The need for constant upgrades and honing of skills, especially as a teacher, cannot be over-emphasized. If you are looking for a way to do that using free online courses, here are some of the courses you can explore.
Most people think that immediately they graduate from college of education or have acquired their teachers certificate, they have reached the apex of their learning to becoming educators. But, this is not totally correct as updates roll out daily, and the only way teachers can keep up is to learn constantly.
Take for instance the days when we had only the traditional method of learning. Today, we can see a lot of online platforms through which you can learn anything from any part of the world including the Teachers Professional Development courses that you are looking for.
So in this article, we will be exploring those free online courses for teachers professional development that you can take to enhance your skills and improve your teaching process. All you are required to do is to read through this post with undivided attention till you get to the last sentence.
Table of Contents
What To Expect In A Professional Teacher Development Course
Before I go on to list this, it is important we see the definition of professional teachers development courses. They are courses that cover a good range of topics, aimed at expanding or updating teaching practices to work in hand with technological innovations.
They can be administered using live classes, online courses, in-person lectures, etc. Here are the things you should expect while enrolling for any professional teacher development course.
- Exposure to new/ updated delivery methods of teaching.
- Skills for record-keeping, management, and organization.
- Better learning outcomes for students.
- Deepened knowledge and insights into the industry.
- Strategies for effective communication and teaching.
These and many more are what make up the professional teachers development courses. Without any further ado, let’s see these courses.
Free Online Courses for Teachers Professional Development
I will be giving a brief overview of each of these courses and the requirements for their completion. Please follow me closely as I do that.
- Teaching and Assessing Core Skills
- Introduction To The Learning Through Play Experience Tool
- Uncommon Sense Teaching
- Teaching Character and Creating Positive Classrooms
- What Future for Education?
- Exploring Instructional Leadership in Education
- Introduction to Data Wise: A Collaborative Process to Improve Learning & Teaching
- Measuring What Matters: Transforming Assessment and Recognition of Complex Learning Competencies
- Resilient Teaching Through Time of Crisis and Change
- Literacy Teaching and Learning: Aims, Approaches, and Pedagogies
1. Teaching and Assessing Core Skills
The first on our list of free online courses for teachers professional development is teaching and assessing core skills. This is a 100% online course offered by the British Council, and administered through FutureLearn.
It is specially designed for student leaders and teachers who are interested in building their students’ core skills. The course teaches skills builder approach, and upon completion, you will be able to understand core skills, and also develop a theoretical understanding of how they can be broken down to aid progression.
Duration: 4 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link provided below
2. Introduction To The Learning Through Play Experience Tool
The next on our list is the introduction to the learning through play experience tool. This course is offered by The LEGO Foundation and administered through FutureLearn. It is aimed at helping you to observe play and reflect on what you’ve observed in order to improve the playful learning experience of a child.
The course is specially designed for those who look after kids and want to explore the benefits of learning through play. Upon completion of the course, you will be able to comprehend how children learn through play, and also get familiar with the features of playful experiences that result in deeper learning.
Duration: 3 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link provided below
3. Uncommon Sense Teaching
Uncommon Sense Teaching is another one of the free online courses for teachers professional development. This course is offered by deep learning solutions and administered through Coursera. It is focused on giving you insights on how to deliver your lessons in a more interactive and effective way.
It is 100% online, has shareable certificates, and also flexible deadlines that enable you to study at your own pace. It is taught by Barbara Oakley, Beth Rogowsky, and Dr. Terrence Sejnowski.
Duration: 4 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link below
4. Teaching Character and Creating Positive Classrooms
Teaching Character and creating positive classrooms is a free online teacher development course offered by Relay Graduate School of Education via Coursera. It focuses on teaching you how to explore the key ideas of positive psychology and be able to apply the lessons for maximum student participation and accomplishment.
The 100% online course is taught by Dave Levin and has flexible deadlines that allow you to study at your own pace. Upon completion, you will be awarded a certificate.
Duration: 5 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link below
5. What Future for Education?
What Future for Education is a 100% online course for teachers professional development, offered by the University of London, and delivered through Coursera. It was specially designed to teach you how to engage your ideas about education, teaching, and learning.
You will be able to critically examine your own understanding and experience using theories and ideas developed through educational research upon completion of the course.
It has flexible deadlines and a certificate of completion. The course is taught by Dr. Clare Brooks.
Duration: 6 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link below
6. Exploring Instructional Leadership in Education
Exploring instructional leadership in education is offered by the British Council through FutureLearm. The course is specially prepared for those who want to broaden their knowledge of teaching and learning. It helps you to understand the role of instructional leadership techniques and how they can affect student outcomes.
The course is 100% online, and upon completion, you will be able to explain what it means to be an effective leader, identify better teaching and learning strategies, etc.
Duration: 3 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link below
7. Introduction to Data Wise: A Collaborative Process to Improve Learning & Teaching
Introduction to data wise: a collaborative process to improve learning & teaching is also a free online course designed for teachers professional development. It is offered by Harvard University and administered through edX.
The course aims at teaching you how to use a wide range of data sources to improve learning and teaching. It is a self-paced course and taught by Kathryn Parker Boudett.
Duration: 10 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link below
8. Measuring What Matters: Transforming Assessment and Recognition of Complex Learning Competencies
This is another online course for teachers professional development on our list that you can enroll for free. It is offered by the University of Melbourne, and administered through FutureLearn.
The course gears at teaching you how to develop your learning design, learning ambitions, and assessment design to optimize student success. It is 100% online and taught by Sandra Milligan.
Duration: 3 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link below
9. Resilient Teaching Through Times of Crisis and Change
This free online course focuses on teaching you approaches to take while teaching in a fluctuating conditions and disruption. It is offered by the University of Michigan, and administered through Coursera.
Upon completion of the course, you will be able to identify technology and tools that can be used for effective interactions in support of teaching and learning at the time of crisis or change.
Duration: 4 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link below
10. Literacy Teaching and Learning: Aims, Approaches, and Pedagogies
This is another course on our list of free online courses for teachers professional development. It is offered by the University of Illinois, and administered through Coursera.
The course teaches a wide range of historical and contemporary approaches to literacy pedagogy and is very flexible to enable you learn at your own pace.
Duration: 4 Weeks
Price: Free
To get started, use the link below
What Qualifies As A Professional Development For Teachers?
These are the programs, workshops, seminars, or activities in which teachers engage to learn better ways or skills on how to deliver their lessons more efficiently for the improvement of the student’s achievement.
How Do Teachers Get Professional Development Hours?
Professional development hours for teachers may come from their scheduled academic seminars, conferences, online classes, workshop training, etc.
Recommendations
- Online Degree Scholarships for Developing Countries
. - How Fast Can You Get a Bachelor’s Degree Online?
. - Easiest Vet Schools to Get Into
. - Most Valuable Degrees In Canada
. - Best Scholarships to Study Online