Every educator’s role is to pass on their knowledge to their students. But not just any knowledge. It’s important that what you’re teaching them is based on the current body of knowledge. This means that you have to be updated with new teaching practices and strategies. This is relevant to today’s situation as the world calls for more online educators.
With that being said, this article will help you understand how advancement courses help your career. The article also lists down some of the best advancement courses that you can enroll in. Read on to find out more.
Why Is Continuing Education Important for Your Career?
Continuing education for teachers usually consists of graduate-level courses to advance their careers. It is necessary to keep their state licensing since it keeps teachers informed about the best practices in their job.
More importantly, as the world shifted to remote learning environments, the demand for quality education is growing. In addition to this, states require each teacher to adhere to a set of professional standards. These standards guide teachers to provide high-quality education for their students. Continuing education for teachers helps you achieve this.
There are different ways where teachers benefit from advancement courses, including:
- Increasing opportunities of getting a promotion or a higher compensation
- Enhancing job performance
- Improving job stability and marketability
- Preparing for higher-level positions, such as teaching at a university
- Providing networking opportunities for teachers
Best Advancement Courses for Professional Development
Every state has its own set of regulations for teachers’ continuing professional development. And some courses are required for them to stay in the education field. For example, the state of New Jersey listed professional development topics required to obtain teacher recertification credits.
These days, advancement courses for teachers are accessible online and can be completed at your own pace. You can find such courses through colleges, universities, and educational organizations. Programs that offer advancement courses consist mostly of topics such as:
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Character Education
- Classroom Management
- Educational Technology
- Special Education
- Learning to Teach Online
Teaching students in person is different from teaching them online. You may be a good teacher, but online teaching can be tricky if you’re not used to it. While the objectives of online and in-person instruction are the same, the setting is not. This changes the content since different teaching mediums necessitate various teaching methods.
This course will provide you with a working knowledge of the best practices for teaching classes online. It will also match your unique teaching abilities with the best platform and technology for you. This advancement course will let you design learning activities using different online learning platforms.
Where to enroll: UNSW Sydney
- Inclusive Teaching: Supporting All Students in the College Classroom
Every student processes information differently. Some are visual learners, while others require writing down everything to remember it. Some students have learning difficulties, which affect their ability to absorb knowledge quickly. How do you balance the teaching environment to meet everyone’s demands as an educator?
In this free online course, you’ll learn how to create and maintain an inclusive learning environment. Some topics include:
- Setting specific expectations
- Fostering inclusivity through course materials
- Planning all course materials for accessibility
- Practicing critical self-reflection
Where to enroll: Columbia University
- Teaching With Google Classroom
Due to the pandemic, more schools are closing. And this calls for more remote learning environments. Additionally, other classes are tailored for remote learning. Because of this, teachers should become familiar with different online teaching platforms.
Google Classroom is a fantastic tool for generating, distributing, and grading assignments without the need for paper. This Google Classroom training will help you create self-grading exams and quizzes using the platform. Instructors will help you understand the best practices for developing online learning environments.
Where to enroll: Udemy
- Promising Practices in Online Teaching and Learning
To handle an online class, even the finest teachers must adapt and acquire new techniques. They must learn how to manage a lesson using technology and adapt to an online learning environment. This course was created for Texas Woman’s University professors who are starting to teach their first online class.
The course is based on seven principles that can help teachers improve their online teaching abilities. It includes extra materials that put each practice to the test. You’ll also get a list of techniques for putting the ideas you learned into action.
Where to enroll: Texas Woman’s University
- University Teaching
Teachers enrolled in Ph.D. programs and those interested in teaching at universities can benefit from this course. University teaching consists of high-level ideas and older students. It isn’t the most difficult task in the world, but it isn’t easy either.
This online graduate course for teachers will educate you about the inner workings of university teaching. In addition to this, you’ll also be informed of recent research in higher-level teaching. You’ll also learn how to create instructional designs that are tailored to what each student needs.
Where to enroll: University of Hong Kong
- Assessment in Higher Education: Professional Development for Teachers
Teachers in higher education teach hundreds of students, evaluate their work, and provide extracurricular activities. It’s challenging to strike the right balance. This free online graduate course for teachers can help you enhance your higher education teaching skills.
This course will show you how to create an evaluation that is in line with the course’s goals and activities. You’ll also learn how to choose and weigh criteria to create high-quality evaluations. Finally, you’ll examine assessment outcomes and provide recommendations for future evaluations.
Where to enroll: Erasmus University Rotterdam
- Professional and Academic Proposal Writing
Teachers recognize the significance and necessity of offering creative, interesting, and accessible education. However, adequate education financing is usually overlooked.
When financing is insufficient, student learning may suffer. Additionally, instructors may be forced to pay for classroom expenditures out of their pockets. That’s where grants and scholarships for teachers come in. By learning how to write grants, you can improve academic experiences for both you and your students.
This accredited grant writing certification program is perfect for both beginning and advanced writers. This course teaches you how to write a grant request and design cost-effective budget techniques. You’ll also learn how to tie up loose ends when you’re already given funds.
Where to enroll: Thompson Rivers University
- Neurodiversity: A New Approach for Students With Special Needs
Teachers have always planned classes around their students’ limitations. Students are treated based on their needs. This kind of thinking is problematic. What if, instead of catering to students’ lack of resources, teachers catered to what they do have?
That’s why neurodiversity is important in each classroom. This concept emphasizes the use of strength-based solutions to assist kids with special needs succeed in life and at school.
This online course for teachers is one of the top neurodiversity learning options available. At the end of the source, you’ll learn how to emphasize the good characteristics of neurotypical and neurodiverse kids. It also focuses on providing techniques to help meet the needs of each student.
Where to enroll: Learners Edge
- Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling
Using dynamic teaching approaches is the best way to keep a student’s attention. A healthy learning environment includes lectures, interactive, and collaborative activities. One of the most effective ways to engage and teach students is through digital storytelling.
This free online course will teach you how to develop and produce engrossing digital stories. It includes five units, namely:
- Choosing a topic and defining your purposes
- Writing an effective script and creating a storyboard
- Recording audio narration
- Assembling story elements
- Reflecting on the course
Where to enroll: University of Houston
Final Thoughts
If you want to stay competitive, you must continue to earn new certifications and training courses. In addition to leveling up your skills, you can enroll in these teaching courses to push ahead and raise your salary even more. It’s important to partake in continuing education since it is an essential aspect of today’s success.