Online course helps students prepare to take GED exam

By SCOTT POWELL

Ledger Staff Writer

Cherokee County Adult Education now offers residents a chance to prepare for the GED exam from their home computers.

The adult education program now offers a General Education Development (GED) preparation course online for completing a high school equivalency diploma. The only requirements are a computer with a minimum Windows 98 operating system with Internet connection and a strong desire to succeed.

Students are required to attend an orientation and training session at the adult education center before receiving the software, said adult education teacher Stacy Olgesby, who is overseeing the online GED course. Students can then install the software on their home computer and begin working through the GED lessons.

The preparation course includes reading material, graphics, timelines, a calculator for math problems and video clips to help students prepare for the GED exam, Olgesby said.

“This is a great program. It allows students to prepare for the GED in a way that fits their schedule,” Olgesby said. “We require students to spend a set amount of time each week working through the material. Using an Internet link, a certified GED teacher will monitor students’ work and be available to answer their questions.”

Pre- and post-tests are built into the software to help students determine their readiness to pass the GED exam. The exam costs $50 and consists of five multiple choice tests.

Once a student is ready to pass the GED, the adult education teacher will schedule them for the GED exam. Students earning their high school credential are eligible to apply for South Carolina Education Lottery tuition assistance to continue their education and training at a technical college.

For more information, call 487-7152.