For those of you either planning ECE's or looking for UL credits... Gerontology seems to be one of the more popular ECE's. I'm currently studying it and I found a video series on the subject that's available to view for free. It's also a resouce listed on EC's recommended list. I thought I'd share the link with you, it may be helpful to some.

http://www.learner.org/resources/ser...63101&pid=460#

Oh, and if you've taken this exam or Psychology of Adulthood and Aging, I'd really appreciate any feedback about what to focus on.

Thanks!

__________________

Best of luck,
Joanne

31 hours traditional schooling
11 Microsoft exams, 1 Linux+, 2 ICCP's, 6 CLEP's, 12 DSSTs, and 6 ECE's

Degree Completed!
BS in Liberal Studies

I have read that it is best to take the Psych exams in this order:

Abnormal Psych
Adulthood and Aging
Gerontology

There is a lot of overlap with the last two.

Uh oh - I've got Gerontology scheduled first, it looked easier... I did know there was a lot of overlap, I just didn't know there was a prefered way to take them.

Wonder if I should switch them???

__________________

Best of luck,
Joanne

31 hours traditional schooling
11 Microsoft exams, 1 Linux+, 2 ICCP's, 6 CLEP's, 12 DSSTs, and 6 ECE's

Degree Completed!
BS in Liberal Studies

Check out this very informative thread that I found at another board regarding preparing for ECE Abnormal Psych, Adulthood and Aging and Gerontology:

Laura

I posted about this before. All I used for Abnormal Psych was what was in the Princeton Review "Cracking the GRE Psychology" book in the abnormal section (which is only like 3-4 pages) and made sure I knew AND understood every single item on the Spark Chart for Abnormal Psych. http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/#abnormal
HTH and Congrats on the B!!!

September 6th, 2005, 04:18 PM
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I plan on following your advice Laura. I'll let you know how I do.


Thanks for the help!

Greystone

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Last edited by greystone : September 9th, 2005 at 06:59 AM.


greystone

September 10th, 2005, 05:32 PM

I passed the Excelisor AB test

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Thanks Laura, your advice was dead-on. I just got back from taking the exam (B) and can say with confidence that the Sparknotes and the GRE book are exactly what it takes to pass the exam.

Next up is Psychology of Adulthood and Aging. Do you have any words of wisdom for that one?

Thanks again,
Greystone (3 more and done)

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Last edited by greystone : September 11th, 2005 at 02:19 PM.

Laura
Join Date: Jun 2005
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I took that one cold but if you study the Developmental Psych Spark Notes (click on the link for the abnormal and scroll up) make sure you know the stages of grief, and use a bit of common sense you'll do fine. (Use the GRE book too for the developmental stuff). The "Aging" part is more sociology orientated even though they call it a psych test. Oh, know Maslow (Hierarchy of Needs), Baumrind, Erickson for sure. You have to know the difference between the psych theories: Behaviorism/Cognitive/Freud's stuff. HTH

Laura

September 20th, 2005, 06:30 PM
greystone
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Thanks Laura! The advice about "using a bit of common sense" really paid off. I didn't feel prepared for this exam and was just hoping to pass but in the end I got an (A), my first on an Excelsior exam. Listen to Laura is the new golden rule. I have the Foundations of Gerontology exam scheduled for this Sunday, wish me luck.

Greystone

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Last edited by greystone : September 21st, 2005 at 09:18 AM.

