Here is detailed information on the free online CPD for teachers. Have you been nursing the idea of taking your game to the next level as a teacher using continuous professional development courses, then, this article is ‘A must-read’ for you.
One thing professionals do is yearn for more. Constantly seeking better and innovative ways to do things, solve problems, make new inventions, etc. This is not peculiar to just one profession; it is seen everywhere. From teachers to doctors to scientists and any other profession you can think of.
However, one of the barriers that prevent people from seeking to upgrade their skills or explore innovative ways is ‘time’. That is, not being able to juggle work and engage in studies at the same time. This lingered for a while till the solution came.
What is the solution? You may ask. It is no other thing than online learning. All thanks to technology. With online learning platforms, you can learn anything from anywhere at any time. The teachers are not left out. There are tons of free online classes that they can enroll in to get professional development.
So, in this article, we will be exploring various free online CPD for teachers. We will also look at the overview of each course to give you a better understanding of them.
Of course, all you need to do is to read through carefully with undivided attention till the last sentence. Hope you are ready?
Table of Contents
Free Online CPD For Teachers
Before I go on to list the online CPD for teachers and give their details, I hope you understand what CPD means. It is an acronym for continuous professional development. It is the intentional development and maintenance of the knowledge/skills needed to work in a professional setting.
Now, here are the online CPD teachers can enroll in for free.
- Essential Digital Skills
- Professional Relationship With Young People
- Emotional Intelligence at Work
- Take Your Teaching Online
- Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Developing Relationships
- The Online Educator: People and Pedagogy
- Managing Behaviour for Learning
- Get Healthy, Get Moving
- Accessibility of eLearning
- Introduction to Cybersecurity for Teachers
- Understanding Language: Learning and Teaching
- Understanding Computer Systems
- Becoming a Better Music Teacher
- Measuring What Matters: Transforming Assessment and Recognition of Complex Learning Competencies
- Best Practice for Education: Professional Development Showcase
- Learning Through Play with LEGO Braille Bricks
- Exploring Gender Equality in Education
1. Essential Digital Skills
The first on our list of free online CPD for teachers is Essential digital skills offered by Enhance and Training Foundation (EHF). The program focuses on helping you to develop your digital skills as a teacher especially while planning to deliver digital skills courses based on the national standards.
The course curriculum contains interactive self-assessment, online learning modules, multimedia CPD toolkit, live online face-to-face CPD events, and many others
Use the link below to get started
2. Professional Relationship With Young People
Professional Relationship with young people is the next on our list. The course gives enough insights on how to develop relationships and working practices with young people. It explores the characteristics of a good professional relationship, and also some ways by which you can develop them.
It is offered by OpenLearn and has a duration of about 8 hours. Use the link below to get started
3. Emotional Intelligence at Work
Emotional Intelligence at Work is a free online CPD for teachers offered by Coventry University and administered through FutureLearn. It explores what emotional intelligence is and its importance.
The course helps you to develop your emotional intelligence skills and explains how it can improve performance in the workplace. It has a duration of 2 weeks.
Use the link below to get started
4. Take Your Teaching Online
Take your teaching online is offered by OpenLearn. It aims at equipping you with the skills and knowledge needed to bring your lessons to online platforms. It explores the common challenges faced during online learning, and how to tackle them.
The course is specially designed for educators, teachers, and leaders, and is also accredited by CPD Standards Office. To get started, use the link given below
5. Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Developing Relationships
This is another course on our list of free online CPD for teachers. It is offered by Commonwealth Education Trust, and administered through Coursera. It focuses on showing you how to develop and strengthen positive relationships with students which in turn improves their learning.
It has flexible deadlines and is 100% online. The duration for completion is 4 weeks
To get started, use the link provided below
6. The Online Educator: People and Pedagogy
The online educator: people and pedagogy is offered by the Open University, and administered through FutureLearn. The course teaches you how to make teaching more engaging and inclusive. It explores how you can build your online identity and pass online research ethics.
