GED Testing Service will be offering several presentations and professional development workshops during COABE’s 2019 Annual Conference being held March 31st through April 3rd at the Marriott New Orleans.

While you’re at the conference be sure to stop by booth 701 to meet the GED team and get new flyers, brochures, classroom posters and GED swag!

We also encourage you to join us at the Presidents’ Welcome Reception sponsored by GED Testing Service. Monday, April 1st from 6 to 8 pm you will have the opportunity to mingle and network with fellow educators at the Cabildo New Orleans in the historic French Quarter.

Reception attendees will have the chance to join us in a traditional second line parade from the Marriott to the Cabildo.

Here’s a rundown of the professional development sessions we’re offering each day:   

Monday, April 1

Unique Solutions for a Unique Environment

Testing in corrections has its own unique challenges from test preparation to test delivery. This session will review successful classroom modifications, tools and resources for educators, and test delivery considerations for the unique situations that arise for test administrators.

Presenter: Mellissa Hultstrand
Room: Regent
Time: 8:00 am – 9:00 am

You, Your Students, and the GED® Score Reports—Success Begins Here!

If you have been thinking that the only thing score reports do is provide students with their test scores, we are about to change your mind. In this double session, we will dig deeper into how to score the extended response and the information on the score reports so you can target and personalize instruction across all four content areas.

Presenter: Debi Faucette
Room: Regent
Time: 11:15 am -12:15 pm

Tools, Tips, and Products to Improve Student Pass Rates

New tools from GED® Testing Service are helping teachers identify exactly where their students need more focus to be successful on the GED® Test. New products for students and teachers will be introduced to help students practice and supplement classroom instruction.

Presenters: Brian Smith and Vicki Greene
Room: Regent
Time: 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

The GED® Test After 5 Years: Outcomes, Ongoing Research, and What’s on the Horizon?

This session will examine the GED® test that has now been in operation for 5 years. We’ll discuss some of the recent format modifications, improvements on the horizon, and what we’ve learned to date.  In addition, the presenters will provide updated information on student outcomes.

Presenter: Ann Evers
Room: Regent
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Tuesday, April 2

All About Accommodations

The accommodation landscape is changing rapidly. It is important for everyone to understand what accommodations are available on high stakes tests which will help candidates with disabilities unmask their potential. This session will discuss the types of accommodations that are available and how to assist test takers in securing the proper documentation to request them.

Presenter: Debbie Bergtholdt
Room: Balcony K
Time: 8:00 am – 9:00 am

Reading, Reasoning, and the GED® Test

In this session, we will explore reading and reasoning strategies that can help your students better understand what they are reading, essential skills for the GED® test, and real-life situations at work and home.

Presenter: Susan Pittman
Room: Regent
Time: 8:00 am – 9:00 am

GED® Educational Innovation: Tools, Tips and Resources

If you have worked in adult education less than 18 months, this workshop will boost your understanding of the components of the GED® Program and provide the inside scoop on the content area tests. This session will also highlight key instructional areas that are challenging for students and how you can focus instruction in your classroom.

Presenter: Scott Salesses
Room: Regent
Time: 11:00 am -12:00 pm

Improving GED® Student Persistence

This session will discuss how GED® Testing Service is using behavioral tools to create a student-centered experience and help more adult learners persist and earn a GED® credential. We will share the student journey research we have conducted and how what we found can be applied to adult education classrooms to help your students persist, graduate, and identify a career pathway.

Presenter: Sarita Parikh
Room: Regent
Time: 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

New Look – Same Reasoning Through Language Arts

The results are in, and the Reasoning through Language Arts Test has changed to meet the needs of today’s GED® test-takers. In this session, you will have an opportunity to explore new strategies to help students build their skills and earn more points on the RLA test.

Presenter: Adora Beard
Room: Regent
Time: 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

Wednesday, April 3

Interpreting Visual Images in Science and Social Studies

Our world is filled with visual images. In fact, we often skip the text and go straight to the graphics for the information we need. Join us as we explore strategies and activities you can use to help students enhance their graphic literacy skills in science and social studies.

Presenter: Susan Pittman
Room: Regent
Time: 8:00 am – 9:00 am

Reading, Reasoning, and the GED® Test

In this session, we will explore reading and reasoning strategies that can help your students better understand what they are reading, essential skills for the GED® test, and real-life situations at work and home.

Presenter: Susan Pittman
Room: Regent
Time: 8:00 am – 9:00 am

GED® Math—Getting Back to Basics

Are your students struggling with some of the basic concepts in math? During this session, instructors will explore strategies and activities to help students gain fluency and consistency in quantitative reasoning.

Presenter: Thomas Ross
Room: Regent
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Algebra Functions and Inequalities—Addressing Challenges in the GED® Classroom

Join us as we explore strategies and activities to help students come to grips with inequalities and functions. You’ll learn how to connect these concepts to real-life situations, so students can see that they use these two concepts every day and don’t even know it.

Presenter: Ronald Cruz
Room: Napoleon
Time: 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm