The Scoop for GED & Pathways Students

Goodbye! Have a wonderful summer!

2010-06-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hello!

This blog will be on hiatus for a while, but I hope you'll all stay online and engaged for the summer, especially those of you participating in our summer classes.

Here are some great online resources for GED studies:

GED Writing Study Website

Excellent Reference for Grammar

GED Math practice

Basic Skills Games

Basic Skills Games for a Good Cause

Exciting events at EdCC this coming weekend!

2010-06-09T14:39:00.000-07:00

IGNITE EDMONDS on Friday, June 11th @ 7PM in Brier Hall

$2 ($1 w/ EdPass)

There will be: Live swing band, Westgate Chapel Live, Wayne Taylor, DJ Erok,

Hip Hop Artists: Willie Will, Original, Josh Donnell and J.P.S.

EdCC HIP HOP CLUB “THE ROOTS” SHOWCASE on Saturday, June 12th @ 7:30PM in Brier Hall

FREE ($5 suggested donation)

Featuring LIVE performances by: Lady Gaga “Kristine Deleon”, Agnes Ingarra, Djinn, Kontagious, Rhythm Rkrz, LV, Mike DC and many MORE!

Additionally, there will be PRIZES and GIVE AWAYS!

Free Dental Care June 12th

2010-06-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

Edmonds Woodway Dental Care will offer free treatment to people who cannot afford regular dental care from 9am to 3pm this Friday, June 12th. Edmonds Woodway Dental Care is located at 21810 76th Ave West, Suite 102, Edmonds. Treatment will be offered on a first come, first served basis. More info: 425-775-3446 or click here.

Pathways Students

2010-05-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

Pathways is a program in our ABE/GED department designed to help students with disabilities transition to employment. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting with several Pathways students, all of whom are excited about their June graduation and the opportunities beyond. I thank all of the students described below who chose to share their stories here.

Michelle (pictured left) describes herself as "a very outgoing person" and plans to seek a full-time job helping older adults. She's very enthusiastic about Pathways, especially Terri Taylor, the instructor. "It's been great," said Michelle. "I enjoy my teacher Terri. I made a lot of friends."

Mimi (right) has many different interests, including cosmetology, music, and running. She's been focused on gaining math, reading, and writing skills. In the future, she'd like to get into a beauty school and be a running coach. Pathways has been a great experience for her, especially the people in the class. Mimi said, "It's nice to know everybody."

Kelsey (left) looks forward to job searching, but she's still undecided about what she wants to do. She's considering all possibilities, including part-time work or volunteering. She recommends Pathways to future students, saying: "People will like it and make new friends."

Sara (right) joined the Pathways community from Egypt, and she's appreciated all the help she's received learning English as a second language and trying to find a job. She's interested in a career in hospitality, although her dream is really interior design. She describes education in this country as "totally different" and in a good way- "more learning, more helpful." Sara has particularly enjoyed her class's exploration of Blackboard, a technology not available in her home country.

Finally, I met with Robert and George, good friends who met each other in the Pathways class. Robert is interested in continuing on to get a computer degree. George, on the other hand, is more focused on job hunting; he would enjoy working with animals or working as a chef. When asked about Pathways, Robert said, "They teach you more than anything else," to which George responded, "what he said!" Both of them feel great about the experience and the friends they've made.

Good luck to you all! Congratulations on your graduation celebration in June! Anyone interested in the Pathways program can contact the instructor, Terri Taylor (terri.taylor@edcc.edu), for more information.

Springfest!

2010-05-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

My apologies because this isn't much advance notice, but today is Springfest at Edmonds Community College!

This annual event will be held today in the courtyard from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thanks to funding from the Associated Students of EdCC, there will be free food, games, prizes, and music all day. Check it out!

Transition Night Photos

2010-05-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the friendly faces who turned out for GED Transition Night! I'm sorry I didn't take more pictures, but so often the camera is an afterthought.

Here (left) we have an evening GED student, Eva, with her husband. It was great to see this kind of moral support from friends or family members.

This is Ericka (right), an intern from Seattle University. She's assisting with orientations and evening classes, and we're so grateful for the help!

On the far right of this photo (left) is Connie, another GED evening student. She's pictured here with her daughter, a friend, and her granddaughter-- wow, 3 generations present! She also brought enchiladas, which I heard were delicious. Thanks, Connie!

GED Transition Night

2010-05-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

Don't miss GED Transition Night! It's a quarterly event to connect students to the transition info for planning that next step.

We're excited to connect you to guests from: Advising, Financial Aid, I-BEST, Opportunity Grant, BFET, CEN, Computer Information Systems, & CIT!

Whew, that's a lot of acronyms; let me explain. I-BEST stands for Integrated Basic Education & Skills Training. BFET is a financial assistance program and that stands for Basic Food & Employment Training. CEN is Computers, Electronics, and Networking. CIT is Construction Industry Training.

Hope to see you there! There will be a raffle drawing for a college bookstore gift certificate!

Food!

2010-05-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

This from Michelle Butler, Assistant Director of Student Leadership Programs:

"In an effort to show appreciation for our evening students who are unable to attend daytime programming, we are offering a Multicultural Food Fair this evening in SQL Lobby at 6:00 p.m.!"

