Leading Beyond the Library: Becoming a Google Certified Educator

Librarians have always been on the forefront of information technology, from tablets and scrolls to microfiche and now we an obligation to continue this tradition by being aware of and learning new technology tools to enhance the learning opportunities of our patrons.

I believe this is a main reason Leading Beyond the Library and Facilitating Professional Learning are an essential component to the Future Ready Librarians Framework.  By pursuing my Google Certification, I am able to support my Future Ready Librarian goals and the district's goals for deeper learning with the use of technology integration, curating digital resources and tools, and empowering our students as learners.  By understanding G Suite apps and how they can be applied to our classroom and our library, I can help facilitate professional learning as well.  What I liked most about the certification process is that it allowed me to learn Google more in-depth and how it can be applied for deeper learning.  While I learned a little from the Level 1 training, it was mostly information and skills I previously knew.  Level 2 took what I already knew and made me apply it more in-depth.  I also learned aspects of Gmail I did not know, which was awesome!

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My goal is to now be able to offer G Suite professional development to teachers as an option for our Bagels, Books, and Bytes sessions or for teachers on an individual basis while also incorporating it into our library programming to lead by modeling.





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Curious why else you should consider getting your Google Certification? Check out what Kacey Bell says:

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Interested in Google Certification?

I found Kasey Bell's Level 1 matrix and information extremely helpful.  Check out her info here.

To go more in depth with G Suite for Level 2, check out the Google Training website. I bookmarked anything I may have needed more information on during the test (like shortcuts for Google Sheets). 

Side note: Make sure you register for the exam the day before you want to take the test.  It can take 24 hours for the test to be ready.