Best Online Teaching Courses for Educators
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Teachers are tasked with challenging themselves daily while directly impacting the lives of others through education. With the constant evolution of technology, it is becoming more convenient for aspiring teachers to enroll in open online courses that provide a flexible way to learn new skills and excel in the field.
Those interested in teaching can use this guide to learn more about online education and teaching courses, where to find them, and how to select the best classes for their needs.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Teaching Courses
Colleges and education platforms offer online teaching courses covering a wide range of topics, like co-teaching skills and technology in the classroom, to enhance professional development.
Many online courses for teachers are self-paced, allowing teachers to work through course content as it fits their schedule. Some courses also offer college credit to transfer to a degree or certificate program.
Explore some of the best online teaching courses below.
Basic Use of Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals
This beginner-level course teaches educators how to use Google Workspace in their classrooms. Teachers will learn to store documents and collaborate in Google Drive, use Google Meet for virtual meetings, and plan schedules with Google Calendar.
- Price: Free
- Format: Self-paced
- Length: Just over two hours of lessons
Bullying: An Introduction
Offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional and Continuing Education, this course offers three graduate-level credits for K-12 teachers and supporting staff who want to learn how to identify and prevent bullying in schools. The course also transfers into a bullying prevention certificate program with three other courses.
- Price: $504
- Format: Self-paced with instructor feedback and guidance
- Length: 180 days allowed for completion
Co-Teaching: Partners in Practice
This course is designed for educators of all grade levels who currently work or plan to work in a co-teaching environment. Participants discover their unique responsibilities in co-teaching roles, identify their strengths, and learn some of the best instructional methods for co-teaching classrooms. The course’s three credits are transferable to select schools.
- Price: $475
- Format: Self-paced with instructor feedback
- Length: One semester
Intuitive Curriculum Development: Make It Easy to Understand
This Udemy-hosted course teaches anyone who designs or writes curricula how to create simple yet engaging lesson plans for their learners. In addition to video lessons, the course offers downloadable resources and includes a lesson writing project so learners can harness their skills.
- Price: $60
- Format: Self-paced
- Length: About 1.5 hours of lessons
Teaching Critical Thinking Through Art With the National Gallery of Art
Developed by the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero, this course helps educators learn to improve their students’ motivation, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities through the study of art. Limited access to the course is free, but the paid version offers a certificate of completion and graded assignments.
- Price: $119
- Format: Self-paced with instructor feedback and guidance
- Length: 14-20 hours
Teachers Mentoring Teachers: Practices for Powerful Professional Communities
The Harvard Graduate School of Education offers this course separately and as part of its Instructional Leadership Certificate to help educators become mentors to fellow educators. The course covers mentorship opportunities at every stage of a teaching career and co-teaching strategies. It also helps new teachers identify personal strengths that can assist them in their jobs.
- Price: $399
- Format: Self-paced
- Length: Six weeks
Using Vocabulary and Writing Strategies to Enhance Math Learning, Grades 1 and 2
Through this course, elementary teachers explore the relationship between language and math skills to improve their students’ mathematical reasoning abilities. The course also provides strategies for teachers to foster organizational math skills through writing.
- Price: $159
- Format: Self-paced
- Length: 5-6 hours
Why DI? An Introduction to Differentiated Instruction
The University of North Dakota provides teachers with three credits upon completion of this course, which helps participants understand how to create more inclusive classrooms and instruction practices. The course targets teachers of diverse K-8 classrooms.
- Price: $340
- Format: Self-paced
- Length: About 45 hours
Why Take an Online Teaching Course?
Online teaching courses may attract both seasoned academic professionals and those just starting to seek out a teaching position. The following section details the main benefits of enrolling in an online teaching course:
Discover New Strategies
Although teaching is not necessarily a new profession, the methods and procedures are constantly evolving. Online teaching courses can help new and experienced teachers stay up-to-date on developing strategies, concepts, and technology integration in their field. By continuing their education through online courses, teachers can increase their effectiveness as educators, which, in turn, benefits their students.
