I like Google. Let me repeat that – I like Google. I use GMail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, and a number of other Google products, but the recent Google Teacher Academy (GTA) in Washington D.C. has me thinking. By no means am I trying to bash Google. I just want to make you think about the GTA’s. Please share your thoughts.
If you don’t know what Google Teacher Academies are or want to learn more about them, visit this link. In a nutshell, GTA’s are free professional development opportunities centered on Google products and are limited to only 50 people at a time. The application process includes an extensive form including a one minute video. The GTA’s are held at Google offices around the country, including Chicago, Boulder, New York, and Washington DC. I’m sure there are others, but those are the ones I’m familiar with. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the GTA and also any needed lodging. In the past, these have been one day events, but I believe they are now two days, requiring an overnight stay. From what I’ve heard, these are fantastic professional development opportunities. I applied for the Chicago GTA, but didn’t make it. I have not applied for others due to the cost of transportation and lodging. If there is a future GTA in Chicago, I know I’ll be checking my calendar. Upon completion of the GTA, teachers become Certified Google Teachers (GCT). There are a few requirements that come with this title, but beyond the initial professional development, is there much of a benefit?
I want you to think about this for a second. GCT have a unique connection to the GCT community. However, is this that much different than having quality people, many of whom are Google Certified Teachers, already in your PLN? Is there a difference, something within this community that others aren’t allowed access to? What is Google, the company, actually doing FOR the teachers who attend – besides feed them? Based on what I’ve read, the instruction at the GTA is taught by other Google Certified Teachers who may or may not be getting paid, not Google employees. Google is not providing any transportation or lodging for their attendees. The amount of money Google is putting up for this event is minimal compared to the excitement created over these academies. Why can’t Google, with a current stock price of $589 a share, at least put people up in a hotel for the night? It’s only 50 people and it’s not like these events are occurring on a weekly or monthly basis. Maybe each person walks away with a bag full of Google swag, but is the amount of learning that occurs really worth the out of pocket cost for teachers to attend a one (or two) day event? If you’ve been to one of these events, please share your opinions.
Apparently there is a benefit. There wouldn’t be so much discussion on Twitter or so much disappointment when applicants don’t get accepted if there wasn’t. It just seems to me that Google is getting a lot exposure out of these events and creating a lot of excitement about their products in a pretty inexpensive way.
By the way, when’s the next Google Teacher Academy? I want to apply.
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My name is Chad Lehman. I'm currently an Elementary Library Media Specialist. I spent eight years teaching third grade prior to moving to the school library. When I'm not at school, I'm probably online, playing or watching sports, or driving my two kids to one of their activities.
Yeah I have had the same questions in my mind about the GTA as you–just never voiced them. I too want to attend a GTA but it has not been in the cards. I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but I just cannot miss school/get pro days so I must pick and choose. But Im green with envy at the content flowing out tagged #gtadc. I have several firends there, two from South Carolina.
Carefull Chad–posts like this that make us go “hmmmmm” are what cause Edublog Award Nominations. GREAT POST.
Good post — good thoughts.
I must admit first that yes, I am a a CGT — I attended the one in Santa Monica in 2007.
What I took away from it —
a. The feeling that I was not alone on this universe of technology (but please remember that this was 2 years ago….twitter was new to us…..PLN was not even a word we used yet……and the opportunities google offered was pretty much mail, earth, groups)
b. That the google company understands teachers and creative people. I wish every school/district let their teachers work 80 percent of the time on what needed to be done and then played/created the other 20 percent. Hmmm, maybe those numbers could be adjusted for even more creativity! But the tour of Google made me realize just how more efficiently and effectively people work when they are appreciated and are given time to work on what truly rocks their world.
c. I learned that though this was a free opportunity, I owed them something back. There are a lot of ways to explain it better than I am — but basically, you become an advertisement for google and promise (agree) that you will promote google and what you learned and then document it on a form. You know, I don’t mind promoting what I really use and feel is productive and educational but the fact it is an expectation for participation bothers me just a bit.
d. You are invited to join a conversation that is 365/24/7. There is a Google Education Group — but there is also a Google Teacher Group (for past CGT) and every day I get an email with information from other attendees.
So — my thought is — would I go again……..
