To take traditional adult education classes, a GED candidate must find transportation to class, time away from home and work responsibilities, and child care to travel to school. A solution to this problem is online GED education. By taking online GED preparation courses, adults can more easily fit the GED into their lives. A good online study program allows a GED candidate to learn at their own pace, at times that fit into their busy schedule. Though traditional GED classes are at set times, online GED preparation is available to learners twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. When the kids have gone to bed, or in between jobs, most learners can find a half hour to an hour per day of study time.

One of the reasons online learning can be easily fit into a student’s life is that an online study program can be taken at home, so there’s no need for transportation. For one-car families, or families dependent on public transportation, studying at home is an enormous benefit. Travel time by bus or other public transportation is often much greater than by car, and adult education classes can be difficult to access. A good online GED preparation program is available instantly, through the Internet, via inexpensive net-books or other home computers.

The problem of child care is also greatly reduced through online GED preparation. Child care can be expensive and difficult to find. Though it’s important to have quiet time to study, while the children are in bed, studying, or playing, a GED candidate can study online without need to find a caretaker for the children.

Online GED preparation fits into the lives of adult learners who struggle with traditional adult education classes. More online preparation is an essential element of expanding GED outreach to adult learners with adult lives and responsibilities.

The key to passing the GED is preparation. The GED is a seven-hour test that checks important basic skills. Passing the GED shows that you have thinking, reading, writing, and math skills that are the key foundation for jobs and higher education. That’s why the GED is valuable. It shows employers and colleges that you’ve passed a milestone in acquiring the skills you need to advance.

The difference between a state like New York and one like Iowa has to do with the approach to the GED. Passing the GED isn’t just about walking in to a test center and taking a test. It starts with checking your skills, to see what gaps you need to fill in. Then, you need preparation, to get the skills that you’re missing. You need to know what’s expected on the GED and build up your abilities. Then, when you’re ready, you take the GED test. GED success is a process that includes preparation as a key element.

GED preparation is a serious problem for many people. Adults who dropped out of high school have adult responsibilities, including jobs and children. They have financial responsibilities to care for their families, time constraints, and difficulties with transportation. Even a well-run state program can be discouraging for adults who have trouble finding the time, childcare, and resources to attend GED classes.

Technology is a promising way around these problems. Innovative online learning solutions can be inexpensive and accessible for learners with restrictions on their time and resources. Online learning can be done at home or anywhere a computer and internet connection is available. More importantly, the best online learning is directed toward an individual student’s needs. Adult learners are all starting at different levels and filling different gaps in their learning. Managing an adult education class, filled with students with a wide variety of needs, is challenging. Truly personalized, engaging online learning can help adults learn faster and easier, encouraging them to stay on track to get a GED.

The benefits of the GED for both an individual adult and for the community are great, especially when the GED is viewed as a milestone in a journey toward a career or a higher education. Adults without a high school diploma or GED are the most likely to be unemployed. The Community Service Society estimates that adults without a high school diploma cost New York City $135,000 more than they pay in taxes over the course of their lifetime. The GED is an investment in the future, one that can pay off for individuals, businesses, and government.

The Community Service Society report on the New York GED can be found here: http://www.cssny.org/userimages/downloads/From%20Basic%20Skills%20to%20Better%20Futures%20Sept.%202009%20Final%20Report.pdf

The GED is more than just a piece of paper on the way toward something else, though. In studying for the GED, it’s important to think of the GED as a stepping stone to college and to a better life. GED students can learn important skills that will help them in college or in the workplace, and by learning these skills, instead of just focusing on the GED test itself, studiers can earn their GED easier as well as prepare for what’s beyond.

To make the most of your GED experience, while you’re working on your GED, you should work on:

1) good study habits… things like making a study schedule and study space, and figuring out how best to spend your study time.

2) learning to be responsible for your own learning–to own what you know and judge what you’ve learned and what you haven’t.

3) thinking about how you learn best and learning study techniques.

4) developing reading, writing, math, and thinking skills… Learning basic skills is the essence of studying for the GED because these are the skills that the GED tests. Realizing that they’re essential skills for college and the workplace puts them in a new perspective.

The GED Academy focuses on teaching these skills in addition to just knowledge that’s on the GED, because they’re skills you need, but it’s not just about being “taught.” It’s about actively learning.

