This week I have been mostly…
Ill
I wasn’t very well at the start of the week – just a bug but it made me feel awful. I took a couple of days off work.
Camping
With my parents away on holiday and Hannah at work I’d booked Wednesday off to look after Ben. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to go camping, just us two, for the first time.
Ben was really well-behaved, but the rain was absolutely torrential on Tuesday night! I thought he’d slept reasonably well, but he asked to go to bed when we got home and slept for another 3 hours…
Preparing
I’ve got some important stuff coming up:
Writing
I’m continuing the JISC Mobile & Wireless Technologies review I started last month, having some really interesting conversations with some extremely innovative people. There’s so much to learn and synthesize!
My thesis is starting to slightly concern me. Although I’ve announced that I’m no longer blogging here every day I’ve got so much left to do. The trouble isn’t the writing of the thing, it’s the keeping up with such a fast-moving field! I undertook my Ed.D. mainly because I love researching but I have to say I’ll be glad when it’s all over.
An idea went through my head earlier this week about a short, free ebook that would serve as a productivity kickstarter. I couldn’t stop thinking about what to include, how to format it, etc. so ended up spending a few hours writing #onfire: ignite your productivity. Do let me know what you think!
Introduction
The first ever Google Teacher Academy UK is coming to London on Thursday 29th July 2010! The only reason I’m accepting for YOU not applying is if you’ve already booked your summer holiday for that date. And even then, it had better be somewhere nice… :-p
If you’re an educator (especially if you’re in the UK) this is a great opportunity to be part of something that we’ve called (and especially Tom Barrett) has called for over the last few years. In addition, you could get to become a Google Certified Teacher!
Application Process
There’s two parts to the application process: an online form and a 1-minute video.
You can apply for Google Teacher Academy UK here:
http://www.google.com/educators/gta.html
(closing date: 17 June 2010)
Advice
Here’s 10 bits of advice from me if you’re thinking of applying:
- Read what’s required of you. Seriously. For example, don’t submit a video that’s longer than 1 minute in length!
- It’s not how much you know about Google and use their tools already. You are allowed to show proficiency in other tools and processes.
- The video needs to address one (or both) of the these themes: a) Motivation and Learning, b) Classroom Innovation. You don’t have to feature physically in the video, but these themes do.
- Don’t whinge. Show yourself in a positive light.
- There’s no point in ticking every box for a question. It’s as if you didn’t tick any of them if you do that.
- In the ‘technology skills’ section, don’t do yourself down. If you’re not a newbie, there’s no reason to tick the newbie box!
- Read up on what Google Certified Teachers do and who they are. It will make your answers more informed.
- Post your video on YouTube. Not elsewhere. And make it publicly viewable (double-check!)
- Fill in your answers in a word processor (Google Docs!) and then copy-and-paste the answers in to the form. This will give you chance to reflect on them and run a word count.
- Some people have added the one-minute application video to their Google Certified Teacher page (e.g. Chris Craft). Check these out for inspiration – as well a YouTube search for ‘Google Teacher Academy’.
Conclusion
I’m firmly of the opinion that it’s worth giving up not only some of your summer holiday for Google Teacher Academy but also the time it takes to apply. You don’t need to be a current teacher to apply (I’m not!) but you do need to work with educators in some way. Cite your online as well as offline work.
This isn’t a time to be shy, it’s a time to step up and apply for something potentially life-changing. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the end of July! 😀
Image based on originals CC BY dannysullivan
