Kellie Blair Hardt is an adjunct faculty member and math instructor at Montgomery College’s GED program in Rockville, Maryland.

This month’s Tuesdays for Teachers webinar highlights the essentials you and your students need to help them succeed.

Our Professional Development team will cover important tips and strategies to help adult learners with the GED test subjects. Virtual instruction and other related technology have focused on the switch to remote learning, but the fundamentals of the GED test remain.

Join us on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, from 3:30 – 5:00 PM ET / 2:30 – 4:00 PM CT as we review the content “must-haves” for the GED classroom. You can register for the webinar here.

If you’re looking for more webinars and free resources for educators, you can always check out our professional development archive on GED.com.

All study products purchased on GED Marketplace now have state taxes added to the purchase price.

Study materials and test prep products, including the GED Ready® practice test, are taxed depending on each state’s laws. The existence of the tax and the percentage charged is based on the purchaser’s state.

This change was implemented in mid-December when we updated our eCommerce platform. Therefore, you may notice a higher total at checkout, with these taxes now automatically included in your purchase. Students will not see this change as they have been paying tax on GED Ready and other study tools through their GED.com accounts.

Some states don’t have a sales tax. If you or a student lives in one of those states, they will not be charged tax on their purchase. The sales tax percentage will be the same as if you purchased an item from another retailer.

If you have additional questions, you can contact storehelp@ged.com.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the world hard. Everyone is feeling the effects of economic and social unrest that stem from this public health crisis, and GED students are among the most impacted populations. In the nation’s capital alone, 64% of adult learners surveyed are parents struggling to teach their children while schools remain closed – all while putting food on the table and trying to achieve their own educational goals.

Stress is at an all-time high. Some of the biggest roadblocks for adult learners are distractions at home, lack of time, and being unfamiliar with distance learning platforms. Luckily, students can count on dedicated educators like you to gain confidence in online learning and stay motivated.

We understand that the switch to distance learning is an ongoing challenge. It also presents the opportunity to try new tools and personalize learning in new ways. We are here to support you and your students throughout the GED journey. Here are some tips to get the most out of online learning:

• In group class settings, establish a sense of community by including time for icebreakers and short games like trivia or going around for each person to share a fun fact like their favorite dessert. Remember, you can participate too! Your students will appreciate getting to know you better.
• When team projects come up, split students into smaller breakout rooms where each person has time and space to speak and contribute ideas.
• Visual aids are important. Demonstrate concepts step by step using an on-screen whiteboard or similar tool. Encourage questions along the way. Chat is an excellent feature for this, where students can ask questions without interrupting out loud.
• Screensharing helps keep everyone on the same page.
• In 1-on-1 settings, take a few minutes to listen to challenges that your student may be facing outside of GED prep. You can then adjust the workload to be sure your student doesn’t feel overwhelmed.
• Overall, compassion and flexibility are key. GED students are often sharing devices with other family members who are learning online. Schedules may need to be adjusted from time to time.

We know that you are going above and beyond every day! It’s not easy to balance everything. To help you save time and energy, we continue to post free resources and class materials at GED.com. Also, check out the popular tools below to help students stay engaged.

GED® Play is an on-demand video learning platform developed in partnership with Aztec Software and Kaplan Test Prep.

GED Play enhances student performance on key GED measured skills with:

• Comprehensive videos covering all four GED test subjects
• Targeted content that aligns with skills evaluated on the test

• Short lessons that make it easy for students to learn without feeling overwhelmed

Try pairing GED Play with GED Flash™ for Organizations to keep concepts fresh in mind. Students are short on time, so GED Flash provides thousands of mobile-friendly interactive practice questions.

The GEDPrep Connect tool helps build connections between local students and adult education programs. Last year more than 200,000 students asked to be contacted by an adult education program through the free GEDPrep Connect tool. These learners are seeking GED preparation classes or testing, and many never heard from a program.

Adult education programs can use this tool to recruit new students without spending more on marketing. Many programs have already utilized this resource to grow their enrollments. To get started, you will need access to GED Manager, and from there, you can click on “Manage Students.”

GED.com shares more information about how to print bulk score reports, passers reports, manage enrollment, and see student test activity through GED Manager and GEDPrep Connect.

The start of a New Year is a time to focus on gratitude, optimism for change that lies ahead and, an opportunity to examine how we can best control our purpose with so much continued unrest and uncertainty.

We are all being challenged to think about how we approach this year and respond in a way that acknowledges the ongoing pain and suffering by so many, while considering the power we have in defining our future and our story.

Our country needs healing and I encourage all of us to hold on to the promise that we can and will be a better place for all. We have an opportunity to turn the tides for our learners who have been impacted by the pandemic. We have an opportunity to rebuild, lay a foundation to address, and make the appropriate changes on social, racial, and economic injustice. We will take all of what we learned this past year and use the wisdom gained as guidance to navigate 2021.

