The Best Free Teacher PD for Summer
Looking for some learning opportunities this summer? Check out our list of the best free teacher professional development courses for this summer!
Illustration by Edpuzzle Staff
It’s summertime, and teachers everywhere are in vacation mode with their sunglasses on, feet up, and frosty drinks in hand…
Or that’s what the general public thinks teachers are up to on their “summer breaks.”
The reality, as the teaching community knows all too well, is just a little bit different!
According to the NEA, “Teachers spend summers working second jobs, teaching summer school, or taking classes (that they pay for) to advance their careers.”
And while we can’t send you a piña colada, we can hook you up with some free online PD options (but we also hope you have a chance to get some well-deserved rest!).
1. Edpuzzle LIVE Workshops and Self-Paced Courses
At Edpuzzle, we believe teachers should never have to pay for their own education. Check out our self-paced courses including the basics of Edpuzzle up through expert level, how to use Edpuzzle with your LMS, Google tools, gamification, the flipped classroom, and more!
Want to stay up-to-date on the latest in teaching? Don’t miss the Edpuzzle LIVE workshops on YouTube with expert guests. The most recent topics include workshops on how to incorporate “making” into your writing workshop, graphic novels, projects that matter, and plenty more upcoming live events in the works.
2. Implicit or Unconscious Bias Training
Self-reflection and coming face to face with our unconscious bias is not an easy thing to do. As educators, however, the first step in treating all of our students equally is acknowledging our flaws and what we still have yet to learn.
The implicit bias training from the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity at Ohio State University is put together excellently, and you can request a certificate to submit to your admin upon completion.
We also like the seven-part series on implicit bias from the UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. You’ll be a better teacher for it!
3. Neurodiversity Resources
One of the biggest trends in education today is exploring and embracing neurodiversity.
According to neurodiversity expert, Dr. Gulnoza Yakubova, of the University of Maryland:
“In neurodiversity, the neurological differences are viewed as normal changes in brain functioning and therefore, are considered as strengths and normal variations of human functioning and not deficits to be cured. Neurodiversity is centered on the social model of disability rather than a medical model of disability.”
If you’re interested in learning more, the free course on neurodiversity offered by the University of Colorado titled “Managing ADHD, Autism, Learning Disabilities, and Concussion in School” is a great place to start.
4. Free Online Education Courses from Harvard
Why not get some free online PD from one of America’s most prestigious universities? Harvard University’s online education and teaching courses currently include free training on the following topics:
- Introduction to Family Engagement in Education
- Early Childhood Development: Global Strategies for Interventions
- Introduction to Data Wise: A Collaborative Process to Improve Learning & Teaching
- Challenges in Higher Education Webinar
What admin wouldn’t be impressed with a teacher who completed a Harvard course on summer vacation?
What are you looking forward to learning this summer, teachers? Let us know on Twitter – we can’t wait to hear what you’re up to!