Everett GED Testing Center Changes Hours

2010-05-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

Everett's GED Testing Center is becoming more structured. If you plan to test there, check here first for their updated schedule.

May GED Testing Center Schedules

2010-04-28T11:21:00.000-07:00

Bellevue:

You’ll need to arrive ON TIME for one of the following sessions:
Any test 6-9 PM on (Thursdays) May 6th, 13th & 20th.
Any test 9-noon or 1-5 PM on Friday, May 7th.
Any test 1-5 PM on Friday, May 21st.

Everett:

Tuesdays 9 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesdays 9 AM - 5 PM
Fridays 9 AM - 1 PM

North Seattle:

Thursday, May 6th: 1 PM Reading, Social Studies, Science or Math
Thursday, May 13th: 1 PM Reading, Social Studies, Science or Writing
Thursday, May 20th: 1 PM Reading, Social Studies, Science or Math

Shoreline:

Monday, May 3rd: 11 AM Math; 2 PM Reading, Social Studies, or Science (choose 2)
Tuesday, May 4th: 2 PM Writing
Monday, May 10th: 11 AM Math; 2 PM Reading, Social Studies, or Science (choose 2)
Tuesday, May 11th: 2 PM Writing
Monday, May 17th: 11 AM Math; 2 PM Reading, Social Studies, or Science (choose 2)
Tuesday, May 18th: 2 PM Writing
Monday, May 24th: 11 AM Math; 2 PM Reading, Social Studies, or Science (choose 2)
Tuesday, May 25th: 2 PM Writing

IBEST in the News

2010-04-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article that forecasts improved funding for community colleges, particularly in support of basic skills classes and the I-BEST program.

Earth Day Activities at Edmonds Community College

2010-04-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

Here are just some of our upcoming events:

Earth Day Fair, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., April 22, Brier Student Center.

Celebrate sustainability. Learn about green programs at Edmonds CC, tour our new vegetable garden, and don’t miss the 12 p.m. student Trashion show, fashion made of recycled materials. Across campus at the Center for Families, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. children will release ladybugs as part of our green pest management program.

Earth Week Menu, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., April 19-22, College Café. Culinary Arts students offer us a yummy menu focused on local and organic foods.

Earth Month Lecture Series, see www.edcc.edu/lectures for topics, dates, and times. Speakers bring the latest news about eating local and organic food, running a sustainable business, and stewarding environmental and social justice.

Film: Food, Inc., 12:30-2:30 p.m., April 30, Meadowdale 124. See how our food is produced and distributed, then discuss healthy food choices with nutrition educator Leika Suzumura of PCC Markets. Gold Park Service and Celebration,10 a.m.-2 p.m., April 24. Help LEAF School students and the City of Lynnwood finish a native plant garden in the park and then celebrate with refreshments.

Water Awareness Week May 3-7, look for events, including a lecture about our oceans 12:30 p.m., May 4, in Triton Union 202 by Jen Kingfisher of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Sustainability Around the World Presentations & Panel, 3 p.m., May 11, Triton Union 202. Join our international students to hear firsthand how countries around the world are addressing environmental challenges.

Take action this Earth Month. Enter our Alternative Transportation Contest, a weekly drawing for anyone walks, bikes, or takes the bus to the college; try green crafting: recycle plastic bags into reusable totes, 12-1 p.m., Tuesdays, Clearview 120; and take your worn out athletic shoes to the Reuse-A-Shoe Recycling station in 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri., Brier Hall. Keep stuff out of our landfills!

Testing

2010-04-16T14:24:00.001-07:00

Sorry you all, I have no updates on our testing center. However, I do keep hearing that people are having positive experiences testing at Shoreline Community College. Anyone care to share? I encourage you all to sign a release form, wherever you test, allowing your instructor access to your scores. The testing center can sometimes fax an instructor your score, saving you a trip to get it in person.

EdCC Blog

2010-04-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

This is a blog entry about another blog. It's a great way to stay up-to-date and feel encouraged! Click here for the college's blog.

Parking Tip

2010-04-05T21:40:00.001-07:00

I arrived at EdCC at 9:15 AM today and the campus parking lots were swarming with cars. After about 20 minutes of driving around, I gave up!

Luckily, there's a parking lot close to campus across from the Aloha Cafe (corner of 68th & 196th) that's virtually empty! It was a very pleasant walk to campus (about 10 minutes from car to classroom), and I strongly recommend it! It's a much less stressful way to begin a school day than fighting over parking spots.

I hope other people's first day back went well! I promise to follow through with telling you all as soon as I hear the testing center has reopened. I'll post it here ASAP.

National Census Day

2010-04-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

This is no April Fool's joke.

Today is National Census Day, when we all march to the mailboxes to turn in our completed census forms.

In light of that & in appreciation of my colleague Sue who uses the census as a topic of discussion for her Social Studies unit, click here for a list of great educational websites from the government that could boost your GED scores.

