The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

December 9, 2008

Online course boosts GED access

GED-i offers live teacher, ability to view content

By Tanner Kent

No Adult Left Behind.

In the case of Minnesota’s newest program for adults seeking GED diplomas, it would make a fitting moniker.

More than 10 percent of all Minnesotans older than 18 lack high school equivalency, according to the 2007 American Community Survey. And, for providers of adult education services, accessibility remains one of the biggest obstacles in attaining that equivalency.

In response, the Minnesota Department of Education has launched a free online GED preparation program. Called GED-i, the online course is facilitated through local adult education programs and offers access to a live teacher as well as the ability to view instructional content anytime.

“That’s really how this program is different,” said Bev Mountain, Mankato’s director of adult education. “There are other online prep programs, but they don’t have a real teacher.”

Becky Hawkins is the director of adult education for eight school districts, including St. Peter, Le Sueur-Henderson, Montgomery-Lonsdale and Cleveland. She said reliable transportation — especially in her mostly rural area — is her biggest accessibility concern.

“I can really see this working for a student who wants a GED, but because of child care or transportation issues, they can’t come to class,” Hawkins said.

For local adult education centers, however, the new online program represents a significant logistical challenge.

Enrollment for the online program opens in January, so teachers must be trained before then.

Also, each teacher can enroll up to 10 students, so a full workload will mean a significant time commitment.

“It’s an expensive venture,” Mountain said. “There is a lot of time involved.”

To save on the venture’s costs, area programs are teaming up to share teachers and expenses.

Mountain said she is planning on training two teachers to facilitate the online program for much of southwest Minnesota. Participants in the new online program will still enroll at their local adult education office, but they will correspond with a teacher based in Mankato.

Hawkins said her programs will be teaming up with coordinators in Faribault and Waseca to share a single teacher who can service the south-central area.

“It’ll be a new way of teaching,” Hawkins said. “We’ll have to get everybody worked into it.”

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