No matter how much GED preparation you get, college can be a tough transition. That’s why the GED Academy recommends community or junior colleges as a transitional step between the GED and 4-year colleges for most students. Community and junior colleges have a lot of support and extra classes for students who have been out of school for a while, and you can get your feet wet at the college level. Community colleges generally accept local residents who have a GED or high school diploma. Once you have community college grades, they will be what a 4-year transfer college looks at. However, if you wanted to go directly to a four-year college, you might need higher GED scores and have to meet other requirements, like SAT or ACT score requirements. The requirements are different at different colleges.

On the positive end, in a lot of ways, college isn’t like high school. Your teachers know you’re adults. And you and your classmates are there because you want to be. You’re working toward a career and a future that YOU envision for yourself. You’ve got more responsibility, and more control over your own curriculum. These factors can make college a very positive experience, once you make a commitment to succeed.

Fraudulent online GEDs and high school diplomas are a problem, and many states, government organizations, colleges, and educational institutions are taking action against frauds involving fake GEDs and degrees.

In Long Island, New York, Robert Collins offered fraudulent at-home GED tests, claiming falsely that these at-home tests awarded a GED. Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo prosecuted Collins, who must serve a jail sentence and pay restitution.

A Westland, Michigan woman who applied for financial aid for herself and others at several community colleges is facing charges of fraud for falsely reporting that she earned a GED and receiving thousands of dollars in financial aid.

Similarly, three former employees of Vatterot College in Kansas City, Missouri, were charged with 37 criminal counts, for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Department of Education by applying for financial aid for students who had not received a GED or high school diploma. Only students who have received a GED or high school diploma are eligible for federal financial aid.

The GED is an important program for people who did not graduate high school and need better opportunities for the future. Fraudulent GEDs and false GED reporting are harmful to the educational system and to individuals seeking the knowledge and skills to succeed.

In school, Caulkins’ problems were with math, a subject that plagues many adults who hope to earn their GED. He failed to graduate in 1976, but he became a carpenter and successful businessman. Three years ago, Caulkins decided to earn his GED, not because he needed a better job or a college education, but because he wanted the satisfaction of having the degree he lacked. Even though he was already a successful businessman, Caulkins’ lack of a degree carried with it a feeling of failure, one that was lifted when he earned the GED.

Caulkins set up a scholarship to help others achieve that feeling. Many people without GEDs struggle with childcare and financial problems that interfere with studying. No matter how many ways that life can get in the way, the satisfaction and rewards of earning a GED are worth the struggle.

To learn more about Caulkins and the scholarship, read the story on News Channel 8 in Virginia: http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0210/702450.html

Nichole and Patricia Kumse of Blount County, Tennessee, are sisters who earned their GED diplomas, becoming the first high school graduates in their family. Both women are mothers. Patricia Kumse is a mother of three, while Nichole Kumse is a mother of two, all between 3 and 10 years old.

The two mothers, like many GED students, were motivated to earn a GED diploma by their families, and particularly their children. Every parent wants their children to have all the opportunities the world can offer, and in today’s world, education is the key to opportunity. Parents want to set an example for their children, and getting the GED is a first step for many parents to show their children how important education is.

At the same time, the GED opens doors to provide a better life for a family. Nichole and Patricia Kumse both passed the GED with high enough scores to qualify for the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship toward higher education. Patricia Kumse plans to study business, while Nichole Kumse plans to study holistic nutrition and writing.

Just as family can inspire adults to earn their GED, family can help greatly during the GED process. By studying for the GED together, Nichole and Patricia Kumse were able to provide each other support, with studying, homework, and motivation. By involving family or friends who can provide help and support, adult learners can achieve more in their educational experience, from the GED to the highest levels of post-secondary achievement.

Practice tests are desirable for GED learners. A good GED practice test will give a learner an overview of what the GED is really like, and what areas to study. A practice test also lets you know how prepared you really are for the GED test.

More than that, practice tests give learners a valuable edge in preparing for the GED. In a 2009 GED Testing Service study, “Preparation for and Performance on the GED Test,” the passing rates for students who used all types of GED preparation–public school adult education classes, community college adult education classes, independent study, and even no preparation–increased among students who took a GED practice test. Among learners preparing with independent study and adult education, a practice test increased passing rates by 11% to 15%. Taking a practice test was associated with generally higher GED Test scores, and the rise in test scores was highest in math, a subject that many GED learners struggle with.

GED practice tests prepare you for the GED test-taking experience. They give you practice in answering real GED-type questions and understand what you need to focus on in your studying. No matter what type of preparation you’re using to get ready for your GED test, be sure to include GED practice tests as part of your preparation.

