NEA Micro-Credential LibraryA micro-credential is a short, competency-based recognition. Micro-credentials are personalized, flexible, and performance based. You can create your own learning journey and study when it's convenient for you. The journey is based on your interests and career goals; gaps in your skills; the specific needs of your students, school, and district; and are awarded based on demonstrated mastery of the subject matter. Micro-credentials are free to members and $75 for non-members. You can visit the NEA YouTube playlist to learn more.
|
Apple TeacherApple Teacher is a free professional learning program designed to support and celebrate educators using Apple products for teaching and learning. As an educator you can build skills on your iPad and Mac. You can also work on the Foundational Skills collection, which include fun, guided tutorials for teaching and learning with Apple technology. There is also a Lesson Integration collection, which includes inspiring ideas for bringing iPad and Mac into your lessons. Build your Apple Teacher Portfolio, work with Everyone Can Create, and develop with Swift Playgrounds. All lessons and badges are free with an Apple ID.
If you want to take you learning to the next level you can apply to be an Apple Learning Coach. Apple Learning Coach is a free professional learning program that trains instructional coaches, digital learning specialists, and other coaching educators to help teachers get more out of Apple technology. The program is only available at certain times throughout the year, it requires an application, your Apple Teacher recognition in the Learning Center, and about 44 hours of commitment to complete the learning journey. However, when you're done you will gain a deeper understanding of how to support different teachers as they integrate technology into learning. Complete the Apple Teacher program, watch this video to learn more, and be on the lookout for an email inviting you to apply to be an Apple Learning Coach
|
Google Teacher CenterThere are three areas within Google Teacher Center to get familiar with. The first area is the Google Teacher Training Center. The Teacher Training Center contains:
The second part of the website are the Level 1 and Level 2 Educator Certifications. Demonstrate your mastery of Google tools for your classroom at level 1. The certificate is valid for 3 years, the test takes 180 minutes to complete, and the registration is $10. At level 2, you can validate your expertise and advanced integration skills. This certification is also valid for 3 years, the test takes 180 minutes to complete, and the registration is $25. Finally, there are programs for professional development and student engagement. Once you've completed the Level 1 and 2 Educator Certifications you can choose between becoming a Certified Trainer, a Certified Coach, or a Certified Innovator. Each of these programs require a different monetary and time commitment.
|
Adobe Creative EducatorWork to become an Adobe Creative Educator. As a Creative Educator you will receive curated professional development materials, information about virtual and in-person events, and the opportunity to connect with like-minded educators from around the world. To be recognized as a Creative Educator you will need to complete two one-hour courses designed to help you inspire creativity. After you earn your badges you'll earn curated professional development materials, information about virtual and in-person events, and connect with other adobe educators.
At level 1, you will review the creative process through a one hour course and create a simple learning artifact that shows your creativity. At level 2, you will learn how to plan for creativity through instructional design, submit two learning artifacts, and share your instructional plan.
Along with becoming a Creative Educator you can also join the conversation by joining the Adobe community, using the hashtag #AdobeEDUCreative on Twitter, or join the Facebook group.
|
SMART Ambassador & CertificationsSMART Notebook and SMART Learning Suite Online (SLSO) are two of the most powerful programs teachers can have in their classroom. One way to take that power to the next level is by joining the SMART Ambassador Program. As a SMART Ambassador you will increase your Professional Learning Network (PLN) and grow as an EdTech leader, participate in global collaborative projects, be invited to exclusive global and regional events, webinars and inspirational speakers, connect with the SMART team to turn your feedback into future features, be the first to hear about new product developments, and much more. There are three levels within the SMART Ambassadorship program until you reach the pinnacle level as a SMART Innovator.
SMART Tech has three levels of SMART Certifications. At level 1 you will build a foundation of interactive skills to engage learners. To get certified at level 1, you complete a short program course and take a SMART Certified Educator exam that costs $10. At level 2, you will develop innovative ways to enhance and extend learning. To get certified at level 2, you complete the teaching and learning portion of the program and must pass a SMART Certified Champion exam that costs $25. At level 3, you will learn to deliver quality training to empower other to effectively integrate SMART Tools. To get certified at level 3, you complete the training methods portion of the program and must pass a SMART Certified Trainer exam that costs $299.
|
Microsoft Education CenterThe Microsoft Educator Center is a focused learning environment to support multimedia experiences that keep educator, students, and families connected. You can filter resources by activity type, difficulty, progress, subject, age, skill development, duration, and product. Resources like the Learning Paths and Courses are free. The Learning Paths provide you with a duration and outline and after each point in the outline you awarded a new badge. Courses are similar to Learning Paths but they usually have a singular focus and a shorter duration. Courses are also free and provide you with a recognition badge at the end of the course.