Yes, I would —
a. A lot has changed since I went 2 years ago and I would enjoy learning opportunities and ideas.
b. You cannot beat being with the network and meeting new friends and hearing new possibilities.
c. The food is superb
BUT — would I travel beyond 90 miles (which used to be a requirement)….nope.
I am glad that they opened it to anyone — but the 90 mile radius they used to have, I feel really made a difference in regards to a “google dump of information” in a concentrated area…..now, and again, this is just my opinion, but with people coming from all over, is the energy, the synergy perhaps, becoming too dispersed and momentum could be lost??
Just my thoughts
Jen
For what it’s worth, I agree and I think Daniel Pink (and his research) would as well. This is not unlike all the other application and platform specific certifications out there. There are a lot of great Dilbert cartoons about this if I could find them. Certifications and titles are fading, if they haven’t already faded, from any level of productive benefit and all too often are just an easy out for those considering applicants who’d rather have someone else do their homework to really test the applicant.
The same goes for formal education in general. We certainly still need schools and educators. But it’s the learning and skills that count, right? Not the title that says you have them.
You capture a handful of the issues surrounding the entire GTA process, and in truth, I’d love to write more, express my opinions, mourn over my recent rejection.
But I’m using Chrome, my blog is hosted on Blogger, my email account (okay, all three of them) is Gmail. I use Reader, have uploaded all documents to Google Docs, I Wave (albeit mostly alone, but no different than many of my social interactions over the years), and all my family photos are on Picasa.
So I don’t think I should say too much. They know enough already. I can not risk rejection from any future application attempt due to comments that will most assuredly find their way back to Google.
I love Google!!!
Did ya’ hear that, Google?
Thanks for your thoughts! Several teachers from my school applied and were not accepted–we are from Canada so the 90 mile radius is not a consideration–it is much more. I attended the CUE conference last March and participated in the 1-day Google Learning Institute which doesn’t certify anyone (it did cost me $250 thought for the day). The day was well spent, however, I still want to be certified. I’m hoping that location doesn’t matter for Google soon and anyone can apply and be considered. There are no sessions held in Canada to my knowledge. We love Google and use it extensively in our classes as well as our global education program. Thanks for sharing!
I’m a googloholic as well (my credentials include promoting Google Sketchup and Google Project Spectrum which no one else has mentioned).But we need to question everything. It’s refreshing to read a post like this as you enlightened me about the process and provided information I was not aware of. It makes me question who benefits more from GTA. Clearly Google wants to connect with educators; are there more effective methods that will benefit greater numbers of educators and not create an “exclusive” network. What is the point of proving allegiance to the Google gospel as part of the application process? Is that typical when applying to programs that award certification? (Do you know the basis for your rejection?) Why is the number of attendees capped at 50?
I look forward to reading other responses to your post.
I read this post awhile back and knew I wanted some time to think about drinking the Google Koolaid (which I did).
I’ve used Google products for years, so going to GTA (Googleplex ‘08) didn’t convert me. I did learn some new tricks at GTA, but the most important thing for me was the reintroduction to the larger edtech world. Following a move to a school with few computers in a district that eliminated their curriculum and technology integration coordinator, I had floundered around for years. GTA helped me find my tech-self again.
My experience, however, doesn’t answer your core question: is there any long term benefit? As with any training or certification, I think you get out of it what you put into it. I was given an amazing opportunity to learn from some amazing educators from around the world (both presenters and those in my table groups). As a result, I am changing my teaching practice to reflect what I learned. I continue to learn something new every day from the PLN I started to develop that day (and have expanded since then).
Would I recommend traveling to the other end of California to attend a GTA? Yes. Would I recommend traveling to other western states? Yes. I believe I got enough out of GTA to justify the expense. How about across the country? Probably not because I would have to take sick days and pay my own way and I’m guessing many other teachers are in the same boat.
@Cathy – you’re right about picking and choosing. There is so much good stuff out there.
@Jen – as usual, great thoughts.
@Mo – will titles & certifications continue fading? I’m not so sure about that.
@Ken – fearing Google? LOL
@Eva – good luck!
@Karen – I have no idea why I wasn’t chosen. That kind of feedback would be nice. It could help in the future.
@Natalie – thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.