The star of ABC’s new show “The Forgotten,” where he plays an ex-cop who investigates unsolved cases of unidentified bodies, appeared as a guest on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in January, 2010 and discussed his GED. He has been working since he was nine years old, and was motivated to get his GED in order to show his children that education was important. After earning the GED, Slater began to work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation “Get Schooled” program, which grapples with the issue of high school dropouts in the U.S.

Over 39 million American adults don’t have a high school diploma or GED. Many of these adults dropped out of school to go to work or to care for their families. The changing economy makes it important for former dropouts to earn a GED, and perhaps even more important for their children to earn a high school diploma and go on to college. Education opens up more possibilities for the future, something every parent wants for their children.

Earning a GED can be a life-changing experience, for both parents and their children. Children who see their parents working on a GED often work harder in school and become more involved in learning. And parents who decide to get a GED as an example for their children often experience a new-found self-esteem and pride at earning a high school diploma, even after many years have passed.

The GED does not need to be difficult. Many people can pass the exam with a little bit of preparation, especially if instruction is targeted to their individual needs. The rewards for passing can go beyond just being eligible for more jobs and higher education, including intangible benefits for both GED earners and their families.

Judge Mathis grew up in the housing projects in Detroit. He was involved in gangs. He spent time in jail. How did he pull himself out? After learning that his mother had cancer, Mathis decided it was time to change the course of his life. He was offered probation, if he entered a GED program. He didn’t just stop at a GED, though. He went on to college and law school, and he became the youngest superior court judge ever to serve in Michigan. Did he stop there? No, he went on to have his own television court show.

With a GED, opportunities for job advancement or for new careers can open up. Many promising careers, like nursing, law enforcement, and hair stylish, require a high school degree or GED as a first step to career training. The armed forces also require a GED or high school diploma. High school graduates and GED earners make an average of $385,000 more in their lifetime than people without a GED or high school diploma, and going on to higher education or career training means even more earning potential. The GED is most lucrative when it’s a gateway to higher education at trade schools, community colleges, or universities. The average income for college graduates is $44,000, more than double the income of people who haven’t graduated high school, and 97% of colleges accept GED graduates.

Another highly respected GED graduate, ABC News anchor Peter Jennings, was an active sponsor of scholarships for GED recipients. When speaking at a GED scholarship ceremony in 2003, he said: “You are now so much more prepared to go off in search of America. … You have indelibly today taken a huge and magnificent step forward.” Are you ready to take that step forward and find the land of opportunity?

Earning a GED is not difficult. Most people can prepare in a few short months with online GED study programs. The GED exams cover the bare essentials from high school, the things that are most valuable for success in today’s job market. You don’t need to memorize a lot of facts and dates. The GED focuses on critical thinking skills: analyzing, making inferences, and applying concepts to new situations. With a little practice, you can quickly improve these valuable skills and earn a GED.

1) Employment

Maybe when you graduated high school, employers didn’t necessarily expect a high school diploma. A lot of people got jobs in factories, offices, or other companies without a diploma, and they’ve stayed in their jobs for years. The trouble comes when you get laid off, the company goes out of business, you get passed up for promotions, or your job doesn’t pay enough (or give you enough job satisfaction) for the life you want. Every day, adults are laid off and realize that the job market’s changed. Without a GED, getting a new job or promotion can be tough. The GED can open doors to jobs, promotions, and job training.

2) Education

When your goals are high, a high school diploma isn’t enough. The best-paying and often most satisfying jobs require training and education. The GED opens the doors of trade schools, community colleges, and universities. Barack Obama has set a goal for education in the United States, that by the year 2020, America will again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. A higher education is good for the individual, and it’s also good for the country. It helps the U.S. compete in the world economy, and it helps America’s economy. The GED is the first step for many Americans to participate in that goal.

3) Self-Esteem

Most people start on the road to get their GED so that they can get a better job or more education. There’s a benefit from earning a GED that many people don’t take into account: feeling good about yourself. Too many smart people feel stupid, because they were told they were stupid or because they had problems in school. Too many adults feel left behind because those around them have high school and college diplomas. When adult learners earn a GED, they earn a sense of pride and accomplishment. They learn that they can aim higher than they thought possible. Dropping out of high school doesn’t have to close doors permanently in your life. You can earn a GED and show yourself how much you can achieve.