The Mary Pat Dennis-Andre Endowed Scholarship

2010-03-31T09:40:00.000-07:00

Click here to read about an amazing educator who worked with basic skills students at Edmonds Community College and the scholarship established in her name. To apply for the scholarship, go here.

Educational Games Site

2010-03-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from blogging next week, but I wanted to encourage you all to click on this if you'd like some extra (fun) help from home over break. This is a website of educational games. It might be a great way to share your learning with your kids (if you have them).

Have a wonderful break and enjoy the beautiful weather! If I hear anything about the testing center reopening, I'll certainly post that.

Study Tip

2010-03-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

Here's an article explaining the health-care bill being debated now. Staying informed of current events can really help students out for the GED Social Studies Test.

GED Testing Center Locations

2010-03-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

Call in advance at any of these locations to confirm the time & process. Get questions answered, like: What do you need to bring? Where should you park?

Also, regardless of where you are, here's a link to find a GED testing center close to you.

Everett Community College
2000 Tower St
425-388-9288
www.everettcc.edu/testing
Registration: Monday 5 PM, Wednesday 9:30 AM (Pay in Advance)
Social Studies: Monday 1:30 PM, 5:30 PM; Wednesday: 1:30 PM
Math: Monday, 5:30 PM; Wednesday, Thursday 3:30 PM
Science: Monday 1:30 PM, 5:30 PM; Wednesday 1:30 PM
Writing: Wednesday 10 AM; Thursday 9:30 AM
Reading: Monday 1:30 PM, 5:30 PM; Wednesday, 1:30 PM

Shoreline Community College
16101 Greenwood Ave N
206-546-4608
Registration: Monday 10:15, Tuesday 1:15
First 3 weeks in March:
Monday 11 AM Math
Monday 2 PM Reading, Science, Soc. St.
Tuesday 2 PM Writing
March 22nd 2 PM Reading, Science, Soc. St.
March 23rd 2 PM Writing, Math
NO Tests last week of March

North Seattle Community College
9600 College Way N
206-527-3674
March 4th 1-4 PM Math, Soc. St., Sci., Reading
March 11th 1-4 PM Writing, Soc. St. Sci., Reading
March 16th 1-4 PM Math, Soc. St., Sci., Reading
March 18th 1-4 PM Writing, Soc. St. Sci., Reading
Register and Pay in advance

College Scholarships

2010-03-10T11:42:00.000-08:00

Click here for scholarships available at Edmonds Community College for those of you who want to continue on to college. Due April 9th. Good luck!

FREE Workshop: Learning to Relax- this Wednesday

2010-03-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

Relaxation Techniques
Wednesday, March 10, 20010
12:30-1:30pm
MLT, Room 230

During this workshop you will learn how to recognize stress and then focus on learning practical relaxation techniques that may be incorporated into your day-to-day life. There will be practice deep breathing, progressive relaxation through muscle tensing/releasing, creating a special place in your mind to relax, and they'll finish the hour with a self-guided script for relaxation.

Free Help with Tax Preparation

2010-03-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

Did you guys know you can get feel help here with your taxes?

The tax preparation will be offered on a drop-in basis in Mountlake Terrace Hall, Room 212.

March dates:
• 3:00-5:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 9 to March 11 and

• 1:00-5:30 p.m., Friday March 5

April dates:
• 3:00-5:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays April 6, 8 and 13

• 1:00-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10

Several languages will be available by appointment.

Testing Center temporarily closed

2010-03-04T10:23:00.001-08:00

The testing center at Edmonds Community College is temporarily closed. Please check with your instructor for a list of nearby testing center schedules.

Make an Appointment with Barbara!

2010-02-22T09:59:00.000-08:00

I just got an email from Barbara (pictured here) about a Business club for students called "Mastermind Alliance." You can hear from a panel of small business people talking about "thriving in turbulent times." It's this Friday (Feb 26th) from 1-2:30 in Brier Hall.

I also wanted to remind you all about Barbara again! She's happy to meet with any of you planning to transition on to college. I highly recommend setting up an appointment with her by calling our front desk at (425) 640-1593.

Get FREE help with your taxes!

2010-02-18T09:50:00.000-08:00

IRS certified accounting volunteers prepare and e-file income tax returns free of charge for US citizens and residents at Edmonds Community College. This free service is available to the campus and community. Check our website to see if you qualify.

The tax preparation will be offered on a drop-in basis in Mountlake Terrace Hall room 212 on the following dates and times.

February and March dates:
* 3:00-5:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, February 9 to March 11 and

* 1:00-5:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, February 12, 19, 20, 26, and March 5

April dates:
* 3:00-5:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays April 6, 8 and 13

* 1:00-5:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10

Cultural Arts Festival on February 23rd

2010-02-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

Coming soon- a cultural arts festival! If you'd like to showcase your talent at this, contact Amy Johnson at 425-640-1882 by next Tuesday.

Resource Fair Tomorrow

2010-02-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

Check out this article about the resource fair tomorrow! Great to see Rebecca's name in the news!

Here are the details about the fair:

Helping Hands for Hard Times:

Jobs and resource fair for Snohomish County residents!

More than 25 nonprofit and public agencies offering services from job searches and résumé building to housing, education and health-care assistance. Sponsored by the Snohomish County Executive Office, United Way of Snohomish County and the Workforce Development Council of Snohomish County.

Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lynnwood Conference Center

3711 196th St. S.W., Lynnwood

A More Serious Event (for Thursday, February 11th at 7:30 PM)

2010-02-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

Telling Stories That Inspire: Building Narrative Around Solutions.

Photographer and activist Phil Borges will talk about his life’s work — visiting and documenting indigenous and tribal cultures around the world. His books include Tibetan Portrait, Enduring Spirit, and Women Empowered. Conversations in the Humanities, a series of smart conversations about the future and how we can adapt and participate in our changing world, take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre. Free and open to the public.

Something Silly for Your Tuesday

2010-02-08T12:58:00.001-08:00

Hypnotist Show

Laughter at lunchtime! All are welcome!

Brier Lobby, 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM

Sponsored by Office of Student Life

GED Online Starting Spring Quarter

2010-02-03T13:23:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update to let you all know that starting Spring Quarter we will be offering a GED online class!

Liz Spring, the instructor for this class, is *excellent* and she's developed her own online course material to meet the needs of our GED students.

We're very excited about this and you can expect to hear more about it in the coming weeks & months...

Do you know someone in need of a GED? Tell them this is a great time to get connected to our program. New students can call (425) 640-1593 to sign up for an orientation with Rebecca.

Sweet Treat!

2010-01-28T19:51:00.001-08:00

This is in Brier, the same building where you can get your Edpass at the bookstore.

2010-11 Foundation Scholarship Application Available

2010-01-27T13:04:00.000-08:00

One of my goals with this blog is to keep you all updated with information relevant to your future success, like knowing what college scholarships are available.

Here's one to check out. <-- Remember, everything you see underlined on this blog is a link. Click here to learn more about the Foundation Scholarship!

FREE H1N1 Flu Shots

2010-01-26T09:54:00.000-08:00

Allied Health Lab in the TUB 108

Friday, Jan 29 from 10am-2pm

The vaccines (injections only) will be FREE

ID and EdPass must be presented at the time of immunization

No appointment needed

Enter TUB via courtyard side door

The Bus Pass

2010-01-21T14:10:00.001-08:00

Should students pay for parking? Should students pay for a bus pass? This is a hot topic right now in the student body at Edmonds Community College.

To chime in your two cents, email: Cecilia Nguyen at ASEdCC_Secretary@edcc.edu

February 3rd, Allied Health Open House

2010-01-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

To all of you interested in the healthcare profession: Mark your calendars! This will be on the first floor of the Triton Union Building (TUB) from 6-9 PM on February 3rd.

Handy Man

2010-01-12T17:01:00.000-08:00

Today I'd like to feature Johnathon, one of my evening GED students. I'm always impressed with the life experience & talent that walks into our classrooms and this quarter is no exception. It's fun to learn about students' aspirations & goals beyond their GED.

Johnathon is plugging away at his GED with only one test to go- Math. He's planning to continue his studies here at the college with an interest in Construction Industry Training. While juggling his school responsibilities, Johnathon also owns & operates a business, "All American Gunn's Construction." His services include: demolition, hauling, pressure washing, excavator/bobcat work, and "handy man service." Wow! I can definitely say I offer none of this. If any of you out there are interested in getting a free estimate from Johnathan or learning more about his work, you can contact him at (425) 280-4637 or johnathongunn@yahoo.com.

Good luck to you, Johnathon!

FREE Workshop Wednesday on Learning Styles

2010-01-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

There's a great program called "Success Series" that offers free workshops throughout the quarter on topics related to student success.

This week the topic is learning styles. You can take a learning-style assessment and gain knowledge about strategies that would be a good fit for your particular learning style.

Here are the details:

How Do YOU Learn Best?
January 13, 2010
12:30-1:30 pm
MLT, Room 230

Meet Alfredo!

2010-01-07T15:53:00.000-08:00

Alfredo is a new GED student in the evening. He cheerfully volunteered to be featured on this blog, so I eagerly grabbed my camera.

Alfredo is hoping to transition into Construction Industry Training (CIT) or Construction Management. He also has plans to join a union and work for Seattle City Light. It's so much fun to hear about aspirations like these and follow new students at the start of their paths here.

When asked how he likes Edmonds Community College so far, I got this response:

"It's great! It's awesome! I've gotten help since the first day I got here."

Thanks for the positive thoughts, Alfredo! And what about the rest of you? I'm looking forward to posting more feature stories on students this quarter. I know there are great stories out there!

MLK Jr. Event

2010-01-06T10:33:00.001-08:00

On January 13th, here's a FREE event at EdCC you might want to go to. It's Wednesday, January 13th at 12:30 in the campus theater (that's on the same floor as our MUK classrooms). The speaker is an international educator named Arthur Romano.

20th Annual Students of Color Conference

2010-01-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

Hey you guys,

This looks like a great opportunity for any students interested in diversity issues:

Generation of Change, We are the Future!
20TH ANNUAL
STUDENTS OF COLOR CONFERENCE
Yakima, Washington
April 22-24, 2010
Save the date and plan to attend the 20th Annual Students of Color Conference! Complete the attached application form and drop it off at the Office of Diversity Affairs, Mountlake Terrace Hall, Room 106 before February 22, 2010.
What is this and why should you attend? The Student of Color Conference:
• Is designed to strengthen awareness and knowledge within the context of social identity & development;
• Enhances skills that enable students to become more active proponents of their own education and life choices;
• Expands the opportunities and possibilities for students to become agents of change;
• Teaches students critical thinking skills;
• Provides networks of support;
• Gives students exposure to diverse approaches to learning;
• Uses cultural knowledge as a foundation for educational practice;
• It’s FREE and LOTS OF FUN! (The Conference fee is paid for by the Office of Diversity Affairs & Associated Students. Transportation will be provided.)

The Conference is open to all students who are interested in attending, regardless of their ethnicity and culture. Application deadline is February 22nd, 2010.Please contact Patricia Albert at (425) 640-1538 if you have any questions.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Happy New Year, you guys! I'm on the east coast right now but looking forward to returning to the warmer weather of Seattle shortly.

Enrollment in our GED classes is a bit low right now, so please tell your friends and family members in need of a GED - there's no better New Year's resolution than returning to school! Please refer people to our office at (425) 640-1593 ASAP.

Also, I heard that bus passes may not be free any more. What??? Sorry, I don't have all the details, but I know who does!

Please consider going to this EdCC event, as posted below:

GED Success

2009-12-08T15:14:00.001-08:00

At the end of the quarter, we see "success" in so many different ways: passing tests, completing GEDs, exploring new opportunities, and doing things we didn't think we could do. I wish I could have interviewed more students for success stories, but I'll make a point of doing that next quarter.

Pictured here is one such success story, Amir Williams. Amir completed his GED and plans to continue on in his study of the ministry. He is the pastor of Masihi Milap, an Indian/Pakistani church. It was great to have a community leader taking a student role in the classroom! Congratulations, Amir!

Foreclosure Prevention Workshop

2009-12-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a FREE workshop for anyone falling behind on their mortgage payments. <-- Click here. It's a link, I promise. :)

Thinking Ahead to College

2009-11-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

Hey, put this on your calendar! At the end of December, consider coming to this New Student Welcome and Orientation. Why? You'll get an introduction to campus resources, a chance to ask questions of current students, and you'll meet people on campus from various departments.

Sounds like a great way to escape holiday hum drum and do something positive for your future!

Precious

2009-11-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

I keep hearing about this movie because (I think) part of the story is this young woman getting her GED. I know it's based on a novel with horrific details of abuse, etc.

If any of you see the movie or hear something about it, I'd be curious to learn more!

Free Trial! Good Website for GED Studying

2009-11-12T13:31:00.000-08:00

I responded to an advertisement from Northstar Learning for a free trial of their GED study program online.

It's decent! You guys should check it out!

Go to: www.northstarlearning.com

Where it says Member Login, type in the information below:

Username: edcc
Password: ged

It expires 2 weeks from yesterday, so right before Thanksgiving.

Quote

2009-11-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

I saw this quote in my inbox today and thought I'd share:

There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. ~Edith Wharton

What does "light" mean here? Inspiration? Success? To me, it calls upon us all to either shine brightly or help someone else shine.

Computer Industry: Learn about it from the experts!

2009-11-02T13:32:00.001-08:00

When: Tomorrow, 3-5 PM

Where: Triton Union Building, Room 202

What? Join Edmonds CC's Computer Information Systems department and information technology/information systems professionals to learn about working in the industry.

Why? Find out about career paths and future job prospects!

Who? Representatives from WatchGuard Technologies, Community Transit, Boeing, Microsoft, and Quardev

If you enjoy working with computers and you'd consider a computer job as a future career, GO! Well worth your time!

Transitioning Students

2009-10-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

We had a great evening yesterday, mingling with our guests from TRIO, IBEST, Financial Aid, Material Science Technology, Allied Health, and Construction Industry Training.

Here are a few stories to share from students who were present:

Donovan came with his absolutely adorable 2 year old daughter (who helped us draw names for the raffle prize). He also had a good conversation with Patrick Burnett, the faculty representative from Material Science who shared with us all the exciting work being done in a state-of-the-art lab across campus. Patrick reminded us that lots of math skills are needed for students going into this field. Preparing well for GED Math will definitely pay off!

It was fun to see Kelly again, a student I met during orientation and featured earlier on this blog. Blog readers may recall what a positive focus and determination Kelly had. Kelly brought her husband, a commercial fisherman, to the event. It's always great to see family support! We wish you well, Kelly, and hopefully we'll check back in with you later here to see how you're doing.

I also met Chris for the first time, a student who enthusiastically agreed to be photographed. He was so upbeat about Transition Night and said he loved it all, particularly good conversations with faculty representatives. He's interested in becoming a pharmacy tech, so I'd like to hear more from Chris later about how that transition goes.

Finally, we were pleased to see Shannon here, who's charging ahead with her GED preparation and plans to joins us in the field of education. Best of luck to you, Shannon! She's interested in becoming a paraeducator, a very important member of teaching and learning teams in schools today.

