passGED Articles

American Workers Need Affordable Adult Education

Leonard Williams — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:27:32 +0000

Toyota rejected millions in subsidies from several American states to build a new plant in Ontario, Canada instead. The reason? Training American workers is more difficult and costly. What is the solution for America’s workforce?

In 2008, Toyota will open a new plant in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. American states vied for the jobs the new Toyota plant could provide, but Toyota rejected offers of millions of dollars in aid. “The training program you need for people [in Ontario], even for people who have not worked in a Toyota plant before, is minimal compared to what you have to go through in the southeastern United States,” said Gerry Fedchun, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association. See the article here. (more…)

GED: A Needed Edge in the Job Market

Leonard Williams — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:31:59 +0000

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You keep hearing it on the news: The economy is having trouble. Gas and food are getting more expensive. There is more competition for jobs. And more and more jobs require a high school degree. What’s the solution for someone who never graduated high school? Getting a GED can help you get or keep a job in troubled economic times. (more…)

Tips for Passing Your GED: Math, Math, Math!!!

Leonard Williams — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:40:10 +0000

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by Leonard Williams

This week, in my newsletter blog, two people wrote to ask for more help on the math test. Whew! I know math is the hardest part of the GED for a lot of people. That’s why I’m writing with more GED math tips again…if you’re looking for your GED diploma, you’ll have to get through the math test. (more…)

GED Stumbling Block: Writing

Leonard Williams — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:24:46 +0000

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by Leonard Williams

An innovative new GED preparation software program tackles one of the most difficult subjects to learn in a packaged program: writing. The approach focuses on real-world applications and true-to-life virtual students.

The GED Academy passGED Study Program recently introduced a new course on Writing Fundamentals, geared to help GED students master one of the big stumbling blocks on the GED test: the writing exam. The GED Academy is part of a new breed of educational software. Through their innovative passGED study program, The GED Academy brings a virtual classroom to life on students’ computer screens—a classroom peopled with fellow students who struggle with real-life problems. (more…)

Tips for Passing Your GED: Finding a Study Place

Leonard Williams — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:57:21 +0000

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by Leonard Williams

When you’re getting ready to pass your GED, it’s important to make time to study, but it’s also important to have a good space to study in. Why? Because you need to be comfortable, and have as few distractions as possible, to concentrate on studying for the GED. How can you study for your GED if you’re hungry? Or if your chair is uncomfortable? Or if your friends are IM’ing you on chat all the time? (more…)

Tips for Passing Your GED: 1. Take NOTES!

Leonard Williams — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:09:59 +0000

Hey everyone… Leonard Williams here.

Are you getting ready for the GED? Taking an adult education course? Whether you’re attending local classes, taking online GED classes or managing a self-study program at home, you’ll want to ensure that your study time is effective.

Make a Note! Here’s one surefire study tip that has proven successful for adults working toward the General Educational Development credential, the diploma awarded for passing the GED Test.

Take Notes

For many GED students and adult learners, taking notes seems boring or tedious, or they can’t see the relevance of taking notes. Perhaps they have an abundance of GED study materials from various sources including the GED online classes and they don’t feel a need to add more to the pile. And for some GED students, taking notes is new … they’re reluctant to take notes because they’ve never done it, never learned the skill or never found it necessary while taking GED classes online.

Taking notes is easy—it just starts as a practice and soon becomes a skill. Taking notes is highly effective and ensures learning when it’s a three-part process. And, taking notes is a critical way to shift new information that’s learned from the brain’s short-term memory bank to the brain’s knowledge vault, weather you are taking online GED classes or managing self-study program.

Initially, many people feel like they’re copying or jotting material just for the sake of it. It’s difficult for them to see how taking notes helps them learn. It may seem like a mindless activity. Still, it’s important—just write down information as you move through material on your own, or during GED classes. The act of taking notes engages you with the study material beyond just hearing information, reading or seeing it.

Just as note-taking improves with practice, so does learning. As notes are taken more frequently and regularly, students begin to recognize key information and main points more easily and more often. Note-taking becomes more logical since the act of taking notes engages the logical processing of the brain. When the logical brain becomes engaged, the learning process is activated and information is better retained.

In the next article, I’ll have more study tips for your GED.

Leonard Williams

The GED Academy

GED Student Profile: Maria Ramirez

Leonard Williams — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:25:49 +0000

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by Leonard Williams

An innovative new GED preparation software program brings GED students to life in a virtual classroom. Maria Ramirez, a Latino single mother, makes connections with learners’ real-life experiences and problems.

The GED Academy is part of a new breed of educational software. Through their innovative passGED study program, The GED Academy brings a virtual classroom to life on students’ computer screens—a classroom peopled with fellow students who struggle with real-life problems. “Maria Ramirez is a virtual student at The GED Academy,” says Michael Ormsby, the Academy’s president. “Her story shows how easily young people’s lives can be side-tracked by personal issues. But she’s back on track now.” (more…)

GED Student Profile: Dwayne Stone

Leonard Williams — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:25:30 +0000

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by Leonard Williams

An innovative new GED preparation software program brings GED students to life in a virtual classroom. Dwayne Stone, a twenty-something who delivers pizza for a living, makes connections with learners’ real-life experiences and problems.

The GED Academy is part of a new breed of educational software. Through their innovative passGED study program, The GED Academy brings a virtual classroom to life on students’ computer screens—a classroom peopled with fellow students who struggle with real-life problems. “Dwayne Stone is one of our most memorable virtual students,” says Michael Ormsby, the Academy’s president. “He is the class clown—and every classroom needs one. He’s also our go-to guy for pop culture—movies, music, things students enjoy. But underneath his wacky joking, Dwayne has some substance. He wants to make everyone else happy—and struggles with his own low self-esteem.” (more…)

GED Student Profile: Curtis Jackson

Leonard Williams — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:31:51 +0000

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by Leonard Williams

An innovative new GED preparation software program brings GED students to life in a virtual classroom. Curtis Jackson, an African-American with a checkered past, makes connections with learners’ real-life experiences and problems.

GED Preparation Gets a Net-Savvy Boost

Leonard Williams — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:59:24 +0000

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by Leonard Williams

The GED Academy unveils an innovative, online GED practice test to reach the millions of American adults without a high school diploma…over 30 million. The GED Academy strives to utilize technology to help undereducated adults who need to learn how to learn.

The GED Academy has unveiled an innovative version of the GED practice test. “The problem is,” says Michael Ormsby, president of The GED Academy, specialists in GED preparation, “that many potential GED candidates never learned how to learn. They struggle with traditional classroom environments and test-taking materials.” GED practice tests are an example. Traditional pen-and-paper tests require hand-scoring, and GED candidates often aren’t skilled enough to evaluate their own performance. “It requires a lot of support,” says Ormsby, “and community programs aren’t well funded.” (more…)