Useful Tools: Google

          

           Google Apps for Education is making a huge impact in the way teachers teach and students learn in schools all across the country. Google for Education’s Google+ Group shares ideas and inspirations to over a million followers. Still not convinced? 

Here are 5 reasons you should become certified in Google’s education suite.

1. Increase student learning

The number one reason is to increase student engagement and consequently student learning. Morten Fahlvik, researcher at itslearning, sums up the importance of prioritizing learning. “Technology works only when it’s connected to a desired learning outcome,” Fahlvik says, adding that technology should be left out when its impact isn’t clear. The Google Apps for Education is a great way to increase engagement in the classroom.

2. Streamline assessing and sharing student grades

Grade students’ work and share the results online via Google Classroom. With Google’s products, educators can give instant feedback on students’ work and share grades with selected students for case of group projects.

3. Measure your impact

Bruce Wellman, author of Got Data? Now What?, believes in the importance of facilitating data-driven dialogue to measure the impact of school and district. At the classroom level, Google’s data analysis tools can help educators measure their impact and promote collaborative data dialogue.  You need to properly understand the tools in order to understand the data.

4. Satiate individual needs with Google products

To become a certified Google educator, you must demonstrate ability to use Google Drive, Sites, Gmail and Calendar. Additionally, you must pass one Google for Education elective exam on the Chrome web browser, Chromebooks, Google play for education and Android tablets for education.  This allows educators to become certified in their institution’s chosen tools set.

5. Boost your (and students’) education technology literacy

In addition to sharing grades online and measuring your impact, Google Apps for Education makes many other things easier, faster and more streamlined, such as assigning individual or group projects to students. Mastering the Google suite will boost your education technology literacy. What’s better? You’ll be able to transfer your education technology skills to students.

Reference: https://morethanatech.com/2015/05/28/5-reasons-you-should-be-a-google-certified-educator/