Minnesota’s Professional
Development Plan to Prepare for
the 2014 GED Test
Amy Vickers, Minneapolis Adult Education
Astrid Liden, Minnesota Department of Education
Objectives
You will:
 Learn about the professional development planning
process and tools used to prepare Minnesota ABE
practitioners for the 2014 GED test
 Consider how you might use the MN process and tools in
your own contexts
 Share 2014 GED professional development plans from
your own contexts
ABE PD in MN
 ABE PD Specialist at MN Department of Education
 State funded professional development providers:
Reading
Distance learning
ESL
Digital literacy
Math
Disabilities
Volunteers
Assessment
Educational technology
Program quality
 Statewide PD committee
The need
 How will we prepare Minnesota teachers for the 2014
GED test?
 State funded supplemental services grant to coordinate
these efforts
Year 1 Process: July 2012 – June 2013
Convene PD
planning groups
Create a vision
Gather &
disseminate
information
Identify &
prioritize PD
needs
Develop PD &
communications
plan
Deliver targeted
PD
STEP 1
Convene PD
planning groups
Leadership core
2014 GED Advisory
Group
Statewide PD
Committee
Practitioners who…
 State staff
 Have expertise in different
content areas
 State funded PD providers
 Are involved in a variety of
statewide initiatives
 Represent different regions
of the state
 Work in different types of
programs
Collaboration
Summary
Vision
Prioritize PD
needs
PD Plan
PD Delivery
DISCUSSION
Who should be involved as you
prepare professional
development for the 2014 GED
test?
STEP 2
Create a vision
Vision
Minnesota ABE professionals will
understand the content domain and
format of the 2014 GED® test.
We will acquire the strategies, skills, and
resources needed to confidently prepare
learners to pass the test and equip them
with 21st century skills.
STEP 3
Gather and
disseminate key
information
Summary
 Purpose: A manageable common starting point
 Began as a summary of the content and format.
 Due to Advisory group input, the following pieces were
also included
 Response to teacher anxiety about the change
 Testing and registration logistics
 Summary posted on website and shared with field via
email and webinars
STEP 4
Identify PD needs
PD needs identified through:
 Statewide electronic GED teacher survey
 Support staff survey at conference
 Webinars
 Participant response to previous GED presentations
 Planning discussions
Identify PD needs: Statewide GED
teacher survey design
 Classroom type, geographic region
 Overall readiness for 2014 GED test
 Computer and internet access
 Preferred PD delivery methods
 2014 test content
 Understanding the content
 Ability to teach the content
Identify PD needs: Statewide GED
teacher survey results
 Subject area, classroom type, geographic region
 Most taught more than one subject, group and independent instruction
settings, all areas of MN well represented
 Overall readiness for 2014 GED test
 Most GED teachers rated their readiness as 3 or 4, on a scale of 1 - 5
 44% 3/5
 45% 4/5
 Computer and internet access
 Most have a lab or a few computers, 80% have internet access
 Access is still a major issue in rural areas and very small programs
 Preferred PD delivery methods
1.
2.
3.
Face to face
Online independent
Online facilitated
Identify PD needs: Statewide GED
teacher survey results
Needs around
understanding the content
 Evaluating an argument
 Evidence-based writing
 Data analysis
 Over half of algebra topics
 Several science topics
 Economics
Needs around ability to teach
the content
 RLA, Science, Social Studies,
Math: somewhat confident
 Math
 Data analysis and
probability
 Confidence in teaching
algebra varies greatly
 Tools and techniques of
scientific investigations
Identify PD needs: Other needs that
emerged
 Computer skills for teachers and students
 Appropriate preparation and teaching materials
 Teacher groups needing specific attention
 Correctional facilities
 Part time teachers
 Small sites with limited computer access
 Multi-level, multi-subject classrooms
PD needs: A broadened scope
 Program & student transition to new test
 Additional audiences to target
 Program administrators
 Support staff
 Volunteers
DISCUSSION
How are you identifying key
PD needs for the 2014 GED in
your context? What needs
assessment tools can you
share?
STEP 5
Develop PD and
communications
plan
PD Plan
Summary
Vision
Prioritize PD
needs
PD Plan
PD Delivery
Plan development process
 Joint PD committee / GED teacher advisory group
meeting to:
 Analyze data
 Adapt existing MN PD standards
 Develop PD objectives
 Brainstorm sample activities within existing PD structure
 Ideas were compiled by project coordinator
 Working document with ongoing revisions
PD plan outline (highlights)
1. MN ABE PD Standards, revised
2. Areas of greatest need
3. Groups needing specific attention
4. PD Objectives (handout)
5. PD Activities and Timeline
6. Evaluation
Communications
 Website
 Central location for all PD information & resources
 Blog
 Share updates and current information via email subscription
 Maintain statewide conversation around 2014 GED
 Provide targeted information & resources for specific needs
STEP 6
Deliver targeted PD
PD delivery maximizing PD structures
 Incorporated into upcoming year’s grants to state PD
providers
 Varied delivery methods
 A progression for each content area
 Introduction
 Content review
 Instructional strategies: What can this look like in my
classroom?
Example: Mathematical Reasoning
 Webinar to introduce module through the lens of the existing
numeracy PD initiative (MNI) (March 2013)
 Regional “Exploring the Math Module” workshops (Spring 2013)
 Math institute content refresher for algebra, geometry, data (May
2013)
 ABE Summer Institute (August 2013)
 Pre-conference content refresher (formula sheet)
 Sessions on instructional strategies (+ follow-up webinars)
 Regional instructional strategy workshops + follow-up
webinars/study circles (Fall 2013)
Possible year 2 PD activities
 Technology mentoring focused on skills needed for GED
 Evidence-based writing PD cohort:
 Institute I
 Facilitated online professional learning community
 Institute II, including planning for regional training
 Regional training delivered by participants
 Social studies and science study circles
DISCUSSION
What structures and partnerships
exist in your state that can work
together to prepare for the 2014
GED test?
What PD delivery methods &
activities are you using as you
prepare for the 2014 GED test?
Thank you!
 Astrid Liden
 Astrid.liden@state.mn.us
 Amy Vickers
 Amy.Vickers@mpls.k12.mn.us
 http://abe.mpls.k12.mn.us