10 Honest, Opinionated Tips to Becoming a Google Innovator

Becoming a Google Innovator is a great accomplishment and was life-changing for me. I want to help other experience this so...

Here are 10 honest, opinionated tips to help you become a Google Innovator!
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1. Make sure your Level 2 certificate can be seen (the sharing settings). Also, make sure to put the links to your social media instead of your social media handles (@educatoralex). In other words, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!!!! Read everything in the directions and follow them!

2.  Speaking of social media...if you do not already have a Google+ and Twitter account, create both now! Start posting to them (new content and sharing others content). That way, you will have content on your accounts before you fill out the application. You may also be pleasantly surprised that you start to learn and interact with other educators and begin to build your PLN.

3. Look around...what do you have that you have created that you are proud of? If you do not have anything, make something. It could be a blog, a website, or a tool for educators/students to use...just make sure that YOU created it.

4. Make sure that the video shows your personality (if you are boring, steal someone else’s personality for the video). Do a skit with other people, have fun, show why you are unique and show your googliness. Please do not just talk to the camera...also stay away from PowToon--even though I love and teach PowToon-- and videos where you show pictures as you speak...nothing is wrong with doing this...just so many people do these! You want to STAND OUT! Your video does not have to be Hollywood quality by any means...just show your personality...make me care about this...it should look like you spent more than 10 minutes on this video!

5. The Innovator application has changed! Please make sure to read it carefully! It's no longer you discussing what you want to accomplish to change education, but it's more concentrated on what the problem is in education that you would like to solve. So concentrate on the problem and not the solution just yet. So if you have applied before, you need to rethink your answers and your video. Concentrate on the problem, why is it a problem, why does it need to be solved, and why is it such a big issue that you should concentrate on it.

6. Don't try to impress Google with Google! They know you love Google! Choose a problem that is a passion for you instead of one that can be solved with Google products.

7. Don't name-drop! It is not impressive. If you want to, get those people to do a nomination form for you instead.

8. If you don't get in, try again! Many Innovators applied MULTIPLE times before getting in.

9. If you know any Innovators, get them to look at your application and your video to give you honest feedback about what they think you should change (make sure that they understand that the application process has changed less toward a solution and more towards the problem).
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10. You want the problem you choose to be something that you are passionate about finding a solution to. That passion needs to show in everything you write and the video you produce. You don’t have much space or time, so make every word and every frame count! If the problem is not a universal problem, make sure you are explaining it well.

So there they are...my 10 honest, opinionated tips! If I can ever help you with your application, definitely reach out and let me know.

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