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My name is Michael Mills, and I'm an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and
Learning at the University of Central Arkansas. I would appreciate your consideration of me
as a Google Certified Trainer.
I am devoted to integrating technology in practical ways in my classes so that my students,
when they become teachers, will have the skills they need to better manage their classes,
assess their students, and communicate with parents.
I want my students to learn how to create lessons that get their students collaborating.
I want my students to learn how to organize their personal and professional lives so they
can thrive as teachers, not just survive. And I want my students to feel comfortable
with experimenting on their own and knowing that it's okay not to have all the answers.
After all, sometimes it's more fun finding the answers than knowing the answers.
But my class is not enough. I want to help other instructors open their classrooms to
increased collaboration, as I did. I want students who aren't in my classes to have
an opportunity to learn what Google Apps can do for them and their future students.
That's why I want to become a Google Certified Trainer. I want to train other faculty and
our preservice teachers at our university in Google Apps for Education. And I don't
want to stop there. As more of our local schools are going 1:1 and adopting Bring-Your-Own-Device
policies, these teachers will also need training in how to create engaging lessons that promote
collaboration and creativity.
As you'll read in my application, I am well qualified to lead the Google charge here in
Arkansas. I've recently been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator, have authored
several publications on integrating technology in the classroom, notably a chapter in The
Plugged-In Professor on using Google Slides to promote collaboration, and have presented
numerous times at state and national EdTech conferences like SITE, ISTE, and SXSWedu.
I look forward to working with Google to help our current and next generation of teachers
be prepared for the challenges and rewards of integrating Google Apps in their classrooms.
Thank you for your consideration.