Introduction: As a teacher, summer break is an excellent opportunity to take some time for personal and professional growth. Lucky for you, numerous online courses are available at little to no cost! These courses allow you to enhance your teaching skills and stay updated with the latest educational trends. In this article, we share 14 online summer courses for teachers that are free or almost free.
1. Coursera’s Virtual Teacher Program: Coursera offers a Virtual Teacher Program composed of various courses designed to enhance your online teaching skills. This program is free, and you can pay a small fee if you want a certificate.
2. EdX’s School and District Leadership: EdX offers a course on school and district leadership for free, giving insights into effective administrative strategies for better student outcomes.
3. Google for Education – Teacher Center: Google provides various free tools and resources for educators to learn how to better use Google apps such as Classroom, Meet, and more in their teaching methods.
4. Alison’s Introduction to E-Learning Theory and Practice: Learn about e-learning principles and instructional design models in this free course that focuses on digital education and its benefits.
5. OpenLearn’s Inclusive Teaching Methods: OpenLearn offers this course for educators who wish to create more inclusive classrooms for diverse learners. This course is free to join, with optional paid certification.
6. Canvas Network’s Gamification in Education: Unleash your creativity by learning how to incorporate gamification techniques in your classroom through this engaging course from Canvas Network. The course is free to enroll in, with optional certification fees.
7. Microsoft Educator Center: The Microsoft Educator Center provides various self-paced courses on topics ranging from remote learning strategies to enhancing student engagement using PowerPoint or Minecraft, all for free!
8. FutureLearn’s Assessment Strategies in Online Learning: Create effective and engaging assessments for your digital classrooms with the help of this free course by FutureLearn.
9. Flipped Learning Network: The Flipped Learning Network offers a self-paced, free Flip Your Classroom workshop for educators looking to switch up their teaching style and create more engaging lesson plans.
10. Teachers Without Borders’ Introduction to Webquests: If you’re not familiar with Webquests, this free online course is a great starting point. You’ll learn how to create interactive and collaborative learning experiences for your students.
11. Udemy’s Blended Learning Essentials: Udemy offers this comprehensive course on blended learning essentials to help teachers make informed decisions about integrating technology into their classrooms. While not free, it’s frequently discounted or available at minimal cost.
12. Teachable’s Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Teachable provides a selection of MOOCs for teachers that cover topics like special education, social-emotional learning, and digital literacy. Prices vary, but many courses are available for free or at a low cost.
13. Project-Based Learning University (PBLU): PBLU offers project-based learning modules geared towards K-12 teachers. The courses are self-paced and vary in price, but many are available for free.
14. TED-Ed Innovative Educators: The TED-Ed platform offers an Innovative Educators course as part of its professional development provisions. Enrollment is free, which includes all resources throughout the course duration and access to a global community of educators.
Conclusion: With these 14 incredible online summer courses in hand, you have no excuse not to upgrade your teaching methods during the break! Don’t let summer fly by without taking advantage of these amazing, accessible resources to enhance your teaching skills and broaden your educational horizons.