If you are ready to take your expertise to another level you may want to consider taking Microsoft Exams. Completing Learning Paths can help prepare you to take Microsoft Exams to validate your competencies in those areas. Exam prices vary depending on the test but when you look up an exam it will point you toward the Learning Paths (if they are available), any required payment, instructor led courses, or study guides that might be available for the exam. To find the educator exams you can create a free Microsoft account and head to the Exam Dashboard.
|
Seesaw Pioneer & Ambassador ProgramsIf you are new to Seesaw you can start with the Training for Teachers website before working to become a certified educator. The first website is the the Seesaw Pioneer program. This website is designed for those educators who are beyond the basics and are ready to take the next step to connect and grow in a supportive learning environment. You can join the free Community Learning Hub and complete the free, one hour course to become a Seesaw Pioneer. Once you're official, you'll receive an exclusive badge, certificate, and access to a private Facebook group; tips, tricks, and innovative ideas; resources and valuable community events; and connections with other educators to help you grow as a Seesaw leader.
To become a Seesaw Ambassador you must be invited and use the paid Seesaw service, Seesaw for Schools. Once you're invited you must complete the free, on-demand, five hour course within 30 days of your invitation. The benefits of becoming a Seesaw Ambassador are to join a community with other educators around the world, gain access to a private toolkit and private Community Learning Hub with exclusive courses, an invitation to a private Facebook group, badge, certificate, and a voice for and sneak peek at the future of Seesaw features.
The third level in the Seesaw program is to become a Seesaw Certified Educator. To achieve that status you must maintain your Seesaw Ambassador status for three years and get personally invited to the community to share, lead, and inspire other educators. If you are an active Seesaw Ambassador you are automatically invited to become a Seesaw Certified Educator.
|
Kami Training ProgramsWhen you head to the Kami Training Programs website you have access to free online courses for professional development, recognition with exclusive certificates and badges, and opportunities to represent Kami in your district and community.
There are two levels to becoming a Kami Certified Educator. Within the free certification program you will receive free self-paced training, badges and certificates, and you will join a global learning community. To begin the Level 1 certification, you will join the Kami Educators Facebook Community, submit an application for certification, and complete the one hour course to receive your certification and badge. To complete the Level 2 certification you must first complete Level 1, submit an application and complete the 1 to 2 hour free course to receive your certification and badge. By completing Kami certification you will get access to sponsorship for training events and presentations, build a strong network with other educators, and become a go-to resource for your school and district.
The Kami Hero Ambassador program is only in its fourth year but it is the pinnacle for educators passionate about Kami. Applications for this program are held annually from November through to December. The Ambassador program is looking for educators with a deep understanding of Kami tools, features, and professional development. Educators selected actively contribute to group discussions and shareable resources within the Kami community, are vocal advocates of the platform, attend virtual and in-person events, and help teachers get started on the Teacher Plan. There are also a lot of perks that come with being selected as a Hero Ambassador and you can read all about them over on the Kami website.
|
Nearpod Certified EducatorNearpod has two levels to their certified educator program. To get started with Level 1 of the certified educators program you need to attend a live webinar, self-paced webinar, or in-person training. You also need to create a lesson that follows Nearpod's best practices lesson guide. Finally, you need to launch a Nearpod lesson with 15 people joining the lesson. Once you have completed all three steps you will complete an application that is reviewed by Nearpod to decide if you meet the criteria of being a certified educator. The application process also requires you describe a time in your classroom when you struggled with a problem and explain how Nearpod was able to solve that problem. If you're accepted to the program you will receive 6 months of Gold level access for free, invitations to regularly scheduled events to discuss edtech strategies, and be one of the first to learn about new Nearpod product features.
To become an Advanced Nearpod Certified Educator you must complete Level 1 and then fill out the application to be an Advanced Educator. The application requires you complete a Nearpod to the Next Level self-paced lesson, complete a Pedagogical Approach to Nearpod self-paced lesson, create an original lesson using the pedagogical models of your choice, and fill out the form and submit your links. After completing the application you will hear back on your results within one to two weeks. Both Level 1 and the Advance Certified Educator programs are free.
If you aren't ready to apply to be a certified educator you can join the Nearpod Facebook group to learn how to transform your classroom with Nearpod. you can read the blog and learn about tools that will teach you about successful classroom strategies. You can also follow on Twitter to read how educators around the world are using Nearpod.
|
Flipgrid Certified EducatorThere are three levels within the Flipgrid Certified Educator program. By completing the Level 1 badge, you are letting your school and community know that you are committed to empowering student voice. To complete the Level 1 badge you need to complete your educator profile on Flipgrid, complete the Engage and Amplify course on the Microsoft Education Center, record a response to the Level 1 Topic answering the prompt, and use Flipgrid with your students or colleagues and receive at least three video responses. As a bonus, you can join Flipgrid conversation on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
By completing the Level 2 badge you will deepen your understanding and enrich your engagement with Flipgrid. To complete the Level 2 certification you need to complete Level 1, complete the Beyond the Basics course on the Microsoft Educator Center, explore how you can engage families and the community by creating a MixTape and adding at least three videos from across your topics, and share your voice by posting a video on the topic. You will email someone at Flipgrid demonstrating that you have completed all of the necessary requirements to become a Level 2 Educator.
