Program: GED - Essential Academic Skills (ASE/GED) - Community College of Baltimore County

Program Description

These classes help students who do not have their high school diploma improve their basic adult education skills – reading and writing, math, social studies and science– that are needed to prepare for and successfully pass the GED exam and earn their high school diploma.

Program Outcomes

The objective of ABE/ASE program at CCBC is to offer a basic literacy program that will function to increase literacy skills in the adult learner population in the localities with lowest achievements of high school equivalency standards. ABE/ASE programs goals are:

To assess adult learners seeking high school equivalency and provide at-level preparatory courses for passing GED tests.
To provide academic and career advising, guidance, and counseling.

The expected outcomes of an adult learner participation are:

The participants obtain GED certification by attaining passing scores on all four GED tests.
The participant engages and makes positive civic contributions in the at a local or broader level.
The participant enrolls in a postsecondary educational or occupational skills training program.
The participant acquires basic workforce literacy skills to be gainfully employed.

Program Credentials

Successful Completion:

CCBC Credential:

Students will have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript).

Program Length

The following classes are offered at the following CCBC locations: Catonsville, Dundalk, Essex, and Owings Mills.

Essentials Skills I: 72 hours, 12 weeks; 2 classes per week / 3 hours per class

Essentials Skills II: 72 hours, 12 weeks; 2 classes per week / 3 hours per class

Essentials Skills III: 72 hours, 12 weeks; 2 classes per week / 3 hours per class

GED Content: 72 hours, 12 weeks; 2 classes per week / 3 hours per class

GED Mathematics: 72 hours, 12 weeks; 2 classes per week / 3 hours per class

GED Content Distance Learning: 60 hours, 10 weeks, 6 hours per week

* Summer follows a shortened session*

Program Requirements

Participation in Regional Registration & Assessment Session - Mandatory for All Levels

Students seeking to enroll in GED preparation courses must attend a two-step regional intake session which includes an assessment session and orientation presentation. Assessments determine skills levels in reading and math. Students meet with advisor and are then placed in appropriate classes.

Requirements:

Minimum of 18 years of age; no high school diploma; officially withdrawn or not required to be enrolled in secondary school under state law.

These courses are not eligible for Baltimore County Blueprint funding.

Prior Learning Assessment

This program has no options for obtaining course waiver(s) for prior learning.

Application Process

Provisional Entry – All students must attend a regional intake and assessment session. Students under the age of 19 must provide a copy (copies cannot be made at registration) of official documentation of their withdrawal from school, and their parent/legal guardian’s signature at the time of registration to enroll.

Individuals seeking more information about the program may call 443-840-3456, email at gednedp@ccbcmd.edu or visit the website at: http://www.ccbcmd.edu/Programs-and-Courses/Basic-Education/Adult-Basic-Education-and-Essential-Skills/GED-and-Essential-Skills-Registration.aspx

Program Course Sequence

Students are expected to attend all classes and will be responsible for completing all in-class and homework assignments each week.

Course Number	Course Title	Course Hours	Textbook Information ( approximate cost; subject to change)	Costs T=Tuition/F=Fees
ADS311	Essential Skills I	72	Fee to cover the cost of required books and materials distributed in class is $25	$25 T-$0/F-$25 Partially Grant Funded **
ADS312	Essential Skills II for Adult Learners	72	Fee to cover the cost of required books and materials distributed in class is $25	$25 T-$0/F-$25 Partially Grant Funded **
ADS313	Essential Skills III for Adult Learners	72	Fee to cover the cost of required books and materials distributed in class is $25	$25 T-$0/F-$25 Partially Grant Funded **
ADS159	GED Preparation	72	Required text included and distributed in class.	$80 T-$24/F-$56 Partially Grant Funded **
ADS160	GED Mathematics Preparation	72	Required text included and distributed in class.	$80 T-$24/F-$56 Partially Grant Funded **
ADS098	GED Content Distance Learning	45	Required text included and distributed in class.	$40 T-$5/F-$35 Partially Grant Funded *
*Totals:*		405		$275 T-$53/F-$222

Depending on placement scores, students do not necessarily take all courses in succession

** All classes are supported by grant funding from the Maryland Department of Labor

Additional Information

Course Substitutions:

Other classes may be offered for skills enhancement if and when the above classes are full:

ADS 269 Comprehensive Mathematics II: 60 Hours, $25, partially grant-funded*

ADS 019 Literacy Skills Development: 45 hours, $25, partially grant-funded*

*These classes are supported by grant funding from the Maryland Department of Labor

Course Objectives and Outcomes:

Students will increase their educational functional level in reading, writing and mathematics as they progress through the skill levels. The goal of these classes is for the student to successfully pass all sections of the GED® test and transition to post-secondary education and/or workforce training. All GED level classes will prepare students to successfully utilize technology-enhanced items including drop down boxes, fill in the blanks, drag and drop, hot spot, and extended responses.

Essential Skills I: This course enables the student to learn basic educational skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. Learning outcomes include real-life skills, job-related skills, and preparation for further education, including Essential Skills II. Topics include: reading comprehension; language; writing; and basic computation skills.

Essential Skills II: This course enables the student to learn the skills required to develop and review the reading, writing, math, social studies and science skills needed to transition to Essential Skills III. Topics include: reading comprehension improvement; parts of speech; vocabulary; sentence structure; paragraph development; critical thinking skills; decimals; fractions; percentages; and problem solving.

Essential Skills III: This course enables the student to learn the skills required to develop and review reading, writing, math, social studies and science skills needed to transition to the GED course. Topics include: reading comprehension for complex passages; content instruction in science and social studies; essay development; critical thinking skills; and basic algebra and geometry.

GED Content Area Preparation: This course enables the student to learn the comprehension, analysis, evaluation, and writing skills needed to pass the GED test in the areas of reading, science, and social studies. Topics include: interpretation of informational passages; analysis of specific claims in scientific and historical reading; deriving evidence and developing text-based arguments; interpretation of scientific and historical information from tables, graphs, and diagrams; constructing an analytic response using source texts; and completing a timed response. Students will be prepared to successfully answer technology-enhanced items, including: drop-down; fill-in-the-blank; drag and drop; hot spot; and written response.

GED Mathematics Preparation: This course enables the student to learn specific math concepts required to pass the 2014 General Educational Development (GED) Test. Topics include: complex measurement; algebra; functions; patterns; geometry; complex equations; plotting data; use of online calculator; symbol insertion; and word problems. This course prepares the student to successfully answer technology-enhanced items, including: multiple choice; drop-down; fill-in-the-blank; drag and drop; hot spot; and manipulation of both an online and handheld calculator.

GED Content Distance Learning: This course is offered 50% in class and 50% on-line. It is designed to enable students to learn the skills required to pass the Reading/ Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science portions of the GED test. Topics to be covered include using critical thinking skills to read and interpret informational, scientific, and historical passages: identify claims and supporting arguments, make inferences, analyze and summarize passages. Students will be taught to successfully answer technology-enhanced items including: drag and drop, fill in the blank, down-drop, hot spot, and extended response.

Career Opportunities:

Transition to post-secondary training and education support available to all learners.

Program Contact Information

For questions or to schedule assessment appointments: Joan Freggens | 443-840-3094 - Deborah Johnson | 443-840-3077

Program Director: Kimberly Sansone | 443-840-4259 | ksansone@ccbcmd.edu

gednedp@ccbcmd.edu