Posts Tagged school diploma

Finding the Story in Adult Education

Finding the Story in Adult Education
Sesame Street has become a cultural icon–and a proven innovator in combining education and entertainment. Today, the GED Academy combines education and entertainment for the adult learner, addressing the needs of a growing number of adults without high school diplomas.

When Sesame Street first aired in 1969, it revolutionized preschool education with its controversial integration of entertainment and education. Hundreds of studies have been done on its effectiveness, and the research shows its positive impacts ( http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/14/1a/bf.pdf ). Today, the United States is facing a new challenge, over 39 million adult Americans who don’t have a high school degree, and an innovative new study program is applying entertainment to the adult education field.

Interest drives education. Learning takes place inside the student’s mind. To engage that process, the student must become interested. In order to engage adult learners, the GED Academy’s GED prep program introduces a virtual classroom, where learners follow the stories of four GED students.

The virtual classroom covers GED skills, but the virtual students also spend time talking about their lives, getting into arguments, interacting with each other, and planning their futures. The stories of these characters are ones GED students can relate to. Maria is a single mother who is trying to support and raise her son. Curtis is an ex-convict who is trying to turn his life around by getting his GED. Becca is a former truck driver who injured her back and can’t drive anymore. And Dwayne is the class clown, a grown-up boy with a Peter Pan complex who delivers pizza for a living.

Most GED preparation programs simply present the material in a straightforward way. But the students The GED Academy is trying to reach don’t learn well from reading textbooks, or from a software program that’s just a textbook on the computer screen. Far from being a textbook on a screen, GED Academy lessons are animated films, like watching a movie. The main goal is to get students involved.

The storytelling works on several levels. First, students become involved with the stories of the characters and amused by Dwayne’s antics. Second, the virtual characters apply their learning to their own lives. Third, learners get to watch the virtual students think through and argue about the lessons–exposing the learning process.

Learning begins by playing. Learning begins with engagement, and entertainment. Somewhere between kindergarten and adulthood, that gets lost. Through narrative storytelling, The GED Academy is bringing the element of play back to adult education.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Continuing Adult Education is a Great way to Further Your Career

Continuing Adult Education is a Great way to Further Your Career
After high school, it often happens that people have to take a pass on attending college for a number of reasons. However, this does not mean that you cannot go back to college later – this is where Adult Education comes into play. Adult education is a boon for all those people who had dreams of studying in college, but did not get the chance to do so when they graduated from high school.

Adult education is available almost all around the world, so it’s no surprise you can find adult education courses in Washington DC. There is a number of adult education schools in Washington DC that will offer you innumerable and extremely flexible courses. In adult education program in DC, you can take up a field in which you may already be working, or you can also start from scratch and take up a completely new alternate career field.

Choosing your course
Make sure that you choose an adult education program in DC that suits your requirements. You should carry out a thorough self-assessment and also consider your long range planning, before you commit your time and money on a course. Some Universities offer interest tests, self-analysis programs, career counseling, and the life management courses to help students decide which path is best for them.

Credit or Non-credit course

Adult education programs in DC usually come in two varieties, credit and non-credit. While in case of a credit course, you will be working towards an official degree. In the case of a non-credit course, you will not get a degree. Decide upon what you want and check that the course that you are taking will provide what you’re looking for.

The various kinds of adult education program in DC

In case of Adult Education, you are free to pursue any kind of course – be it Associate, Bachelor’s degree, a Masters, or Doctorate degrees. Since adult educations programs are designed to be flexible, chances are you’ll have a number of choices. Courses are offered on nights, as well as in weekends. Often, workshops and seminars can be attended through the internet, thus making the whole process smoother for you.

Requirements for adult education courses

If you are planning to join a non-credit seminar or workshop, you will only need to fulfill a few criteria. However, if you are trying to matriculate for a degree course, you should be able to fulfill a number of obligations beforehand. A number of adult education schools in Washington DC require the student to have a high school diploma before they take any college level course-work. You should also be able to pay a non-refundable college course. You will also have to prove that you are a citizen of the US and provide a copy of your birth certificate, before the enrollment can be completed. If you can meet these requirements then you’re ready to go!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Grants For Various Organisations That Are Catering Their Services To Educate Indian Adults

Grants For Various Organisations That Are Catering Their Services To Educate Indian Adults
Government under its Indian Adult Education schemes initiated various programs opening the doors for Indian American adults to again attain educational level necessary for them to be a part of the main stream American life.

Indian Tribal Governments, Native American Organizations and American Indians who are catering themselves with their different programs toward education of the Indian adults are eligible for the grants. Their target is the Native, African Indians and other groups of different ethnicity and originality that on account of the financial constraints had to drop out from schools.

Besides, there are several adults who are devoid of the necessary skills required of them to attain education. Many adults making part of the minorities are lacking in the educational credentials especially in prose, documentation and analytical skills. This shows there is a considerable need to provide them with requisite skills through various educational programs improving their lives and achieving success professionally.

Globalization and technological changes are also creating powerful impact on the whole economy making it imperative on the part of the people to always keep themselves updated which becomes very difficult for the minorities to attain. Social and racial differences make majority of them virtually aloof from the latest developments even in their own arena.

Realizing this fact, government is encouraging Indian Tribal Governments, Native American Organizations and others to reach at the people’s doors, recognize their needs, help them overcome all the hindrances and bring them into the virtue of the economic and social spree. From time and again, it announces grants for bringing in the education for the minority communities, which could act as a gateway for them to cultivate their social and economic intrigues toward the achievement of their goals.

Around 140 tribes receive funds to give educational opportunities to the adults. Grants are awarded annually and payments can be received in advance or in the form of reimbursements. The range and average of financial assistance provided is between $100 to $629,400 and $25,000 respectively.

Adult vocational training program has also been initially announced for making the eligible Siletz Tribal members to attain various skills required for their profession. Only students having high school diploma or GED certificate can avail this program. They should be at least between 17 to 18 years of age without any professional skills and are in need for employment.

The Adult Education Program provides student grants to tribal members for assistance with GED preparation and exam fees, registration fees for conferences and/or workshops; tuition when taking only one college course, employment enrichment training/courses, professional licensure fees, continuing education units and other appropriate education activity.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts