TASC Replacing GED

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The GED will be replaced in New York State and many other states by TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion.)  Starting in 2014, seekers of a high school equivalent diploma will need to pass the TASC, instead of the GED.  Subjects covered in the TASC include English (writing and reading), Math, Science, and Social Studies among others.

Like ACT Writing and remedial English, the TASC covers “evidence based writing” that I’ve been teaching for years, among other types of writing such as the CATW (CUNY Assessment Test in Writing.)  Stay tuned to this blog or to our website SpirFit.org for more information on TASC.  

Feel free to follow our SpirFit Facebook group for improving academic and mind training  at  http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpirFit/141881909215772

Also, feel free to choose the “Subscribe” options on the right side of this page.

Former General Petraeus Hired as CUNY Professor

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According to Revolution (publication by the International Clubs at CUNY), former General David Patraeus has been hired as visiting professor of public policy at Macaulay Honors College (of CUNY.)  Some people are not happy about it partly because of the "collateral damage" or atrocities committed under his command.  Some may not be happy about it because of the extramarital affair he had.

So, what do you think?  How do you feel about this?

Important Information for English 92 Students

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To Kingsborough Students,

If you are taking English 92, your professor may require you to sign up for an Eng 92 Workshop (a supplemental weekly workshop to the class) which benefits you anyway in increasing your chances of passing the CATW and the ACT Reading Exam.  Go to L219 to sign up for this workshop.  (If you got a CATW score below 50 and/or an ACT Reading score below 65, your professor may require you to take this Eng 92 workshop at L219.)

For the reading, you will be given a certificate of half-way completion after 5 workshops, and another certificate of completion after the next 5 workshops.  For the writing, you will be given a certificate of completion after attending 10 workshops.  Your professor may require you to show him/her these certificates.

Note that these certificates of workshop completion are completely different from the letters your professor will provide you at the end of the semester to be eligible to take the CATW and ACT Reading exams.  Your professor will only give you that letter if you've done everything you are required to do for English 92 according to your professor's guidelines (which include English department guidelines.)

The new English 92 workshops in L219 will improve your reading and writing to increase your chances of doing well in the exams (like the CATW, ACT Reading, and departmntal exams) and it will also improve your reading and writing skills for future English classes and other subject classes (most of them requiring lots of reading and writing.)



Also, these workshops will not count against your credit hours for financial aid.  So, they are completely free.  Again, you may sign up for them in L219.  

I Am Back

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I'm back. I've been out, or away from campus, for the last three months due to a broken foot and dislocated toe. Although I am not 100% yet, I am well enough to be back at the Kingsborough campus working with students. There are a lot of changes this Spring Semester at the Reading and Writing Center, especially for English 92. I will be posting them here. Feel free to subscribe or "like" if you want to be updated when I post the information.

The changes seem experimental and are making things interesting.  There's potentiality in providing better help to students and helping more students.

New Tech Gadgets in 2013

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Waterproof iPhones, bendable smartphones, more user-friendly TV’s, iWatches (iPhone- like watches with iOS), Wi-Fi connected eye-glasses, and phones that prevent texting while driving are some of the items you may expect to be available in the market for the masses in 2013.  More about it at:

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-new-year-tech-20121231,0,3839092.story

Feel free to find life lessons and academic lessons at:
SpirFit.org

Monday's Briefing From President Peruggi

For Kingsborough faculty and staff who missed Monday's briefing, the video can be found at -

http://www1.kingsborough.edu/Hurricane_Sandy_2012/index.html

Vote and Look Who's Running

Remember to vote today!  If you want to look at who's running (for Congress, Senate, Courts, and the Presidency), go to:

http://vote-ny.org/Election.aspx?State=NY&Election=NY20121106GA

http://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/elections/2012/General/Combined_2012_GEN_INT_NoPE.pdf

(For New Yorkers)

For New Yorkers who are displaced by the storm or having trouble getting to your polling place, the governor has issued an order to allow you to vote at ANY voting place in New York.  Spread the word.