Introduction
In today’s fast-paced digital world, technology continues to play a significant role in education. As a result, educators who are proficient in utilizing these resources effectively can better empower their students to learn and grow. One way educators can gain credibility and mastery of educational technology is by becoming a Google Certified Educator. This certification not only demonstrates an educator’s competence with Google tools but also enhances their teaching techniques in the digital era. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps needed to become a Google Certified Educator.
1. Develop familiarity with Google for Education Tools
To become a Google Certified Educator, you must first familiarize yourself with the various educational tools provided by Google. These include:
– Gmail
– Classroom
– Drive
– Docs
– Sheets
– Slides
– Forms
– Sites
– Meet
Make sure you understand the purpose and features of each tool, as they will be instrumental in shaping your teaching practice once you become certified.
2. Participate in the Google for Education Training Center
The next step is to join the [Google for Education Training Center](https://edu.google.com/teacher-center/). Here, you will find free courses targeted at different educator levels (Level 1 and Level 2). These courses provide comprehensive training on using various tools within educational settings, including practical examples, video tutorials, quizzes, and assessments.
3. Complete the Fundamentals Training Course (Level 1)
The Level 1 course teaches basic concepts related to digital literacy and skills required for effective usage of Google for Education tools in your classroom. By completing this course, you will gain practical tips on how to integrate these tools into your lessons efficiently.
4. Pass the Google Certified Educator Level 1 Exam
After completing the training course, you will be ready to take the Google Certified Educator Level 1 exam. This exam is three hours long and consists of 20 multiple-choice questions, 11 performance-based scenarios, and 8 short questions. The exam fee is $10, and upon passing, you will receive your Level 1 certification.
5. Complete the Advanced Training Course (Level 2)
To take your Google certification journey further, consider completing the Level 2 course. This advanced training builds on your existing knowledge, focusing on meaningful technology integration in educational settings and diving deeper into Google tools for collaboration, communication, and innovation.
6. Pass the Google Certified Educator Level 2 Exam
As with Level 1, you will take an exam to become a Level 2 Google Certified Educator. This three-hour exam includes 25 multiple-choice questions, 12 performance-based scenarios, and 13 short questions. The fee for this test is $25. Successfully passing this exam will grant you Level 2 certification.
7. Join the Google Certified Educator Community
Once you’ve obtained your certification, be sure to join the online community of Google Certified Educators. This network provides invaluable resources in the form of webinars, forums, and events for continuous professional development.
Conclusion
Becoming a Google Certified Educator requires dedication to learning new skills and investing time in mastering a suite of impactful tools. However, by doing so, you will enhance your teaching capabilities in the digital age and pave the way for your students’ success in an ever-changing world. Follow these steps to begin your journey towards becoming a more tech-savvy educator!
