A Teacher’s Guide to Continuing Education
As an educator, you understand better than most that learning is a lifelong journey. Each year, new theories, teaching techniques, and educational technologies reshape the landscape. As such, staying up-to-date and relevant in your role requires a commitment to professional development. But how do teachers and administrators find—and pay for—worthwhile continuing education programs?
Fortunately, the landscape of professional development opportunities for teachers has evolved a lot in recent years. There are abundant avenues to pursue, from hands-on workshops and online courses to personalized coaching and mentoring programs. Web-based online teacher communities are another resource—a convenient way to stay abreast of the latest trends and tools in education.
Benjamin Franklin, famous in U.S. history, once wrote, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest", So, invest in your professional growth as a teacher. You and your students will earn dividends.
Why Professional Development Matters for Teachers
Like a tree, your professional development as a teacher—that is, your continued growth and improvement after entering the workforce—requires nurturing. Initially, it demands time, effort, and sometimes financial resources. However, over time, your knowledge grows into a vibrant canopy of skills that extend your abilities to teach and run the classroom.
OK. That's a little flowery.
Still, it illustrates that professional development efforts can be transformative, adding breadth and depth into your teaching practice and skills. For example, one reputable education journal has drawn a direct connection between professional development programs for math teachers and improved student performance. In this way, your personal growth as an educator can directly and positively influence your students' academic journey.
Teacher Conferences and Workshops
Conferences and workshops on teaching and education topics can be gateways to an extended sphere of knowledge. Whether it's a small group of teachers who gather at a regional level or a national event featuring renowned educators, researchers, and thought leaders, you'll gain insights and learn about the latest trends. Be they curriculum planning and design seminars or workshops on classroom management, these events offer a wide spectrum of relevant topics.
Take the ASCD Conference on Teaching Excellence, for example. This event has offered sessions on topics such as differentiated instruction, student motivation, and assessment strategies. Another example is the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' annual conference, which provides math educators a platform to share teaching techniques and discuss the many challenges in math instruction. By participating in such events, you'll not only enhance your knowledge but also forge connections with peers and experts from different parts of the country or world.
Online Learning for Educators
In the digital age, learning has gone beyond the traditional confines of classrooms and daytime schedules. Online courses and webinars have democratized access to professional development, allowing you to learn from anywhere, at any time. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer courses on everything from inclusive education to classroom management and edtech implementation.
Harvard University's online "Leaders of Learning" course, for example, explores how learning occurs in different settings. A "Teaching Character and Creating Positive Classrooms" course from Relay Graduate School of Education, available on Coursera, focuses on fostering character development and a positive learning environment. Many of these courses come with certification upon completion—an opportunity to add a new feather (credential) to your professional cap (CV).
There may be costs involved, depending on the program. But your return on the investment can be substantial in terms of knowledge gain, skill enhancement, and new abilities to impact your student outcomes.
Teacher Coaching and Mentoring Programs
Just as students thrive under personalized guidance, teachers, too, benefit from individualized support. Teacher coaching and mentoring programs offer tailored support for your unique needs and challenges. Experienced mentors can provide guidance, share practical strategies, and help you navigate the intricacies of teaching.
Some school systems have developed their own, in-house mentoring programs, where veteran teachers help guide new faculty members in how to get more out of each day's instruction. Teacher guilds and unions sometimes offer coaching programs, too. So, reach out. Support from a mentor or coach not only enhances your skills but also boosts your confidence and resilience in the classroom.
Programs like those offered by the New Teacher Center or the Instructional Coaching Group can connect you with mentors who provide one-on-one guidance and feedback. In a similar vein, the National Education Association runs the Teacher Leadership Institute, a comprehensive year-long leadership development program.
Teacher Communities and Networks
The people-connecting powers of the internet have fostered the growth of robust online teacher communities and forums. Whether local, national, or global, these platforms bring together educators from different fields, creating virtual spaces for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and mutual support.
Websites like WeAreTeachers, Edutopia, and Teachers Network are some of the most well-known of these networks. Each offers a considerable array of resources and topics for discussion. But as with all social networks, you've got to actively participate to get the most value from the experience.
The Teaching Channel, another example of note, has a vibrant community where educators share videos of their teaching, exchange ideas, and offer feedback. Similarly, TES Connect hosts a library of teaching resources and a thriving forum for teachers. Engaging in these networks can enrich your understanding and can bring fresh perspectives to your teaching practice.
Funding for Teacher Continuing Education
Professional development, while vital, often comes with a price tag. However, numerous funding sources exist specifically to support educators on their professional development journey. By pursuing grants, scholarships, and other financial sources, you can ease the cost of your continuing education.
Start in your local school district and community, which may offer funding or reimbursement for professional development courses. Like everything else in life, it can't hurt to ask. And be sure to check with the college or university where you earned your teaching degree—they sometimes offer discounts for alumni pursuing graduate-level coursework.
If you need an outside source of funding, at the time of this writing, the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation in the U.S. offers Teacher Development Grants for educators working to develop new learning methodologies or implement fresh strategies in their classrooms. The American Association of Physics Teachers offers the Barbara Lotze Scholarships for Future Teachers, aimed at future high school physics teachers.
Naturally, these specific examples may not fit your needs, and they certainly can't fund every teacher's professional development. But they are evidence that there is funding out there—if you look in the right places.
Conclusion
Pursuing post-graduate, professional development as an educator is like setting sail in a vast ocean. The voyage might seem intimidating at first, but every wave you ride adds to your growth and confidence.
There are many routes to choose, whether it's attending national conferences, enrolling in online courses, seeking mentorship, or participating in teacher communities. The key, really, is simply to get started and invest. As an educator, you're not just teaching—you're learning and growing your own skills, too.
