Return-Path: <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j2PEf4G17757; Fri, 25 Mar 2005 09:41:04 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2005 09:41:04 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <s243dc32.005@admin.craven.cc.nc.us> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Cindy Ferguson" <fergusonc@cravencc.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1336] Re: Fear of Finishing X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 6.0.4 Status: O Content-Length: 4953 Lines: 134 Thanks for all the responses and links. It's good to know that I'm not the only one who has had this same thought! Cindy www.cravencc.edu Cindy Ferguson ABE/GED Coordinator Craven Community College 800 College Court New Bern, NC 28562 252-638-1587 fergusoc@cravencc.edu >>> reders@pdx.edu 03/24/05 05:44PM >>> Cindy, Terrence, Ujwala and everyone, Barb Garner has forwarded your recent messages. I'm sorry it's hard to reach me this year while I'm away, I just haven't been following email as closely as I normally do. On my sabbatical, I'm trying to write up findings from our ongoing Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning (LSAL). I'm not sure how helpful I can be in answering Cindy's very interesting question, but I'll tell you what we know so far. Let me start with just a bit of background information about LSAL. LSAL is a NCSALL project that has been closely following a population of high school dropouts over a long period of time (6 years so far). Many have participated in ABE/GED programs, many others have not. Many of those who have not gone to programs have still worked independently to try to improve their basic skills and prepare for the GED. Overall, about 25% have already received their GED, and many more have passed some but not yet all of the tests. Within the population LSAL is following, we see a fragmented pattern of participation in programs and GED test-taking. Over time, some students move from one program to another, take some tests, maybe wait a while, then take more tests. From the vantage point of a single program, some students may seem to "disappear" as Cindy describes even though they actually continue to work towards the GED on their own or through another program. At the same time, we know from interviews that some adults do have fears related to the GED, as Cindy suspects. We have heard a variety of fears described. Some have to do with test-taking in general, fear of failing, and so forth. Some of these are associated with particular subjects/tests such as math or writing. Some people are fearful of failing (to pass a test), and others are indeed, as Cindy mentioned, fearful of succeeding because of uncertainties about what follows next. I believe others have written about techniques for helping adult learners deal with fears about particular subject matter like math and writing. Others on the list may have specific recommendations. With respect to helping learners deal with more diffuse fears of failing or of succeeding, I would be interested in what others have to say or suggest. It does seem that connecting counseling and advising services with basic skills instruction is an important direction for our field. Hope this helps a bit. We'll announce LSAL publications here as they become available. -Steve Reder -----Original Message----- From: nifl-fobasics@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-fobasics@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Ujwala Samant Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 1:21 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1333] Re: Fear of Finishing Cindy and all, Steve's in Hawaii on sabbatical and I've had a hard time contacting him. Unless he has a different email address for his sabbatical... Ujwala --- Terrence Kelley <kelleyterr@yahoo.com> wrote: > Cindy, > > Try to contact Steve Reder at Portland State > University. He is/was involved in a large > NCSALL-sponsored study the results of which would > interest you. > > Terrence Kelley > ESOL Coordinator > Missoula(MT) ABLE > > > --- Cindy Ferguson <fergusonc@cravencc.edu> wrote: > > Has anyone ever come across research involving > basic > > skills students who seem to have a fear of > finishing > > (getting their GED). I have personally worked > with > > many students who are very motivated to get their > > GED and come extremely close, maybe within one > test > > of finishing, and then they disappear. It seems > as > > though many are afraid to finish. Maybe they're > > afraid of what comes next - a job, college, just > > being out on their own. Maybe they're afraid of > > succeeding - putting themselves above another > family > > member, feeling they're not worthy of success? > I'm > > just curious if anyone else has experienced this > or > > read anything about it. Also, are there any > > suggestions/strategies for getting beyond this > fear? > > Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated! > > Cindy Ferguson > > > > > > www.cravencc.edu > > Cindy Ferguson > > ABE/GED Coordinator > > Craven Community College > > 800 College Court > > New Bern, NC 28562 > > 252-638-1587 > > fergusoc@cravencc.edu > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon Oct 31 2005 - 09:49:30 EST