One of the professional goals I set for myself this summer was to become a Google Certified Educator. And after hours of going through the training and taking the tests, I'm so excited to say that I passed levels 1 and 2! So, here are some FAQs and hopefully decent explanations of the process for anyone interested in taking this next step in technology integration. What is it? Google has a few different levels of certification for teachers and educators. Level 1 is for the everyday teacher - if you are using Google Apps for Edu on a daily basis with your students, you can pass this test. It still has hours of training that you can (optionally) go through, and I'll admit: I use and teach Google more than the average teacher, and there were some things that stumped me! The training was REALLY helpful, and I highly recommend it even if you think you are already a Google master. Level 2 is also for the everyday teacher or technology specialist, but it's a step above and goes deep into some Google apps and websites that I didn't even know existed. This one definitely required training, but thankfully I paid enough attention to pass the test on my first try. There are other levels as well: Google Certified Trainer - this is geared more toward technology integration specialists, and requires training, an exam, and a video compilation. (My goal is to complete this program during the 2017-2018 school year!) Google Certified Innovator - the innovator program is an extremely elite group that works toward completely changing education through technology. What does it mean? If you are heavily into Google as an educator, this training and certification is justification for you as a technology integrationist. Why is it necessary? The short answer...it's really not. No teacher is currently required to become certified in Google Apps, but I will admit that it feels really good to be able to show that I really do know what I'm talking about when I ramble about Flubaroo and Tour Builder. How do I get started? Go to the training center website and log in with your personal Google account. It looks like this: Then, follow the boxes in the middle. Go through the training (there are practice quizzes for each little section, and then a test for each of the units - definitely skip to the questions if you feel confident about the area of study!). Practice the quiz and unit questions, and when you're ready, register for the exam. The Level 1 test is $10, and the Level 2 test is $25. You have 7 days to complete the exam after you register, so make sure you do it in a time you know you can take it! (Bless my toddler and her 4 hour nap today which allowed me to take my level 2 test)
If you have any questions about the process, please let me know. I'm happy to explain the training in more details!
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