I love online learning. Our professional development no longer has to rely on school priorities or budgets. Online courses have made it easy to organise our own professional learning. Apart from the Apple Teacher program (which I’m halfway through), I have completed all of the courses below. I highly recommend them.
Yes, it’s nice to get a title and I enjoy adding badges to my blog, but the real value is in classroom application. Consider how these courses could impact your students. I am a huge advocate of every product/idea listed here and I believe in their transformational potential. Click the links to find out more/register.
Cost: free
Seesaw is currently accepting applications for the July 2017 cohort of Seesaw Ambassadors (until 11.59pm PDT on 20th May 2017). If you miss this deadline, the next opportunity will be the January 2018 cohort.
The course is essential for anyone who loves Seesaw and wants to take it to the next level. Being a Seesaw Ambassador will give you access to many benefits, including the ability to use Seesaw Plus for free (worth US$120 per year). Click the link to see the full list of benefits. Remember to sign up quickly if you want to join the July cohort.
Flipped Learning Certified Level 1
Cost: US$70
I have been interested in Flipped Learning ever since I first heard about it. I have always liked the idea but I wasn’t fully convinced by it due to some unanswered questions and concerns. This course showed me that I wasn’t implementing Flipped Learning in the most beneficial ways. It taught me how to move forward and it addressed every doubt that I previously had. It is everything that I needed and I am now fully on board and proud to be Flipped Learning Certified.
Cost: free
I love Newsela! It is a fantastic way for students to access current affairs at their own reading level. There are many ways in which teachers can utilise this website for the benefit of their students. This course will outline them and teach you everything that you need to know. For anyone using the paid version (Newsela PRO), you can start right now. The course is available to you on demand. For everyone else, you’ll have to apply (click the link above) and then wait for next month’s limited places. Complete the application form thoroughly and in detail if you really want to be selected!
Google Certified Educator Level 1
Cost: the course is free but the exam is US$10
G Suite is the collective new name for Google Apps for Education. These are fantastic tools for learning, particularly famous for the way that they enable students and teachers to collaborate. The course provides everything that you need to know about how to use these tools and, more importantly, how to integrate them into your teaching meaningfully. By the end of this course, you’ll be left thirsty for Level 2! I completed Level 2 just a few months later.
Cost: free
The Apple Teacher program (not to be confused with Apple Distinguished Educator) has been released this year. It is a free way for teachers to learn how Apple technology can be used in the classroom. The title can be achieved by completing either the iPad or Mac route (you can choose when you sign up). I opted for the iPad course, but I am learning so much that I will probably do both. I haven’t finished it yet, though. This is an ideal course for those, like me, who are interested in Apple products but don’t yet feel ready for ADE.
What other fantastic certification courses are out there? What have I missed? Please let me know in the comments below. I’m always excited to find new learning opportunities. Let me know how you get on with the above courses. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
