Accommodations for the GED Test--sign up for LINCS to participate in this and other great adult literacy discussions

Group: Disabilities in Adult Education Discussion Topic: Teaching Strategies: Easing the Pathway for Adult Learners with Disabilites to Develop compeptence in the Classroom and Beyond RKenyon's comment on the Discussion Accommodations and Test Taking Strategies on GED Tests Hi Robin, Your comments reflect a topic that is important to me.  The majority of teachers I have trained were not aware of these test taking strategies/accommodations.  Even in groups of local GED Examiners, the use of these strategies was not well known or asked for.  They can make a huge difference in the testing experience for students with disabilities. I am including the actual list below: Accommodations and Test Taking Strategies That Do Not Need Approval on the GED Tests Some accommodations do not require special approval. Also, many people with disabilities have devised, or learned, strategies that help them compensate for their disability, and of these strategies do not require special approval. Some examples are: Using the large-print version of the test—without extended time Use of a straight-edge (no markings) or guide to facilitate the reading of the text, assists spatial orientation Using colored overlays for reading Use of clear transparencies and highlighters Use of Post-it Notes/Flags for spatial orientation Requesting to sit near a window, or away from fluorescent lights, etc., when possible Using graph paper for working through math problems Taking individual tests on different days (granted at discretion of the center and based on available staff) Priority seating Earplugs (disposable, assists concentration) Wearing baseball cap with brim to eliminate glare Sitting next to a fan, heating/ac unit, etc. (to block out distractions) Other devices as deemed appropriate:   GED Testing Service allows all other devices as long as they compensate for the disability and do not provide an unfair advantage. I would like to see this topic as a separate, new discussion thread.  Robin, would you like to start one? Thanks for your contributions, Robin. Rochelle Kenyon, SME - RKenyon Reply to this comment Original text from the Discussion: Teaching Strategies: Easing the Pathway for Adult Learners with Disabilites to Develop compeptence in the Classroom and Beyond GOOD MORNING:  This is Laura DiGalbo and I am delighted to be spending the next two days in discussion with many of you around teaching strategies to assist our adult learners in achieving success in our classrooms and beyond.. I will be sharing information that I have developed  for presentaions here in Ct, nationally and internationally around how we can assess learning needs, develop strategies to meet those needs and  provide effective feedback to our adult ed students. In addition we will explore how instructor behavior influences learning ,the social and emotional factors involved in learning and finally universal design for learning.                                 I will be posting 4 content areas today and 3 tomorrow. In between there will be time for you to respond immediately with your thoughts and experiences.  And of course you can reflect and respond later. Both Rochelle Kenyon, LINCS SME, and I will be checking the thread throughout the next  few weeksand beyond. Your thoughts and insights are very important to both of us. So please share, comment , question as we go along or in the days to come. This "discussion presentation" format is a new one...I'm not sure how I will handle questions/comments throughout the days when I am posting content. So don't be dismayed if you don't have an immediate response from me.                             One final thought here...you will realize that I am not the most efficient typist in the world...much better "in person". So do forgive the typos. I will try ot be vigilant.... All right I will post this message and go create the first content post. Stay tuned!! --

Financial Aid Toolkit

Financial Aid Toolkit Helps Librarians Help Users Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:11 AM PST Working with library users who are looking for financial aid?  Explore the new Financial Aid Toolkit website from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. The Toolkit  is constructed to help librarians; community-based organizations, guidance and college access counselors, and anyone else who helps students learn about higher education financial aid opportunities. The Toolkit includes a searchable online library of financial aid resources. It also provides information, brochures, and additional tools for applying for financial aid, repaying loans, and more. The toolkit also offers librarians professional development information such as training opportunities and resources for self-instruction. Access the Financial Aid Toolkit at http://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/, and find a printable fact sheet for your library colleagues at: http://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/resources/toolkit-fact-sheet.pdf.

Free Online Resources at the Florida Electronic Library

Welcome to FEL Friday: Newsletters, Webinars and Tweets Welcome to FEL Friday. Each month we pull together information about the various components of the Florida Electronic Library (FEL) to share with you.   Each year, March is designated as National Women's History Month to ensure that the history of American women will be recognized and celebrated in schools, workplaces and communities throughout the country. The 2014 theme is, Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment.    The National Women's History Project provides a list of their 2104 Women's History Month Honorees that includes Florida's own Roxcy Bolton. Perhaps your community could develop their own list of women of character, courage and commitment.   Databases:    Poetry at Your Fingertips The Gender Studies Collection aims to provide balanced coverage of this significant aspect of our culture, covering gender studies, family and marital issues, health aspects and more.    The Diversity Studies Collection explores cultural differences, contributions and influences.    Ask a Librarian: Research @ Your Fingertips If your patrons are searching for resources for Women's History Month, they'd better not pack lightly, because they're in for quite a trip! The stream of women's achievements and contributions to society is endless, and there are a lot of resources to commend this. Navigating through the abundance to find just what is needed can be exhausting.  Ask a Librarian makes it easier. Patrons can chat live with a Florida librarian who will help them find exactly what they need. Get help finding narrative biographies, primary source works, and in-depth timelines of scientific exploration and cultural experience. They'll even help locate great lesson plans or family activity ideas. Stop packing already, and Ask a Librarian! To learn more about how to become part of the AaL team, or how your library can make Ask a Librarian available to your community, contact Jessica Riggins at rigginsj@tblc.org. Women in History: Roxcy Bolton: A Force for Equality  Roxcy Bolton is a lifetime advocate and activist for women's rights. She founded Florida's first battered women's shelter in 1972, and the nation's first hospital based Rape Treatment Center in 1974. Her extensive work includes lobbying for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, and convincing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to name hurricanes after both women and men. Florida Memory includes an exhibit of items from the Roxcy O'Neal Bolton Papers collection at the State Archives of Florida that highlights just a few of Roxcy Bolton's activities and achievements from over 50 years of concern and activism. Learn more about the contributions of women in Florida's history through the Florida Memory's Online Classroom. Resource Sharing: Making Virtual Reference Titles Easily Available The standard 20th century histories of European philosophy do not include women as important, original contributors to the discipline's past. Some relegate a few to footnotes; however, most omit women entirely. The Encyclopedia of Philosophy presents recent research, inspired by the influence of feminist theory, and by a renewed interest in the historiography of philosophy. Numerous women have been uncovered as important contributors to philosophy over the centuries. The Encyclopedia of Philosophy is just one of many Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) titles available for your patrons. You can also find: American Revolution Reference Library.  Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th Century America.   Encyclopedia of Religion.  History in Dispute.   St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Supreme Court Drama: Cases That Changed America. World War I Reference Library.  World War II Reference Library.     Improve access to these GVRL titles by adding MARC records to your online catalog. This can also ease the workload of library staff, and reduce costs by eliminating unnecessary interlibrary loan requests for the millions of available full text articles. Gale ProMo Free, Customizable Collateral Promote your Gale products and boost usage with free Web ads. You can also order free I'll take it! usage boosting collateral that is ready to ship right now, and the I'll tweak it! that can be customized before you print. Contact Melissa Hooke at: melissa.hooke@dos.myflorida.com to obtain your library's username and password. Contact Melissa Hooke, FEL Program Support, melissa.hooke@dos.myflorida.com 850.245.6632 Stay Connected   Join Email List