While I recognize we have many challenging times ahead, there is tremendous potential that exists in the changes that must take place. My commitment has never been stronger on how we will lead and change how GED Testing Service puts the learner at the center of everything we do. With over 70 years of experience, we know how to connect to our learners, we know how to listen to their needs, and GED must not leave any learner behind. They need us more now than ever.

We must have a path that puts each learner on a road to success. Success that changes a learner’s life for the better not only for them, but for generations to come. As we enter in 2021, you have my commitment and the commitment of GED Testing Service in these key areas:

• To be a safe, open, trust-worthy organization that is built on inclusivity.
• To ensure that our employees feel a sense of belonging in our company. and in their communities.
• To champion that everyone has an equal and lifelong opportunity to succeed through learning.
• As a company and as individuals, we will continue to declare that Black Lives Matter. We stand in solidarity with Black communities and will continue to support and advocate for Black people.
• To take an inclusive approach from every element of our brand to address social, racial and economic injustice.
• To make intentional steps to align, advance and connect with organizations that support and promote our learners and educators of color.
• To be a learner-centered organization that leaves no learner behind.

I recognize that navigating at a time of so much unrest can be extremely difficult, but it’s imperative that we remain hopeful, compassionate and relentless to change. It will take each of us to have goals, a vision and a passion that doesn’t rest. As a GED community, we have an opportunity to write this chapter as a team.

As we move forward through this coming year, I ask each of you to think about the following questions:

• How can you be part of the story that changes history?
• What will you do differently in 2021 that will ensure social, racial, and economic injustice no longer holds back our society?

Let’s stay connected, stay safe, stay aligned and let us change history to the story we want to be written.

I look forward to being alongside each of you in this journey.

–Vicki Greene, President of GED Testing Service

We’re starting the new year with a discount on the GED Ready practice test.

January 25th through February 5th, students can purchase any single GED Ready practice test subject for 50% off its regular purchase price for $3.00 per subject.

This promotion also applies to the purchase of a GED Ready practice test bundle. Students can purchase a bundle of all four subjects at the discounted price of $10.50.

Students will automatically receive the discount when they purchase through GED.com.

Since the launch of the Online Proctored GED test last spring, we have made updates to help more students earn their GED credential from home.

Some test centers remain closed, and others have with limited capacity and hours due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This remote testing option was created to help GED students complete their credential and remains an option for eligible students in participating states.

Here’s a reminder of what you and your students should know:

Let your students know that the Online Proctored (O.P.) GED® test is an option to them.

• State-by-state information about online testing is available here: https://ged.com/state-information-online-testing/
• Eligible students need to have a computer, webcam and internet, quiet and private workspace, a government-issued ID and ‘Green’ GED Ready score within the last 60 days.

All the information students need to know about the O.P. test is available on GED.com.

• Students can find information about eligibility, an overview of the testing process, exam rules, FAQs and more on our student online testing webpage.

Before test day students should practice with the Whiteboard tool to get comfortable before they test.

• Students can draw and write out math calculations using the online whiteboard.
• This video reviews how to use the whiteboard during testing.
• Students can learn more about how to use the Whiteboard tool and practice here: https://home.pearsonvue.com/onvue/whiteboard

Students must complete the online system check before scheduling—to make sure their equipment works properly.

• Students should do a system test to make sure their computer, webcam and internet connection meet the requirements for testing online.

Students should know that the content on the O.P. test is the same content they would see when testing in person.

• Test questions, timing and scoring are the same as tests taken in person at authorized test centers.

Our professional development team will be hosting a number of webinars to help educators prepare their students for the GED test subjects.

Our Tuesdays for Teachers series shares instructional strategies and teaching tips for educators to use with adult learners in both traditional and virtual classrooms.

Mark your calendars for the following dates:

Tuesday, January 26

Tuesday, March 16

Tuesday, May 25

Tuesday, July 27

Tuesday, September 28

Tuesday, December 7

All webinar invites will be sent via email to the InSession subscriber list and recordings will be posted on GED.com.

It’s almost impossible to put into words what looking back on 2020 means.

This is typically a time of year for reflection and a time to look back and appreciate all that has impacted our lives— a chance to provide a vision into what might lie ahead in the year to come. Although we all have so much to be thankful for this year, there remains an uneasiness of what lies ahead. At GED Testing Service, our thoughts and our hearts remain with each of you and your families that have been impacted by COVID-19. We know that this pandemic has caused disruption for all of us, and our learners.

I want to thank you for your unwavering support of our learners through this challenging year. We know that you have been a source of motivation and encouragement, and even some needed consistency in the lives of those who need it most. We know our students have experienced and will continue to face some of the biggest impact from the pandemic including financial hardship. Your dedication has not gone unnoticed.

