Preparing adult learners for the new Canadian Adult Education Credential

Table of Contents

• Preparing adult learners for the new Canadian Adult Education Credential 1
• Acknowledgements 2
• About AlphaPlus 2
• Contents 3
• Executive summary 4 3
• Background 8 3
• Digital 12 3
• Reading 28 3
• Writing 38 3
• Mathematics 42 3
• Science 55 3
• Social studies 62 3
• Executive summary 4
• Digital platform 4
• Can-con and other content changes 5
• Cognitive complexity 6
• New test preparation and instructional resources are needed 7
• Background 8
• Brief history of the GED in Canada and transition to the new CAEC 8
• The need for a secondary equivalency credential 8
• An equivalency test is an important secondary completion pathway 9
• Importance of open and free instructional support for adult learners 9
• Digital 12
• Summary 12
• 1. Interpreting a large amount of information displayed on the screen. 12
• 2. Navigating the test interface and using a variety of digital tools 12
• 3. Answering different types of test questions require digital skills 13
• 4. Reading content from online environments. 13
• Interpreting a large amount of information displayed on the screen 14
• Navigating the test interface and using a variety of digital tools 15
• Using the built-in digital tools 17
• Increased variety of question types in the CAEC sample tests 19
• Recommendations for digital instruction 26
• Understand where learners are at with their digital skills and confidence 26
• Perceive and address emotions 26
• Provide explicit instruction and time to practise with the test 26
• Support learners to understand and control what they see on the screen 27
• Reading 28
• Summary 28
• Source texts to read and interpret 29
• Online shopping 29
• Family camping 29
• German potato salad 30
• Short-term rental 30
• Networking cover letter 30
• How CAEC test questions are constructed 31
• CAEC outcomes 31
• Cognitive complexity and the reading outcomes 32
• Type of test questions 33
• Active instruction and deep reading 35
• Explicit instruction 36
• Suggested resources 37
• Writing 38
• Summary 38
• CAEC writing sample question 39
• Recommendations for instruction 40
• Active learning 40
• Explicit instruction and the CAEC writing outcomes 40
• Suggested resources 41
• Mathematics 42
• Summary 42
• Part I no calculator 42
• Part II 42
• Comparing GED and CAEC math skills and techniques 44
• CAEC math outcomes and comments 46
• Part I No calculatormental math 46
• Part II Calculator 46
• Recommendations for test preparation and instruction 53
• Suggested resources 54
• Science 55
• Summary 55
• Source texts to read and interpret 56
• Test questions 56
• Recommendations for instruction 59
• Active learning Do and discuss science 59
• Explicit instruction 59
• Quality online materials to get you started 59
• Additional resources for addressing specific science outcomes 60
• Social studies 62
• Summary 62
• Source texts to read and interpret 63
• Test questions 64
• Recommendations for instruction 65
• Active learning 66
• Explicit instruction 66
• Social studies outcomes and suggested resources 67
• Get in touch 70