Department of Labor s Youth Build Federal Learning Exchange

Department of Labor’s Youth. Build Federal Learning Exchange Washington, DC April 9, 2013

Presenters Daphne Atkinson Senior Director, External Relations Brian Smith Legislative and Advocacy Manager 2

Session Agenda • The New GED® Test in 2014: What’s Driving GEDTS? • GED® test-takers: Market research & demographics • GED® testing on computer – Registration and scheduling – Computer skills for the GED® test – First-year GED® testing on computer results • Closeout Campaign 3

What’s driving the GED Testing Service? 4

What’s driving the change? Because of changes in the landscape of education and the workforce, a new GED® assessment is needed … • to better measure adults’ preparedness for career and college • to provide better information to users • to provide a more systematic and integrated approach for learners … … ensuring that the GED® test credential is positioned … Ensuring that the GED® test credential remains over the long-term to retain and enhance its relevance meaningful for adult learners, employers, and for adults, employers, and postsecondary institutions 5

Purposes of the new GED® test 1. To provide a results leading to the award of a high school equivalency credential Improved 2. To provide evidence of readiness to enter workforce training programs or postsecondary education 3. To provide actionable information about a candidate’s academic strengths and weaknesses 6

The new GED® assessment: Key facts • Launch LAUNCH: – January 2, 2014 Platform – Delivered by computer in secure testing centers • Content CONTENT: – Aligned with career- and college-readiness content most closely linked to career and postsecondary success – Four content area sections rather than five Performance Standards – “Passing Standard” – represents high school equivalency, reflecting actual performance of 2013 graduating high school seniors – The 2014 GED® Test will also provide more information about academic knowledge and skills deemed critical by employers and colleges – College and Career-Readiness targets 7

The big picture: 2002 versus 2014 • • 2002 Paper plus GED® testing on computer an option in more than 40 states 100% multiple choice plus an essay based on personal experience or opinion Science & Social Studies largely “reading” tests Language Arts split into two content areas—reading and writing • • • 2014 Available only on computer Multiple choice (a strong majority) plus technologically enhanced items Evidence-based writing Content knowledge for science and social studies Reasoning through Language Arts (an integrated approach to reading and writing about what is read) 8

What will the 2014 GED® test look like? • 7 Hours of testing time – Reasoning through Language Arts: 150 minutes (including 10 minute break) – Mathematical reasoning: 90 minutes – Science: 90 minutes – Social Studies: 90 minutes • Standardized delivery on computer, in a testing center 9

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 Language Arts, Writing test) • Familiarity with hardware (a keyboard and mouse) and software (scrolling, graphics, and exhibit windows) 10

For more test information See Assessment Guide & Four Item Samplers • Assessment Guide Chapters 1 thru 3 • Item Samplers: • Reasoning through Language Arts • Mathematical Reasoning • Science • Social Studies http: //www. gedtestingservice. com/educators/assessment-guide-foreducators http: //www. GEDTestingservice. com/educators/new-assessment 11

GED® TEST-TAKERS: MARKET RESEARCH & DEMOGRAPHICS 12

GED® Test-takers Millennials (16 -30) 74% Gen Xers (30 -49) 23% Others (50+) 3% 2011 GED Testing Program® Statistical Report 13

What GED® test-takers tell us • Sixty-seven percent own a personal computer and for those who don’t, 84 percent believe that they can easily access one. • Fifty percent own smartphones, which are used to access apps, email, and the Internet. • They understand the major role technology will play in earning a better-paying or higher-level job and succeeding in college and training programs. 14

Why test on computer? First – Test-taker access and convenience – One-stop registration and scheduling – Enhanced test security – Flexible testing experience – Official score reports in 3 hours Second – The 2014 GED® test requires computer delivery to assess content and support advanced scoring and reporting 15

Computer-based assessment. . . • Enables measurement of concepts and/or skills that cannot be fully or appropriately captured by paper based tests (Bennett 2002; Parshall, Harmes, Davey, & Pashley, 2010) • Improves measurement by increasing the precision or efficiency of the measurement process (Parshall, Spray, Kalohn, & Davey, 2001; van der Linden & Glas, 2000; Wainer, 1990) 16

Quotes from real test-takers “It was easy to understand easier to concentrate. ” “It was more independent than the booklets; I could work at my own pace and do the tests in the order that I chose. ” “Refreshing to get your scores right away. ” “Great to have everything in one place and no paper forms. I wish I could have taken my previous tests on computer. ” “The test was super easy and the computer option should have been available sooner. Scheduling was quick and simple. I can't wait to schedule the rest of the sections. I plan on attending CC and studying x-ray tech. ” 17

Accommodations available on the GED® test • • • Extra time (25%, 50%, 100%) Extra “stop-the-clock” breaks Large print or screen magnification Paper test Auditory presentation Braille Color and contrast options Plug-and-play adaptive equipment Separate room Reader/recorder Other customized solutions 18

Requesting accommodations Candidates are directed to www. gedtestingservice. com/accommodations • Website includes: – Detailed Documentation Guidelines – Detailed FAQs and other helpful resources – Accommodations Request Forms – Step-by-step directions – Information for the candidate’s evaluator 19