GED Transition Night Tomorrow

2009-10-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow (Thursday, October 29th) we will host our quarterly Transition Night for evening GED students at 6 PM in MUK 117 (our regular classroom). Students will get to meet key people who will help them make a successful transition to college. Our honored guests include faculty representatives from Material Science Technology, Allied Health, and Construction Industry Training. Participating students also have a chance to enter our raffle drawing to win a $10 gift card to the EdCC Bookstore.

Great Online Resource for GED Writing

2009-10-27T12:39:00.001-07:00

Many of you who are writing essays might benefit from this online resource that answers all your questions about the writing process, mechanics, grammar, and more!

Week five

2009-10-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

Well usually week five is the time in the quarter that students and teachers realize how much work this is! We have had a very rewarding week with13 Social Studies GED tests passed and a pizza attendance contest begun. If 80% of the students in our class come during the entire writing unit we will have a pizza party to celebrate the day after our writing predictor on November 6th.
So we are tired, but happy...

Vote!

2009-10-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

I keep hearing of students doing well on the GED Social Studies test. I always wish we could spend more time on this in my class because I love discussions on politics, economics, government, and geography.

I'm also a big fan of staying informed and VOTING! If anything about Social Studies piqued your interest, this is an excellent time to learn more about issues you care about. If you're a registered voter, we've got an important election coming up November 3rd you don't want to miss. It's an "off-year" election because we're not voting for a president, so voter turnout is expected to be much lower than last year.

Check out Washington State's voter's guide by clicking here.

Also, the Seattle Times has been featuring stories every day that relate to this year's election. There are some hot topics this year, including one that could dramatically affect funding in higher education (Initiative 1033).

IBEST Showcase Tomorrow!

2009-10-19T23:37:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the lack of posts last week! One might assume that nothing interesting has happened recently, and nothing could be further from the truth! I just need to go straight to the source, and get more pictures and stories up as soon as I have time.

Tomorrow is the IBEST Showcase from 3-5 PM in Snohomish Hall, Room 304A. It will feature a panel of current students, teachers, and I believe some refreshments! I'm so sorry I'll be missing it but Tuesday is one of my mama-on-duty days, and my baby will be napping.

Enjoy! Please tell me all about it if you go!

Quote from Jean

2009-10-16T15:53:00.000-07:00

Jean invited me to share this update:

Our GED Intensive class finished our Social Studies unit yesterday and every single student passed their predictor this time around! The first predictor before the unit started had only three who passed. We are hoping for many GED social studies tests to be taken and passed by the end of the week. I think it is a result of good attendance and students doing lots of extra practice at home. It's a good group!

Congratulations, to all of these students!

IBEST Showcase, 3-5 PM Tuesday Oct 20th in Snohomish Hall 304A

2009-10-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the IBEST program has attracted national attention for combining basic skills and career training?

I'll do more posts about this in the days to come, so this is just a quick heads up. If you attend the showcase, you'll learn about how to earn a certificate in one of the following fields in as little as 3 months:

* Allied Health,
* Computers, Electronics and Networks
* Construction Industry Training
* Medical Office Clerk
* Family Support Studies

Email Help Session THIS MONDAY!

2009-10-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

Would you like to get a FREE Edmail account? That's an email account from Edmonds Community College. Thus, Ed + mail.

Please come! I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but we're trying to get every student in our program online and emailing this year.

The details:

What: Learn email and get a free Edmail account
Where: MUK 117
When: Monday, October 12th, 2-4 PM (it's drop in, so any time during this window is fine)
Why: Email is an expectation for college and the workplace.

Let's face it. A college email account looks more professional on your resume than QTpie@hotmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Not a Princess

2009-10-08T16:00:00.001-07:00

This is my student Angela and her shirt reads "Forget Princess, I want to be a Vampire." Isn't that great? ...Did I mention I teach a night-time class?

Angela's a terrific student and she passed her first test with flying colors last week. Well done, Angela! Thanks for the reminder that today's woman doesn't settle for being just a princess.

This is Jean

2009-10-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

This is Jean with her college-aged son Nick. Jean is one of our instructors, and she's the epitome of involving students! Just yesterday she told me she had students representing decimal values line up according to their value. That's active learning!

Now Jean has asked me to allow students to post on this blog and I'm ready to honor that request. If you're a student interested in posting, send me an email. You will receive an email from Blogger inviting you to join this blog as an author! I'll let you know more details as you contact me.

Counseling: A FREE Resource for You

2009-10-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

I can't emphasize enough how important it is for all of you to have access to FREE professional counseling here at this college. Trained counselors here at Edmonds Community College offer personal counseling (including crisis counseling) and career counseling. Also, they're well connected to the community, so they can refer you to an outside agency as need be.

Take care of yourself! If you'd like to use these services, please call the college's counseling center at 425-640-1358 to schedule an appointment.

Good GED Website

2009-10-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

I was just emailed a tip this morning that this is a good website. Check it out! (Remember to click on anything underlined on this blog. It's a link.)

What do you think?