#19 September 20th, 2005, 07:58 PM
Laura Holst

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LOL I wish I could convince my kids of that! Glad I could help. Gerontology was harder than I expected it to be (I'm an "A" student and this one was my only B.) Just fair warning. There were alot more questions on public policy than I was prepared to answer and I couldn't even begin to tell you where to get the information. One important tidbit to remember: Aging does not in and of itself cause dementia or loss of intelligence. Aging only interferes with the elderly's access to information... they are slower. So anything that is distracting or that doesn't allow a longer period of time is going to affect the elderly. An example: When young adults and the elderly were given timed IQ tests the elderly scored significantly lower. When the same test was given to both groups with no time limit the older adults took longer to complete it... but scored comparably. That little tidbit should help you answer a plethora of questions on the exam. The policy questions killed my score (FYI) so if you can find a good resource for info on current public policy for the elderly you'll be a step ahead of where I was when I walked into the test. By public policy I mean trends in housing, healthcare, etc and the myriad of agencies responsible for said dissemination of services. I had NO clue and my score suffered for it.

Laura

greystone

Excelsior Gerontology Exam

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I got an (A) on the Gerontology exam. This test is very similar to the Psychology of Adulthood exam. If anyone is thinking of taking the Excelisor Psych exams, I recommend taking them in the following order:

1. Abnormal Psychology (B)
2. Psychology of Adulthood (A)
3. Social Gerontology (A)

Taking the exams in this order makes the test preparation a little easier and results in higher grades.

Thanks Laura for all the Advice!


Greystone

Cool, thanks Steelers! This info is very useful. I'm going to look more closely at this over the weekend.

__________________

Best of luck,
Joanne

31 hours traditional schooling
11 Microsoft exams, 1 Linux+, 2 ICCP's, 6 CLEP's, 12 DSSTs, and 6 ECE's

Degree Completed!
BS in Liberal Studies

Here's a link that might have some of the additional info on social programs/policies affecting older adults. Based on the info you posted here and some of the other posts I've seen it does seem like the texts are weak in these areas.
http://www.trinity.edu/~mkearl/geron.html

I do have to say, studying aging is a total buzz-kill. Getting old is a B***h!

__________________

Best of luck,
Joanne

31 hours traditional schooling
11 Microsoft exams, 1 Linux+, 2 ICCP's, 6 CLEP's, 12 DSSTs, and 6 ECE's

Degree Completed!
BS in Liberal Studies

Today's the day. I'll be taking this one this afternoon. I'm really just hoping to pass.

I'll post my results this evening... there aren't many people taking this one, but the feedback may help someone

Wish me luck!

__________________

Best of luck,
Joanne

31 hours traditional schooling
11 Microsoft exams, 1 Linux+, 2 ICCP's, 6 CLEP's, 12 DSSTs, and 6 ECE's

Degree Completed!
BS in Liberal Studies

Best of luck to you Joanne,

I'm sure you will do great! I am looking forward to hearing good news from you this evening!

Take care,
Snazzlefrag

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 142 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (2 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: N/A
In-progress: CSU-Pueblo: Labor Relations course
Most Recently Completed: English Composition at PFC (97).
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (43):
- Courses (4): 1 ECE, 1 CSU-Pueblo, 2 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.
GPA: 4.0

How did it go?

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 142 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (2 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: N/A
In-progress: CSU-Pueblo: Labor Relations course
Most Recently Completed: English Composition at PFC (97).
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (43):
- Courses (4): 1 ECE, 1 CSU-Pueblo, 2 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.
GPA: 4.0

I don't know how, but I got an A on this one!

It was incredibly broad but did not have a lot of depth. Knowing some of the stats is half the battle. Native Americans have the shortest life expectancy, 85+ is the fastest growing segment of the population, 115-120 is max life span for humans - determined by genetics and is species-specific, only 5% of seniors actually live in a retirement home, most live at home in single-family house,women outlive men, African Americans outlive most everyone else if they reach 75... I didn't have any questions on gay or lesbian relationships, only one question on Erikson, Kubler-Ross, and Levinson each... that's all I can remember for now.

Only 2 more exams to go!!!

__________________

Best of luck,
Joanne

31 hours traditional schooling
11 Microsoft exams, 1 Linux+, 2 ICCP's, 6 CLEP's, 12 DSSTs, and 6 ECE's

Degree Completed!
BS in Liberal Studies