To become a Level 3 Certified Educator it is going to take a little commitment. To begin with, you must use Flipgrid in your community for at least six months, complete Level 1 and Level 2 badges, complete the Discover the Discovery Library course on the Microsoft Educator Center, post at least ten topics in the Discovery Library, create a collection of 10 topics, and share your voice as a #GridGuide by posting in the Level 3 topic. Once you've completed all the requirements you will email someone at Flipgrid demonstrating that you have completed all of the necessary requirements to become a Level 3 Educator.
|
Kahoot Certified EducatorThere are many levels and layers to getting Kahoot certified. To begin, there are three levels, bronze, silver, and gold. Each course at the various levels only takes about an hour to complete. After you've completed the introductory levels you can then look at getting certified through five advanced courses.
Getting certified at the Bronze Level is all about getting started with Kahoot. At this level you will learn to navigate Kahoot, search and discover high-quality activities, duplicate and customize Kahoots, and launch and host a live game. The Silver Level is all about creation and play. At this level, you will learn to create Kahoot from scratch, add multimedia, learn about different game options, assign student-paced challenges, and learn how to make the most out of Kahoot in a distance learning setting. Finally, the Gold Level is all about reports, formative assessments, and the Kahoot app. At this level, you will learn how to access and analyze reports, use Kahoot for formative assessments, master the app, understand how to use Kahoot for revision, gain a clearer understanding for the deeper uses of Kahoot, and get a discount on premium upgrades. Once you complete a level you are also eligible for professional development credits.
Once you've completed the main three levels of Kahoot certification you can work on Advanced Certification Courses. These courses are short, 30-minute lessons that will help you learn more about interactivity, self-study, data driven instruction, getting connected, and mastering Kahoot. Kahoot is also working on several other lesson that are currently in development. If all these certifications aren't enough, you can join Kahoot Academy and work to become a verified educator. Kahoot Academy is a unique online community and knowledge platform that lets educators access and share high-quality learning content, build a profile, and join communities based on their subjects and interests.
|
Wakelet CommunityThe Wakelet Community has three levels through which you can progress. At the first level, you join the Wakelet Community. The Community Level is looking for passionate educators who would like to test pre-release features and provide feedback, who would like a behind-the-scenes look at feature updates, and those educators that would like swag when presenting to others. The application is easy, answer some questions, let them know how you currently use Wakelet, and wait to hear back. Once you are accepted into the community you will receive a Community badge and a resource pack.
The second level of the Wakelet Community is to become a Community Leader. As a leader you will share Wakelet with you learning community, attend exclusive webinars and training sessions, connect with the Wakelet team with priority support, and earn more swag and badges. To become a Community Leader you will first need to join the Wakelet Community, fill out a Community Leader application, and complete and share a Community Leader collection that you have curated in Wakelet. Wakelet provides you a template for the Community Leader Application.
The final phase of the Wakelet Community is to become a Wakelet Ambassador. As a Wakelet Ambassador you will receive training directly from Wakelet and work with them on product development, you can propose and share ideas with fellow ambassadors, and receive exclusive swag and recognition of your accomplishments. To become a Wakelet Ambassador you must be a Wakelet Leader, have a minimum of ten collections and at least 100 saved bookmarks, and complete a template collection that demonstrates why you would make a great Wakelet Ambassador.
|
Edpuzzle Certified EducatorEduzzle is full of online professional development to help you get officially certified. There are 20 different professional development sessions ranging from 30 to 90 minutes, filled with various module levels, and covering all ability levels. There are two Edpuzzle levels, three Edpuzzle and learning management systems courses, there's a coaching level, gamification level, project-based learning level, Google tools level, 21st century learning level, technology integration level, and many more. With each course you complete you will receive a certificate of completion, continued education credit, an exclusive badge and access to resources, templates, and more. Edpuzzle has one of the most comprehensive professional development libraries of any edtech tool. To get started, click the link and start learning today.
|
Mote CommunityThe Mote community is all about fast and friendly feedback. To get started with Mote, you can join the many educators who have already signed up for the Facebook group. Members of this group discuss products, feedback, and marketing.
If you want to take your Mote knowledge to the next level you can work to become a Mote Certified Educator. To become a Certified Educator you will need to pass a Mote quiz with a score of at least 80%. Once you pass the quiz you will become a Mote Certified Educator and gain access to exclusive webinars, competitions and community activities.
The final stage in the Mote Community is to become a Mote Ambassador. To become a Mote Ambassador you must first become a Certified Educator and then submit an application for one of the cohorts Mote offers throughout the year. You can check the Mote Community page for more information about when the cohort will be accepting applications. As a Mote Ambassador you will receive Mote swag, a VIP Mote license, access to exclusive Ambassador only webinars, Mote feature previews, a Mote social media faceholder and certificate. Get started on your Mote journey today.
|
Ditch that Textbook by Matt MillerHead over to Matt's website and checkout his Summer PD Bingo PDF that you can download. The website has 25 links to resources to help you get ahead with the technology and students with whom you might work.
ditchthattextbook.com/summer-pd/ |