GED Bride-to-be

2009-09-30T20:17:00.001-07:00

Think your life is hectic? Meet Thalia! She's a GED student, a mother of three children under 5, and she's planning a wedding just a couple weeks away! While juggling these commitments, she still shows up to every class with this beautiful smile. Congratulations on your wedding, Thalia!

The Learning Support Center

2009-09-28T14:02:00.001-07:00

You can't miss this one! The Learning Support Center is in a large room right across from our classrooms. GED students can receive help on essay writing and GED math. The only thing the Center requires from students is that they come with a particular assignment. Tutors do a fantastic job answering homework questions, but they're not there to take the place of teachers. Please talk with your instructor and think about how you might be supported by The Learning Support Center this quarter.

Get to know Jan!

2009-09-25T12:09:00.001-07:00

Jan Tucker is one of our GED instructors. She happily teaches an 8:30 AM class - a morning person, unlike many of us! Gardening is one of her hobbies, so I was pleased to get this picture of her with flowers. Jan has a talent for helping all things grow, people and plants alike. She's very patient and understanding of different learning styles.

Jan will also be teaching a late-start class this quarter. If you know of a friend or family member who wants to join us, it's not too late! Call our office at 425-640-1593 to get oriented and register for one of our classes that begins in late October.

Nancy Strom

2009-09-23T22:39:00.001-07:00

Meet Nancy Strom! She's the coordinator of a volunteer literacy program on campus. She helps make matches between struggling students and caring tutors. Very cool! If you'd like a tutor, let your instructor know. Nancy will get involved and do her best to make it happen. Thanks, Nancy!

I should also mention that the Learning Support Center offers FREE tutoring in Math & Writing during the day. And hey - it's right across from our classrooms!

First Day Back

2009-09-21T22:15:00.001-07:00

This is how I feel at the end of our first day back! (my younger son)

I hope all of you enjoyed your day! I also hope the parking went smoothly! Things will calm down soon, I promise. Meanwhile, remember you can get FREE bus passes at the Cashier's Office in Lynnwood Hall (where you registered). You can also get a FREE EdPass (student ID card) at the College Store in Brier. Here's a map.

Plan Ahead for Parking

2009-09-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

I know it's a total pain to keep circling a parking lot on the first day of class, so I want to give you all a heads up on the parking situation. If you park on campus, make sure you don't park in a space designated as Staff (you'll get a ticket). Click here for a parking map.

Also, consider one of these options:

* Plan to carpool if you know another student.
* Park off campus: There’s a lot on the corner of 196th St. SW and 68th Ave. W(across from Aloha Café) reserved for you with a nearby bus stop. Take routes 112, 115, 116, 190 or 118 to campus. There is also a lot on 64th Ave. W, midway between 196th St. SW and 200th St. SW. Take routes 115 and 116 from 200th St. SW to the campus transit center.
* Ride the bus. Students ride free with their EdPass on local Community Transit buses. Visit the EdPass office in the College Store, Brier Hall.

Meet Barbara!

2009-09-15T15:41:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I talked about the I-BEST program, so today I decided to feature the woman behind it. This is Barbara Whalen, our adviser and case manager for I-BEST. She does a terrific job finding out where students are coming from and where they want to go professionally. She works one-on-one with students to plan for entering a career program at EdCC, especially those that relate to Computers, Electronics & Networking, Construction Industry Training, Business Information Technology, and Allied Health Education.

To set up an appointment with Barbara, call our front desk at 425-640-1593. It's never too early to start thinking about next steps!

NEW IBEST Video

2009-09-14T09:06:00.001-07:00

Check this out, you guys! One of our GED instructors, Liz Spring, is also tech savvy and she just finished this video about out IBEST program. <-- Click on this link and then click on the arrow.

IBEST stands for Integrated Basic Education & Skills Training. It's a college program that allows you to work on basic skills while training for a career.

For those of you registered for one of Liz's GED classes, you'll enjoy her! She's very talented. Stay tuned for instructor profiles, which I'll post throughout the quarter. We hope you'll get to know our whole team!

Why We're Here

2009-09-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

"We did not come here to fear the future, we came here to shape it." - President Obama, September 9, 2009

I thought this statement offered the right outlook for beginning our school year. We all have fears and new beginnings are often hard. However, I can tell from those of you I've met, you're here to make a difference in your future.

If you know of anyone who wants to take GED or Pathways classes this quarter, please have them contact our office ASAP at 425-640-1593. Anyone who wants to start school Monday, Sept. 21st needs to attend the orientation next week that starts Tuesday, Sept. 15th.

GED Guys

2009-09-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

I met a quiet group of students today (that's alright, I'm quiet, too!). The ladies shied away from the camera (totally fine), but a few guys let me take their pictures.

So here's who I met:

Adam (left) is interested in Psychology, and it sounds like he'll bring a lot of personal insights to the field. I hope he'll check out our Psychology classes here at the college. Students wanting to pursue this profession should probably think about getting a transfer degree at EdCC. Best of luck to you, Adam!

