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Google Teacher Academy

Applications now open for the Google Teacher Academy UK on April 4, 2012 (with an optional unconference on April 5, 2012). Deadline extended! Apply by 11:59 PDT on 16 February 2012.

About the Academy

50 innovative educators are selected to attend each GTA based on the merits of their online application. Potential applicants include classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, technology specialists, librarians, administrators, professional trainers, and other education professionals who actively serve the worlds’ primary and secondary teachers and students.

Participants are selected based on their professional experience, their passion for teaching and learning, and their successful use of technology in school settings. Since the program relies on a "train-the-trainers" model, we are particularly interested in educators who actively provide technology-related mentoring or training for classroom teachers. For this event, the first international GTA, we are also seeking applicants from a variety of nations - and applicants with international teaching experience.

Participants must provide their own travel, and if necessary, their own lodging.

The GTA is designed to create a strong professional learning community of educators who support each other over the course of a year, so if you are not local, you must be willing to be resourceful with all technologies to facilitate communication and collaboration with your fellow Google Certified Teachers.

Google Certified Teachers

Educators who attend a Google Teacher Academy become Google Certified Teachers.

Google Certified Teachers are:

• Exceptional educators with a passion for using innovative tools to improve teaching and learning.
• Creative leaders who understand their local needs and can spread innovation as a recognized expert.
• Ambassadors for change who model high expectations, life-long learning, collaboration, equity & inclusion, and innovation.

Google Certified Teachers are expected to:

• Develop a "Personal Action Plan."
• Lead at least three local professional development activities over the course of 12 months.
• Successfully deploy one school on to Google Apps for Education.
• Actively participate in the Google Certified Teacher Online Community.
• Share the impact of their work with other Google Certified Teachers through an end-of-year reflection.

In addition to a free day of training, Google Certified Teachers get:

• Access to the GCT Online Community.
• Access to additional free educational resources.
• Opportunities to give Google feedback on educational uses of tools.
• Invitations to join Google at special events.
• The right to post the GCT web badge on their website or blog.

Application Requirements

All applications to the Google Teacher Academy must be submitted using our online form. Only completed applications submitted before the deadline will be considered.

*NOTE: Each applicant to the Google Teacher Academy is REQUIRED to produce and submit an original one minute video on EITHER of the following topics: "Motivation and Learning" OR "Classroom Innovation." Be as creative as you like.

Once you create the video, you must post it on the Web to Google Video or YouTube for us to download or view, then paste the specific URL for your video into the appropriate field on the application. We will not accept videos by email, and we will not watch more than one minute. So, make it count!

This video is a very important part of your application. The task is designed to demonstrate your technical ability, your resourcefulness, your commitment, and your unique personality and interests. We realize that you may have never produced a video before and that you may not own video equipment, but through perseverance we are confident you can find a way to meet this requirement. You do not need to be in the video, but please do not submit videos produced for another project or videos created by others. We're specifically looking for educators that creatively address one of the above topics in an original way. Please be sure not to mark your video “private,” as the selection committee will be unable to view your submission.

The Google Teacher Academy is coordinated by CUE and WestEd