Happy spring break to my fellow teachers! It seems like it has been a long time getting here. I am looking forward to a break from kids, and the school building. However, my work as a teacher doesn't end. This week my teammates and I decided to take on the challenge of becoming Google Certified Educators. We have had this plan for a while now, but the need became even more real when our class sets of Chromebooks were placed in our classrooms Friday. We spent the day organizing, rearranging, and labeling to ensure things were ready.Did you know that Google offers free training for anyone interested in learning more about what Google has to offer our classrooms, and how to utilize these programs within your classroom? Completing training to become a Google Certified Educator Level 1 takes approximately 11 hours. This training includes 13 units around topics like having a (mostly) paperless classroom, bringing students work online, and building interactive lessons. After completing the learning experiences of online reading, audio clips, and videos, questions are provide to check your knowledge. At the end of each unit, a unit review of questions helps you synthesize your learning. The Level 1 Education Assessment costs $10, and takes about 3 hours. This assessment includes a variety of questions types, including multiple choice and drop and drag, and performance-based scenarios.
The training to become a Google Certified Educator Level 2 includes 9 units to be completed in about 10 hours. The layout and assessment is very similar. This is assessment costs $25.
A couple take-aways my team and I learned during this process:
- Google has some really cool FREE products to offer teachers that would make teaching a little easier.
- Google Training in 3 days isn't for the faint of heart. It is intense.
- Don't discount the intensity of an online, at-home, certification assessment. It was NOT EASY.
- Google Training is inspiring and exciting. The possibilities for implementation are endless!
GOOD NEWS!! I am officially a level 1 and 2 Google Certified Educator!
Hello, Julie!
ReplyDeleteGreat job getting certified as a Google Educator. I am jealous that you had a team of willing co-conspirators that could help you start and stay committed to the process. It can't have been easy to set aside those 20+ hours.
But I am motivated to move my classes to Google next year, and I'm glad that you mentioned the range of paperlessness google allows. Since not all of my students, or parents, are ready for a fully digital experience, I was worried about having a print component and using google classroom.
I hope you keep us posted as you continue to integrate the Google classroom into your practice!
Have a great week!
I think my school will soon be interested in certification. I believe our librarian and assistant principal are certified level 1 and 2. Do you know if you are able to get JCPS PD credit hours for it? What are the other benefits to the certification?
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, I'm actually currently getting Google Certified for JCPS PD credit. On PD central, it is an option to sign up for 3 credit hours. I hope this helps! I haven't taken the quiz yet, but in working through the modules I am learning a lot that I didn't know about using Google tools in the classroom.
DeleteI have heard from my principal that the PD office only offer 3 hours of PD credit for the assessment to complete the certification. I have also heard that the Tech Department will reimburse you for the price of the assessment. I haven't done either of these, but it would be worth the try.
DeleteHow awesome!!! Congratulations Julia. It is definitely not easy, but so worth it! To the others who are looking into getting certified- check with you school's technology teacher or district technology personnel because they often have coupons for you to use (because it isn't cheap either!).
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