GED® TESTING ON COMPUTER 20

GED® Testing on Computer: 2013 Year to Date 32, 032 test modules delivered 711 CBT centers 21

GED® Testing on Computer is LIVE in 49 Jurisdictions including the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Bermuda, DANTES, Newfoundland & Saskatchewan (Canada), International AK WA OR ID WY NV CA UT AZ HI ME NH MN MA SD WI NY RI MI CT IA PA NJ NE OH DE IL IN MD WV V KS A DC MO KY NC TN OK AR SC MS AL GA LA TX ND MT CO NM VT FL FL

REGISTRATION & SCHEDULING 23

Registration and Scheduling Landing Page www. GEDcomputer. com 24

Phases of GED® Test on Computer Registration Three Phases: 1. Account Creation 2. Registration 3. Test Scheduling The banner below appears throughout the registration and scheduling process to notify the test-taker of their progress. 25

Account Creation Steps 1. 2. 3. Terms of Use – Candidate ID Agreement New Candidate Record Username and Password Creation 26

New Candidate Record 27

Registration Steps 1. 2. GED Testing Service Demographic Form State Specific Demographic Form 28

GED® Testing Service Demographic Form 29

State Specific Demographic Form 30

Test Scheduling Steps 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Select Content Areas Select Testing Center, Date, and Time Verify Testing Appointment Agree to GED® Test Policies Enter Payment Information 31

Select Content Areas 32

Select Testing Center, Date, and Time 33

Enter Payment Information 34

COMPUTER SKILLS FOR THE GED® TEST 35

New CBT tutorials on website! Tutorials walk test-takers through the process step by step – Creating an account – Registering – Scheduling – Test-taking on computer • Available at • www. GEDcomputer. com • www. GEDtestingservice. com /tutorials 36

Mouse Skills • Click • Drag and drop • Scroll 37

Click 38

Drag-and-Drop 39

Scroll 40

Word Processing Skills • • • Basic keyboarding Cut Copy Paste Undo/Redo Insert Enter – hard return Spacing Backspace Highlight 41

Short Answer xt Insert Te 42

Tools • • Directional tools Calculator Reference Formula Sheet Æ Symbol (Symbol Selector) Flag for Review Item Review Screen 43

Directional Tools • Previous/Next • Close • Minimize • Page tabs 44

Other Tools 45

Using Item Review 46

FIRST-YEAR GED® TESTING ON COMPUTER RESULTS 47

First-year CBT results • 40, 000+ test modules… – The pass rate for CBT is 88% vs. the pass rate on paper of 71% – CBT test-takers were 59 percent more likely to retake a failed test—unlike those testing on paper – Faster completion times—about 90 minutes faster than their P&P counterparts 48

Second Shot promotion Computer based testers are finishing faster, scoring higher and retaking failed tests at a much higher rate 49

Second Shot Promotion • Launched a couple of weeks ago and will run though the end of May • Gives first-time test-takers the ability to try the computer- based test and if they fail they get one free retake • It has been very well received, but we still want to get the message out widely • We are reaching out to CBT Test Centers to talk about the promotion and how their candidates can take advantage of the promotion and to discuss our CBT first-year results 50

Pricing of GED® testing on computer 51

Base Pricing Overview • • • The base price: $24 per content area test The base price is $24 per test whether the battery is completed in five appointments or one The re-testing base price is also $24 ØThis flat-rate approach is easier for everyone to understand. Test-taker fees will continue to be determined by jurisdictions – Each jurisdiction will continue to have flexibility to discount fees or additional fees to the base price. 52

Base Pricing Overview Services Included in CBT Delivery Mode: ü Test Battery Leasing ü Internet, In-person, Phone Registration & Scheduling ü Fee Collection ü Test Scoring ü Instant Unofficial Score Reports for Multiple Choice Tests ü Reporting ü Data Management ü Data Transfers ü Flexible Testing Schedules ü Test Security ü Proctoring üAccommodations 53

Test Center Compensation Test Center Payment – From the $24 per test, the test center will be paid $5 per appointment hour (about $9. 30 per content area). • For example, if the Science test is scheduled for two hours the test center will receive a minimum of $10. • The test center will receive $10 even if they finish the test in a shorter amount of time. • Extra hours associated with accommodations are paid in full— even if the time is not used. 54

The Closeout Campaign 55

Campaign Message Your future is calling. By completing the GED® test, you can answer the call. Complete the GED® test by the end of 2013, and then go on to college, a better job, the respect you deserve, and the accomplishment of earning your high school credential. 56

Join the Campaign, Get Resources, Inform Adult Learners www. GEDtestingservice. com/closeout 57

Webinar on Professional Development • We will be conducting a webinar with Youth. Build this spring focused exclusively on professional development • This webinar will provide an overview on the resources available to prepare for the 2014 GED® test 58

Especially For Teachers • A Teacher’s Guide to the 2014 GED® Test – This eight-week course is designed for busy educators who need the flexibility to direct their own learning and learn at their own pace. – The course is also designed to assist you in organizing and applying the wealth of information available issued by the GED Testing Service about the new GED® test in your classrooms. 59

QUESTIONS 60

Thank You Questions: GED 2014@GEDtestingservice. com Website: www. gedtestingservice. com 61