It has a duration of 4 weeks and is fully online. To get started, use the link below
7. Managing Behaviour for Learning
Managing Behaviour for Learning focuses on helping you understand how your behaviour influences your students and also explores how you can control your emotions while in the classroom. The course is offered by Stem Learning and administered through FutureLearn.
It has a duration of 5 weeks and is accredited by CPD Certification Service. To get started, use the link below
8. Get Healthy, Get Moving
This is also one of the free online CPD for teachers which explores the importance of physical activity, and how you can add exercise activities to your lifestyle. It is offered by Virtual College, and accredited by CPD.
The course is specially designed for those who want to know more about physical exercise and its benefits, hence the teachers are not left out as they need to be healthy in order to pass quality lessons.
The duration is about 2 hours. To get started, use the link provided below.
9. Accessibility of eLearning
Accessibility of eLearning explores the challenges encountered by students with a disability during online learning and ways to adjust teaching methods to ensure everyone is carried along. It is offered by OpenLearn, and has a duration of about 15 hours.
Use this link below to get started
10. Introduction to Cybersecurity for Teachers
Introduction to Cybersecurity for Teachers explores the concepts of cybersecurity, the different types of attacks one can encounter online such as malware, malicious bots, SQL injections, etc., and tools to protect your data and devices.
This course equips teachers with the knowledge needed to stay safe while using technology. Use the link below to get started
11. Understanding Language: Learning and Teaching
Understanding Language: Learning and Teaching is a free online CPD for teachers offered by the University of Southampton, together with the British Council, and administered through FutureLearn. The course explores the key concepts in the effective teaching and learning of languages.
It is a free fully online course with a duration of about 4 weeks. To get started, use the link given below
12. Understanding Computer Systems
Understanding computer systems is among the free online CPD for teachers that explores how the computer works after hitting the power button. You get to learn about the computer operating system, and what it does. You will also understand what hardware and software are, and be able to state their differences.
It is accredited by CPD Certification Service and has a duration of 3 weeks. To get started, use the link below
13. Becoming a Better Music Teacher
Becoming a better music teacher empowers you with how to improve your teaching strategies and skills as a music instructor. It has a duration of 5 weeks and is fully online.
To get started, Click Here
14. Measuring What Matters: Transforming Assessment and Recognition of Complex Learning Competencies
This free online CPD for teachers explores the assessment of the 21st-century skills and advanced competencies, and how it affects new metrics in education. The duration is about 3 weeks.
To get started, use the link below
15. Best Practice for Education: Professional Development Showcase
Best practice for education: professional development showcase empowers you on practical ways of teaching to support your students. It has a duration of 4 weeks.
To get started, use the link given below
16. Learning Through Play with LEGO Braille Bricks
This is also one of the free online CPD for teachers. It helps you to discover the importance of using a play-based approach to teaching children. It has a duration of 8 weeks and is offered by the LEGO Foundation.
To get started, Click Here
17. Exploring Gender Equality in Education
Exploring gender equality in education explores the skills and strategies you can use to make your classroom or school more inclusive and gender inequality responsive. It has a duration of 3 weeks.
To get started, use the link below
What are CPD Courses?
CPD courses are programs or learning experiences which help you to develop and improve your professional practices.
Are CPD courses free?
Yes, there are free online CPD courses.
Do Employers Recognize CPD?
Yes, CPD is recognized by employers as a valuable and credible feat.
How Many Hours of CPD Do Teachers Need?
Teachers need at least thirty-five hours of CPD annually.
How Do Teachers Earn CPD Points?
Teachers earn CPD points through professional work-based activities, courses, seminars, workshops, self-directed learning, etc.
Recommendations
- Scholarships for Teachers to Study Abroad
. - Best Scholarships to Study Online
. - Colleges that Waive Math Requirements
. - Texas Scholarships for High School Seniors
. - STEM Scholarships for International Students