Our plan is to remain focused and continue to invest in giving our learners better options that make the test and credential more accessible and attainable, such as using our online proctoring platform offering. We are committed to working with each of you on what is needed to prepare, educate and support the learner in their journey to success. Our partnership with you is essential to what we do, and we will continue to welcome your recommendations and feedback as we work together.

As social injustice stays top of mind for GED Testing Service, I look back on 2020 as a year of bringing a long-awaited awareness with calls for needed change. As we reflect on the tragic events of racial injustice and related social unrest, we can acknowledge the problem and advocate for change. It’s important to be a strong voice, an advocate and a leader who can make changes that positively impact each of our Black learners. We all must be at the center of leading efforts for change and advocating for social justice and equity. By taking lessons from this past year, we can focus on being more aware, more empathetic and stronger in leading and supporting social justice efforts.

There is no time like the present for each of us to reflect, find gratitude and improve our path forward. I hope each of you find the courage and strength to embrace all that you are and what you bring to our learners. We at GED Testing Service are truly grateful for your unrelenting commitment to our learners. Your passion and purpose make each of us better.

I wish each of you and your families a safe and healthy Holiday season!

—Vicki Greene, President of GED Testing Service

Here are the top five things you should know to help your students successfully prepare for and take the online GED test.

1) Let your students know that the Online Proctored (O.P.) GED® test is an option to them.

• State-by-state information about online testing is available here: https://ged.com/state-information-online-testing/
• Eligible students need to have a computer, webcam and internet, quiet and private workspace, a government-issued ID and ‘Green’ GED Ready score within the last 60 days.

2) All the information students need to know about the O.P. test is available on GED.com.

• Students can find information about eligibility, an overview of the testing process, exam rules, FAQs and more on our student online testing webpage.

3) Before test day students should practice with the Whiteboard tool to get comfortable before they test.

• Students can draw and write out math calculations using the online whiteboard.
• This video reviews how to use the whiteboard during testing.
• Students can learn more about how to use the Whiteboard tool and practice here: https://home.pearsonvue.com/onvue/whiteboard

4) Complete the online system check before scheduling—to make sure their equipment works properly.

• Students should do a system test to make sure their computer, webcam and internet connection meet the requirements for testing online.

5) The content on the O.P. test is the same content they would see when testing in person.

• Test questions, timing and scoring are the same as tests taken in person at authorized test centers.

We recently hosted mini conferences highlighting instructional strategies and resources for educators working with learners in adult education and Corrections.

Here’s a look at each of the conference tracks, related sessions and recent Tuesdays for Teachers webinars with publishing partners:

Tuesdays for Teachers Mini-Conference: The Online Proctored GED® Test

Conference Description: This two-part conference takes “deep dive” into the operational and instructional components that make up the O.P. GED Test as another testing option for adult learners. These sessions also cover student scheduling and the check-in process, as well as instructional strategies and tips to help your adult learners.

Part One link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/3308656298441393411

Part Two link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/9180882920268590850

Corrections Education Mini-Conference

Meeting the Challenges to Finish Strong in Math

Session Description: While public adult education sites have moved to either very limited in person classes or virtual teaching, many of our correctional facilities have moved back into paper and pencil packets with very limited or no in person instruction. There are key skills that an ABE student can master that will enhance their progress. This presentation will focus on key skills students need that can transfer across content areas, and the resources needed to address the skills for in person or remote delivery of instruction.

Webinar link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/7853529393316088592

ND DOCR Transformation in Adult Education & Growth Mindset Beyond a Concept within Corrections

Session Description: This session will share with you the mantra that the ND DOCR Education Department studies and implements to meet each student where they are to get them to the finish line of a graduate. Participants will receive an explanation of the importance of a balanced mindset as well as the impacts the PCBL (Personalized Competency Based Learning) and how it has had a positive result not only in success but also wellness.

Webinar link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/3104498979438800136

Tuesdays for Teachers Sessions with Publisher Partners:

Modeling Hybrid Learning: Core Instruction, Activities and Games for Online Classrooms

Session Description: GED Testing Service and Essential Education share how teachers from programs across the world are using GED Academy™ and the wealth of free resources from Essential Education. The focus on the elements of core instruction, activities and games that directly impact student engagement and performance will provide you new ideas for the classroom.

Webinar link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/5069450503356180226

Practice Makes Perfect (And Could Raise a GED Score by 4 Points!)

Session Description: GED Testing Service and Aztec Software co-developed GED Flash. This supplemental practice tool provides adult education programs and their learners access to thousands of randomized practice questions across the four academic areas assessed on the GED tests as well as immediate student feedback. This session shares strategies and techniques to incorporate GED Flash into the student journey to help achieve greater success.

Webinar link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/6840489956378104590

A full archive of professional development presentations is available on GED.com in our Educators and Administrators section.