Since mid-April, the i-Pathways team has trained over 250 instructors, administrators, and support staff as they prepare for both computer based testing and changes in instructional content. Hopefully, during the webinars, we answered the question, Where do I start in preparation for computer-based testing? The following is a blueprint for creating an instructional plan to help you answer the question and feel prepared for the new era of GED® Testing.
- Identify Resources Available
- Understand Webb’s Depth of Knowledge
- Explore the Content Knowledge needed in Social Studies, Science, Math, and Reasoning Through Language Arts
- Understand how i-Pathways will help you get ready for CBT.
YouTube Channel
There are many resources that are easily accessible. These resources will help you become familiar with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful with computer-based testing. A good place to start is GEDTS’s YouTube Channel. The GED Testing Service’s channel has a variety of information that is quite helpful. Let’s focus on a few videos they have posted and examine why these video are helpful tools for staff professional development in prep for the 2014 CBT. Explore these videos. As you do ask yourself how you can use these to benefit your program and students.
Exploring the Reasoning through Language Arts Module of the 2014 GED® Assessment
Exploring the Social Studies Module of the 2014 GED® Assessment
Exploring the Science Module of the 2014 GED® Assessment
Exploring the Mathematical Reasoning Module of the 2014 GED® Assessment
Computer Skills Tutorial
Also, explore the needed computer skills for students taking the test. Beyond the content, the computer literacy skills will play a role in a students comfort and confidence going into a computer-based testing scenario. Focus your efforts as an administrator/instructor so that you are a valued source of information related to the changes in the test. Knowledge is power so take advantage of all the information that is available from GEDTS. GEDTS has a great tutorial for the CBT skills set up. This tutorial walks you through each question type in progression. The global information will help you frame up the entire battery of tests for you, whether you are a program administrator or an instructor.
http://www.gedtestingservice.com/GEDTS%20Tutorial.html
Understanding Depth of Knowledge will help you prepare students for the GED® 2014 and identify the content knowledge students are expected to have in order to succeed on the assessment. Here is the information that GEDTS shares related to Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) and the 2014 GED® Assessment.
As you review the GEDTS Item Samplers, reflect on the specifics for each area, including the question types, comparisons between 2002 and 2014 assessment, looking at the item samplers for each content area will help your group get a more solid grasp of the test by exposing them to examples of test questions, question types, feedback, etc.
Item Samplers
Exploring the Reasoning through Language Arts Module of the 2014 GED® Assessment
Exploring the Social Studies Module of the 2014 GED® Assessment
Exploring the Science Module of the 2014 GED® Assessment
Exploring the Mathematical Reasoning Module of the 2014 GED® Assessment
After viewing the videos and working through the tutorials admin and instructors should be ready to think about curricular options that will help student prep for CBT.
i-Pathways has had the basic computer literacy skills needed for the 2014 CBT GED® Assessment since it rolled out in 2002. Students using i-Pathways get experience with drag and drops, extended response questions, point and click multiple choice response, and a variety of other computer skills throughout every lesson. In addition to the computer literacy skills students gain from working in the i-Pathways system, they also gain the content knowledge to prep for the GED® Test. Fall 2013 we will usher in a NEW i-Pathways system and a newly updated curriculum. The curriculum and system is a perfect place to prep students for the computer-based GED® Test.
i-Pathways is ready to help you with your plan of attack! Contact Crystal Molohon *formerly Crystal Hack* for more information at chack@cait.org OR call at 309.298.1804.
