefits/Drawbacks to Center • Benefits • Frees up proctor time and space • Less paperwork to track • Drawbacks • Less personal contact with candidates

12. Implementation Advice From Testing Center Managers For P/P Chief Examiner moving to CBT • Jump In! No more monthly inventories or stress of one-day P/P administrations. • Transition was smooth. There may be anxiety moving away from lots of paper and filing, but those used to CBT exams will find it wonderful. • Go for it! VUE set-up sounds daunting and detailed but they walk you through all of it and once the system is in place the testing is easy. Tech support is great and will work with you on your technical level, they will walk you step by step through the process. I am very impressed by their tech team. GEDTS is also great-they listen intently and answer all your questions.

13. Implementation Advice From Testing Center Managers For VUE Center Adding GED CBT • No different than other VUE exams. Check-in system provides instructions and information like you are used to. • This is just like any other VUE test. Follow the check-in procedures, seat the candidate, monitor the testing session and give out the results.

14. Feedback from Candidates • They appreciate being able to break it into multiple appointments • Love the immediate results • Flexibility in scheduling • Online registration presents challenges • Able to move on with their lives in a quick, efficient manner • Appreciate the opportunity to retest quickly • Like the editing capabilities on the essay portion

15. Feedback from Proctors VUE Support • VUE has been great. They have helped candidates schedule, helped us overcome a few technical issues we faced very early on. Have had no technical issues since April. • Proctors find it easy to reach support and obtain a resolution.

16. Candidate Scheduling • In the very beginning, candidates scheduled for entire test in one or two day sessions • Most candidates are now scheduling 2-3 sections at a time over a one to two week period • Evenings are popular. Saturday is popular for VUE testing in general • Registration method • 65 phone • 532 web

17. Registration and Scheduling • Registration and Scheduling FAQ • www.gedcomputer.com • Managing your VUE schedule • Number of VUE seats: • Muncie – 23 • Lafayette – 6 • Fort Wayne – 16

18. National CBT Emerging Trends • We are seeing candidates finishing the CBT exam in a shorter amount of time than with P/P • Higher scores with CBT

19. Scoring Comparison • Immediate unofficial scores (Writing exception) • Examples on VSS site • Assisting/discussing Candidates scoring information as well as scoring interpretation • Explanation of GED scoring (450 Average) • Retesting

20. GED CBT Delivery at Ivy Tech Feb 7 – July 27, 2012

21. Training • On-site visits • Statewide proctor training • Refresher training • Shared resources

22. Candidate Check-In Candidate agreement is signed Proctor checks candidate in via Admissions Manager One government-issued photo ID is required Candidate photo and digital signature are collected Additional jurisdictional requirements may be required Proctor launches exam through Delivery Manager

23. Breaks • A 10 minute break is provided after each module • If the candidate does not return by the 10 minute break end that time will automatically be deducted from their next test • Candidates do not have to take their break (VUE system will prompt them with a yes or no option to click) • It is the proctors responsibility to login to begin the candidates next test session

24. Calculators • Specific functions calculator provided by VUE/GEDTS must be used for the GED test • Only usable on Math Part I • VUE system will prompt the user to return calculator before beginning Math Part II

25. Accommodations • Process Flow • Types of Accommodations: • Extended Time • Reader/Recorder • Private Room

26. Vouchers • Local financial supporters for GED® candidates (Adult Basic Education sites, Churches, WorkOne, etc.) • Voucher FAQ • VUE Voucher Store www.pearsonvue.com/vouchers

27. Resources for Proctors • GEDTS Client Guide/Jurisdiction Reference Sheet • VSS: https://vss.pearsonvue.com • National transition to CBT: www.GEDtestingservice.com • GED Jurisdiction Policy Document

28. Resources for Candidates • Registration and Scheduling: www.gedcomputer.com • Pearson VUE Call Center Support: 1-877-EXAM-GED (1-877-392-6433) • Official site for the GED test: www.GEDtestingservice.com

29. Contact Information • Amy Sundby – GED Testing Service • amy.sundby@gedtestingservice.com • 952-681-3042 • Brian Hamilton – Ivy Tech Community College - Corporate College • bhamilto@ivytech.edu • 317-921-4773