Get Certified -- Google Level 2

In my last post, I shared the benefits of becoming a Google Level 1 Certified Educator. Doing that is an accomplishment in itself for sure! But what if you're a Google tools super-user and just can't get enough of all things Google? What if you're really wanting to ramp up the way using all the G Suite for Education tools can really enhance your teaching and all the tasks associated with teaching? Then it sounds like you're a candidate for Google Level 2 certification!

Much like Level 1 certification, you can go through Google's online training modules for free. Once finished, you can then register for the Level 2 exam, which costs a little more than the level 1 exam (level 1 cost is $10; level 2 is $25). The level 2 advanced course will build upon the skills you have already shown you have from level 1 as well as add new skills to your repertoire! You will also learn interesting, practical, and innovative ways to use these tools to really enhance your instruction and improve your day to day tasks, saving you time and helping you be more efficient. We do have a few teachers in the district who are Level 2 certified; let me know if you want to talk to one of them to see what they have to say about the certification personally!

Interested in learning more about Level 2 certification? Check out the certification page! You can also check out the skills checklist that is shared on Eric Curts's blog Control Alt Achieve.

Get Certified -- Google Level 1

There was a great deal of interest from teachers across the district about becoming Google Level 1 certified educators, so I thought I'd share some highlights about what the certification is, why it's valuable, and how to do it!

• Level 1 certification means that you have passed an exam that tested your ability to understand what Google tools are available to you as an educator, that you have sufficient skills in using those tools and their features, and that you understand the practical applications of using those tools in the classroom.
• It's not easy, but it's worth it!
• You can prepare on your own using the free modules offered online from Google or you can pursue other ways of preparation for the exam. If you feel confident enough, you can even skip any formal preparation and take the exam anyway! (Eric Curts, at his Control Alt Achieve blog, has a very comprehensive skills checklist you can review to determine where you might have any deficits.)
• The exam is $10, and must be taken on a machine with a webcam. You also need to have 3 hours of uninterrupted time.
• Completing the training alone will help you become so much more familiar with all the G Suite for Education tools and will inspire you to find ways to make your teaching more engaging and your workflow more productive. Passing the exam is the cherry on top of the learning, so you can do the training and benefit greatly if you don't want to actually pursue the exam.
• Certification doesn't last forever, but it does last for 2 years!

I'm including here a slideshow that was used at the February 2018 institute day to share Google Certification information. You can also go directly to their training center to learn more or to start your training! I am hoping to offer 1 or 2 boot camps this school year, too, so be on the lookout for that information!