"I've been working with Google on various education initiatives for the past few years, and I know that a Google Teachers Academy will likely becoming to Chicago this fall as well, but nothing beats seeing their extraordinary headquarters up close and personal, or so I am told!

"The GTA provides training  several times a year for teacher leaders on using Google Apps in classrooms. The next GTA will take place in Mountain View, Califorinia, in June at the company's headquarters, known to some  as the Googleplex.The application process to participate in the Google Teachers Academy and to become a Google Certified Teacher is fairly straightforward, but competitive. For additional details and an application, visit http://www.google.com/educators/index.html. 

Also, note that Google has also announced today a new site for teachers called Geo Education http://www.google.com/educators/geo.html. Geo Education provides all sorts of materials for incorporating Google Earth, Google Maps, Google Sky, and Google SketchUp into classroom instruction."