Mr. GO, a chemistry teacher at FVHS, was chosen to attend an exclusive two day training program in New York called Google Teacher Academy this past month.
Google Teacher Academy helps educators take advantage of technology in this day and age in order to improve teaching and learning for students. Only 60 applicants are chosen out of a large pool of contenders to attend this prestigious conference.
When did you decide you wanted to integrate online resources with school and why?
I started integrating online resources in my instruction and in my delivery of content back in 2007. The reason for the shift started when I began to think about how technology tools will eventually permeate into a teacher’s everyday tasks. I understood early on that technology would revolutionize education, and I wanted to be at the forefront of this change.
How was the application process for Google Academy? Was it difficult?
The application for Google Teacher Academy itself was not difficult. You had to complete a Google Form and answer questions about yourself and what you do in education. The most challenging part was in the production of the video. Applicants are asked to create a 1 minute video that addresses either Motivation & Learning, Classroom Innovation, or Improving your Community. This video was to be uploaded into YouTube for the judges to view, and for everyone to see. The idea for my video was that I wanted it to stand out in a sea of professionally produced video clips that were much more polished than mine. I wanted it to be about me and what I do on a daily basis, and also incorporate my thoughts and feelings about technology in education. Since I am a teacher, I took it as an opportunity to make an analogy to science education. All that crammed into a minute was difficult to do, but I was able to do it.
How did you feel when you learned that you got into Google Academy?
I had applied to the Google Teacher Academy before, and was turned down. So I tried to not put any expectations the second time around. But when I received the email from GTA, I was ecstatic!
How was Google Academy? What did you learn? How do you plan to implement those ideas into FVHS?
GTA was the most inspiring learning and collaborative experience that I have ever experienced. I was in a room of technology leaders, principals, assistant principals, and teachers from all over the world. I was definitely intimidated at first, but everyone was so great and welcoming. These people are the top figures in educational technology, and I am now a part of that amazing group of about 800 in the whole world.
I’ve blogged about my experience here. But to quickly summarize, I learned that it is not enough to do great things. Education now has to be collaborative and open. This is how we can change the world we live in. I plan to present many of my ideas and reflections with the staff and students at FVHS if given the opportunity.
How do you think your students have responded to your push on them using more online resources?
I believe that my students already understand that technology use needs to be a part of their lives. You can measure this by the amount of time they spend holding a mobile device in their hands, or by measuring the amount of time they spend in front of a computer display. I am just showing them the possibilities of using these consumer technologies in their learning, and how they can benefit from it. I have current and former students who thank me for showing them how to manage information, create projects, and utilize their time wisely because of the technology tools that I have shown them.
What do you hope your students will learn?
I hope that my students will learn how to incorporate these technologies into their daily workflows in academia and in their professional lives.
He looks like me when I first went to Disneyland.