J.R. (right) told me he's just here to get his GED. He's from Guam, like our great IBEST advisor, Barbara Whalen. For students wanting to get their GED soon, you'll be pleased to know our testing center on campus has expanded their hours. Click here to get more detail on where you'll test! Ah, I notice this site needs to be updated. The testing center is now open until 8 PM Monday through Thursday!

I also met Jordan (right), who has the fascinating career goal of owning a business devoted to snowboarding videos. I love hearing about careers I've never heard of before! We have so many students who come to us with a goal of owning their own business. Check out our program in Business Management.

Tips for the Hands-on Learner

2009-09-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

Hello, again! Last week I met Ryles Paige (pictured left), a new GED student with an interest in tree cutting. This interest reminds me that we have a lot of students headed into professions that involve physical labor. Students like Ryles may benefit from asking their GED instructors for study strategies that work well for a hands-on learner. It's hard for anyone to do homework that's all about reading from a textbook! (Yes, myself included.) I like to recommend more interactive ways to do GED prep:

For example: Create your own illustrated flashcards to remember something, punch a hole in them, and put them on a key ring.

If that's not your thing, try out a good GED website recommended by your instructor that's interactive in some way. My favorite one is Contemporary's. (Remember, anything underlined on this blog is a link!)

Onward & Upward

2009-09-03T13:10:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I met three women planning to get their GED to move on and up in the world of work.

Sheryl (right) has a lot of experience in retail but wants to work in the field of Accounting. Luckily for her, Accounting is a career program at EdCC and it's in high demand now, so she'll most likely find work. (By the way, when you see a word underlined and in a different color on this blog, click on it! It's a link!)

I also met Nor'Vessa (left), who shares my love of baking. She wants to learn more about our Culinary Arts program.

Finally, I got the chance to meet Angela (below) just before I had to dash off. Like many of our students, she's planning to get a college degree upon completion of her GED.

Stay tuned for more... I met a few guys at the orientation who kindly let me photograph them, too. Also, students who got oriented this week met Barbara Whalen. She's cool AND helpful for your future! I'll definitely be featuring her soon here.

Meanwhile, please comment to let me know that someone, somewhere is out there... :)

Friendly Faces

2009-09-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

Today I met these two friends, Yerena and Soledad, who will be starting GED classes together this fall. They have been friends and coworkers for years, so it makes sense to take this next step together.

As GED instructors, we do our best to help students connect with one another because we *are* all in this together. Having a support team makes a big difference!

To everyone I met this morning - thanks so much for putting up with me! Check back soon because there are more pictures of this morning's orientation to come...

Meet Rebecca!

2009-09-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

If you click on "Rebecca" in the column on the right, you'll get this wonderful introduction to our case manager:

"Hello and welcome. I'm Rebecca Kobernik, your case manager in the GED and Pathways programs at EdCC. I am here to assist our students with registering, getting connected with helpful resources and transitioning from the GED program into college. I will share this quote that inspires me, although I cannot remember who to attribute it to at the moment. "You have to own your days, every one of them or the years go by and none of them belong to you." It reminds me to take responsibility for the days I have been given. They will add up to a life wasted or one well lived. Thank you for attending classes with us. My hope is that you will find it to be a choice that enhances your future."

Students, you'll love getting to know Rebecca! She's great!

Fresh Start

2009-08-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to re-introduce myself to David, a former student of mine attending this orientation. David's back to get his GED and pursue a career in the construction industry. We have two programs related to construction at this college. One is Construction Industry Training (CIT) (good for beginners) and the other is Construction Management (good for students with some construction experience).

Students with an interest in CIT should learn more about I-BEST and Opportunity Grant. CIT is one of several career programs on campus with exciting scholarship and advancement opportunities.

OK, I hope some of the rest of you will introduce yourselves, too. What other interests are out there?

New Beginnings

2009-08-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a great group of students! Rebecca Kobernik, our case manager, and I met 22 new students today. Everyone spoke thoughtfully about the future. There seemed to be a strong collective sentiment that students were here for themselves and they were looking forward to a new, different experience.

Below is Kelly, an inspiring new student, who's such a positive thinker! She said, "Just tell yourself you can do it." We also met her supportive husband who had no doubt of his wife's GED success. I believe his words were, "She's stubborn. She'll do it!"

Scroll down for more pictures of our lovely new students. I hope ALL of you will use the comments below to introduce yourselves. Rebecca and I are looking forward to hearing about the next chapter in your lives!

Welcome! Bienvenido!

2009-08-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Students,

Congratulations! You just accessed our FIRST department blog! A "blog" is a website that gets updated frequently to give YOU the inside scoop and fun pictures to look at. Some people think of blogs as "online diaries," but don't worry - the only secrets spilled here are the ones you DO want to know.

The mission of Edmonds Community College is to provide quality opportunities for learning and service to a diverse community. Basic skills students represent 20% of the student body here. We're definitely a diverse bunch and there are SO many great opportunities. In fact, you'll be learning about them here as we help you stay informed from a distance.

As we try out this new blog, we welcome your feedback, questions, and comments! Please, add a comment, ask a question, or simply introduce yourself below. I'll be sure to get back to ya!

-Jennifer

GED Instructor