Increase Expertise
Online teaching courses can give experienced and aspiring educators an advantage when pursuing promotions and higher-level positions. Online courses can help teachers work toward completing their degrees, give them more experience, and signal their commitment to the profession. Those who are already employed teachers can hone their preexisting teaching skills. Online courses can help teachers at all levels gain the necessary experience to become more employable and effective.
Expand Subject-Matter Knowledge
Instructors of all levels, from elementary school through university educators, are tasked with keeping up-to-date on the subject matter they teach. A communications professor should read up on the newest media literacy theories, while a middle school biology teacher should familiarize themself with the latest advances in genetics research to be able to instruct their students. Taking online courses in the subjects they teach can help teachers stay on top of the latest trends, knowledge, and discoveries in their fields.
Benefits of Online Teaching Courses: Expert Dr. Kathy Swanis Weighs In
Q: What advantages do you see to taking online courses in teaching?
For practicing teachers who are quite busy, these online experiences keep them academically engaged and inspired by new ideas. These courses are very flexible and focused around topics that teachers opt into. Ultimately, online opportunities provide teachers affordable and flexible options for professional learning.
Q: Would you recommend taking online courses to someone just beginning their career in teaching?
When it comes to pre-service teacher education, I am pretty old-fashioned about apprenticing face-to-face with methods professors and cooperating teachers. With that said, online courses, like the EdX course I am currently teaching, can augment traditional teacher education to provide expertise that’s needed or to help build up student’s understanding of a particular skill or content focus.
Q: How can online classes in education help teachers currently in the profession?
As I said before, practicing teachers need realistic options for continuing their education and staying inspired by ideas. Online education can help to overcome some of the practical barriers and allow teachers to explore new research, instructional techniques, [and] curricular models that help us all stay fresh in our practice.
Q: Does a student’s access to choose from so many different online courses offered by schools all over the world give them a more rounded teaching education than taking classes from one university?
Having access to professors across the country (and globally) is one of the greatest strengths of online education — we aren’t restricted by locale. The last time we ran our EdX course for the Smithsonian, Teaching Inquiry with Historical Objects, we had 3,000 students take the six week course from all over the United States (Maine to Hawaii) and from the UK, India, and Germany. For social studies, in particular, it doesn’t get better than that!
Popular Podcasts for Teachers
Teachers can sometimes find themselves going through their daily routines without excitement and motivation. Academic podcasts are a great way for teachers to regain their enthusiasm while hearing about new teaching methods, self-care practices, and the perspectives of other educators.
- Better Learning Podcast- Kevin Stoller
- Recent Episode to Try: Project-Based Learning and AI Unraveled
- The Better Learning Podcast explores the changing landscape of K-12 education, for better or worse. Host Kevin Stoller, the CEO of classroom furnishing company Kay-Twelve, invites industry experts and leaders to the podcast to speak on diversified views and tips.
- Class Dismissed- Nick Ortego, Kristina Pollard, Russ Davis, Lissa Pruett
- Recent Episode to Try: Thriving Through Those First Years: Time Management Strategies for Teachers
- Hosted by a broadcaster, an education software company founder, a teacher, and a principal, Class Dismissed brings together unique voices to discuss education news and perspectives that affect classrooms, students, and educators.
- MindShift Podcast- Ki Sung, Katrina Schwartz
- Recent Episode to Try: How Much Phonemic Awareness Do Students Really Need?
- The MindShift Podcast focuses on innovating the future of education for better learning outcomes. Parents and teachers alike can gain insight from this podcast, which covers topics like engaging introverted students, improving study strategies, and the impact of community involvement on the classroom.
- The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast- Jennifer Gonzalez
- Recent Episode to Try: A Conversation About School Choice
- Educator Jennifer Gonzalez shares educator interviews, tips for parents who need help navigating the education system, and nuggets of wisdom about the art of teaching.
- Truth for Teachers Podcast- Angela Watson
- Recent Episode to Try: 5 Ways to Make an Old Lesson Feel Fresh and Interesting Again
- Truth for Teachers is a weekly podcast that shares encouraging and highly relatable stories and tips for teachers while also elevating teachers from diverse backgrounds. Listeners can expect topics on advocacy, holistic well-being, goal-setting, and more.
Popular Resources for Teachers
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