Last weekend, I had the chance to connect with Melanie Farrell, Chris Tuttell and Kyle Hamstra three people who challenge my thinking more than just about anyone.

Our conversation centered around the increasing trend by #edtech companies to offer both certifications and ambassadorships to core users — and the increasing trend by teachers in social spaces to “badge up” their profiles.

People are just as likely to identify themselves as Apple Distinguished Educators or Google Certified Teachers or Flipgrid Student Voice Ambassadors as they are to identify themselves as classroom teachers. You can become a Dremel Certified Teacher or a NearPod Certified Educator or a SeeSaw Ambassador. I know Star Discovery Educators, Alpha Squirrels and EverFi Certified Teachers.

On the surface, all of these programs have value to individual teachers, don’t they?

Source: I’m Not Google Certified. Does That Make Me a Bad Teacher? | THE TEMPERED RADICAL