Most ABE/GED teachers use free websites as supplements. State and local agencies often post links to those sites on their website, even as part of a portal to their distance learning programs. However, some of the less credible web-sites out there snuck past the critical eyes of adult educators and have become prominent destinations for the clients of state funded adult ed programs and CBLOs. It's a good time to clean up our lists of free-sites, especially since we've already got to determine which 'resources' are aligned to the 2014 GED(r) or other high school equivalency credential.
I wrote a blog post about a couple popular 'free prep sites' that seek to take advantage of our client base. The sites that I discuss are ones that I used to publicize myself as a GED and Distance Learning Specialist in Virginia. I regret it now. One site initially made me jealous, because it had a discussion forum. But then I saw the content on that forum and the irresponsibility of the host. Another site seemed so humane in its tone and welcoming in its design, but the instructional process was discouraging and the advertising for diploma mills gave away the sites true purpose.
Questions:
Which websitse do we need to caution learners (and eachother) against?
How can we promote our online and computer-based instruction to rival the 'too good to be true' offers that our learners find online?
I look forward to the ensuing discussion here and on my blog.