Google Certifications

To participate in the Google Certification Online Track, you will need to

1. Complete the unit learning in the Fundamentals Training (Level 1), Advanced Training (Level 2) or Trainer Course through the Google for Education Skillshop. (Participants will submit a pdf report after they have completed all learning units.)
2. Complete three culminating activities (one activity after each module) online through Canvas. For those participating in the trainer track you will need to complete a case study, an introduction video, and an application. 
3. Take the Level 1 or Level 2 Google Certified Educator exam or Trainer Skills Assessment to complete your Google certification or apply to become a Google Certified Trainer. Please note: You will need to have passed the Level 1 and Level 2 exam before applying for the Trainer application.

If you choose to participate in the Google Certification Online Track, we ask that you commit to all three requirements for your chosen track.

For Level 1 and Level 2 we have looked at the Google training units and focused on the three main modules: Professional Growth, Time Savings, and Student Learning. After each module, you will also complete an interactive, culminating assignment. This will tie together your new learning and relate it back to our goals as a school district. This assignment can be done online independently or face-to-face in a small group of like-minded peers. We also provide guided notes for the online learning and offer tips and tricks throughout the process.

After passing the Google Certified Educator Exam, you will receive a certificate from Google stating your proficiency for either the Level 1 or Level 2 certification. You will also be able to use the Google Certified Educator badge in your email signature or on other materials you create. Like Level 1 and 2 certifications, with the Trainer certification you will receive an official badge, however you will also have access to an exclusive group of Google Certified Trainers from all across the world. Also, the Level 1, Level 2, and Trainer Track are also set up for USBE credit. After completing all of the requirements, you will receive 1 USBE credit per track. Lastly, the Digital Teaching and Learning grant is currently able to fund stipends for a limited number of Level 1 and Level 2 certified educators. Stipends are $250 for Level 1 and $500 for Level 2.
 

**The stipends available at this time are provided through the Digital Teaching and Learning grant. This grant is active through the 2024-2025 school year. Within those years, the stipends are also limited by numbers, although we anticipate being able to cover most if not all teachers who pass in this time frame. We do not know if stipends will be available beyond the Digital Teaching and Learning grant.

The Fundamentals Training leading to Level 1 Google certification includes beginner skills situated around communication, collaboration, data analysis, organization, and digital citizenship. This will include sending email, Chat for communication, scheduling events, sharing files, real-time collaboration, creating docs, and guiding your students to do the same. For more specifics, check out this checklist of Level 1 Google skills. The Advanced Training leading to the Level 2 Google certification includes more intermediate skills also situated around communication, collaboration, data analysis, organization, and digital citizenship. Level 2 will focus on using Docs to provide feedback, Hangouts for communication, analyzing data in Sheets, sharing/assigning assignments in Classroom, and guiding students to be autonomous learners. Again, take a look at this checklist for more details. Checklists courtesy of Eric Curts, fellow Google Certified Trainer.

Technology tools are an integral part of education in the 21st century. However, these tools need to be integrated with the sound instruction of well-understood content. The Fundamentals Training (Level 1) and Advanced Training (Level 2) teach educators how to use the G Suite for Education (formerly Google Apps for Education) to 1) engage in professional growth and leadership, 2) increase efficiency and save time, and 3) facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.  The Trainer Course (Trainer track) teaches individuals how to create and deliver inspiring and effective training plans and how to to help other educators use transformative Google Technologies. 

We have also aligned the Google Fundamentals Training (Level 1) , Advanced Training (Level 2), and the Trainer Course (Trainer track) to the Utah Effective Teaching Standards (UETS) and the International Society for Technology in Education Standards for Teachers (ISTE). The work you put in achieving a Google certification will further your pursuit of mastery of the UETS and the ISTE Standards for Teachers.

Google’s Fundamentals Training (Level 1) will take you about 12 hours of online work, in addition to approximately  4 hours of online experiences relating to the culminating activities. The Advanced Training (Level 2) will take you about 10 hours of online work, in addition to approximately 4 hours of face-to-face or online experiences relating to the culminating activities. You are able to complete the work at your own pace throughout the year. You can sign up for the Google Certification Online Track at any time. 

The Trainer Course (Trainer track) will vary based on each individual. However, it will be about 10 hours of online work, in addition to approximately 9 hours of other work relating to the application requirements and mentor sessions. We only have an application window in the Fall for the Trainer Track.

**Due to the COVID pandemic, we will not be holding face-to-face trainings as part of our online/hybrid track.

The design of the Google Certification Online Track allows for a complete online experience. However, the culminating activities following each module will also be scheduled as face-to-face work sessions if you prefer this type of collaborative learning experience.

You are welcome to go through the Google Fundamentals (Level 1), Advanced (Level 2) training, or the Trainer Course (Trainer track) at any time through Google for Education Training Center. We have designed the Google Certification Online Track to support you through this process in a more formalized setting, taking into account the benefits of structure, collaboration, and coaching.

If you are not a licensed educator but still work with students, you may still get a lot out to participating in the Google Certification Online Track and receiving a Google educator certification. The Google learning is geared towards teachers who are working to use Google tools with their students. However, many of the skills taught in the unit learning are skills other professionals might use as well including Google Mail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, YouTube, Sites, and more. We have had counselors, secretaries, site techs, librarians, principals, executive directors, and more, participate in the past and thoroughly enjoy the experience.

**Please reach out to the OSD Digital Teaching and Learning Team if you would like more training resources geared towards your profession (admin assistant, ESP, etc.). 

Participation in the training modules through Google is free of charge. However, if you opt to take the certification exams, there is a small fee. The Level 1 exam is $10 and the Level 2 exam is $25. We are also able to provide stipends for Level 1 and Level 2 certifications which will cover your exam fees if you pass.

USBE credit is based on seat time so you will still receive USBE credit if you do not pass the exam. However, for Google certification and stipend, you must pass the exam. If you don't pass an exam, you can take it again after 14 days. If you don't pass a second time, you must wait 60 days before you can take it a third time. If you don't pass the third time, you must wait a year before taking it again. 

Both the Level 1 and Level 2 Google Certified Educator certifications are valid for 36 months from the date of issue. You must pass the certification exams every 36 months and the exam can be retaken 30 days prior to or up to 60 days after the 36-month renewal date. To continue your membership as a Certified Trainer, you should conduct and report at least 12 training/coaching sessions per year, share ideas and resources with our community of trainers, and resubmit your interest with an annual product update assessment.

Google also provides a detailed FAQs page with answers to general certification questions as well as Certified Educator, Trainer, and Innovator questions. You may want to read the Certification Policies and FAQs details here.

Please reach out to the OSD Digital Teaching and Learning Team at osdedtech@ogdensd.org .