Google for Education Certified Trainer = Me

Overwhelmed. Humbled. A little nervous. SO. EXCITED!!!!!!

I got the long awaited acceptance email back in December and spend most of that weekend reading through posts on in the trainers group page, submitting my info to the database and general geeking out. And of course, I immediately put my shiny new badge into my email signature and sidebar of this very blog. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the process of applying for this certification. It was A LOT of work, but well worth the effort. Until this application, I really hadn't don't any training videos that involved me on the screen talking. It's still a little weird to sit an edit a video of myself, but doing for this application has shown me that I can and spurred me on to create more mini training videos in the (hopefully near) future. 

Bringing this journey full circle, I just submitted a few presentation proposals for the EdTechTeam Summit featuring Google for Education in Franklin, IN this April. It was at this AMAZING conference last year that I first started on the road to becoming a Certified Trainer. Really hoping that I get to share some of the Google love and put my trainer cred to the test at this year's summit. 

Google Expeditions Pioneer Program

So. Excited. SO. EXCITED!!!

Tomorrow, one of the elementary schools in our district is hosting the Google Expeditions Pioneer Program. I had a chance to take a little preview of the program at this year's HECC conference, and it is amazeballs.

Here's the basics:
Using Google Cardboard viewers and a class set of Android devices, teachers lead students (using a tablet) on a 360° virtual field trip. The teacher device has a script to follow and allows the teacher to see where all of her students currently are in the virtual environment. She also has the ability to point out areas of interest (which students will see in their viewers). There are trips to museums, the rain forest, even the moon!

I got a Cardboard viewer last year and have had a blast exploring the different apps currently available for the iPhone. I'm even toying with the idea of getting a pre-paid Android to use for the wifi so I can play around with the #360Video channel on YouTube and really use the Google Cardboard app. 

But my favorite viewer by far looks like this:

I know I've got my original knocking around in a box somewhere, complete with Muppets and Sesame Street picture wheels. 

Can't wait to share this experience with the kids tomorrow!