Professional development is critical for educators throughout their careers. Both administrators and teachers must stay current with the latest teaching methods, technologies and student-engagement strategies. Most states also require professional development credits to maintain a teaching license. Given these factors, online courses for teachers are increasingly popular as educators seek ways to earn credit and maintain their busy professional and personal schedules.
Online courses offer more flexible and accessible options for earning professional development credit. Educators can choose courses on a broad range of topics. Fresno Pacific University offers hundreds of online courses for teachers, including technology, mathematics, English, physical education, science, social-emotional learning, social studies, and restorative strategies.
The benefits of online professional development reach far beyond the individual teacher. As educators improve their practices, students are the ultimate beneficiaries, experiencing higher engagement and improved academic outcomes.
“Professional learning is a crucial element of the work of all educators throughout their entire careers,” according to the National Education Association. “The education profession is grounded in a rich professional knowledge base, and education professionals must be well-versed in this knowledge base, as well.”
The following offers an overview of the benefits of online professional development courses.
Online Courses for Teachers: Flexibility, Student Impact
One of the most significant advantages of online professional development courses is their flexibility. Teachers can take classes at their own pace. For example, Fresno Pacific University typically allows educators a year to complete a course after enrolling. Online courses enable teachers to develop skills during the school year or over the summer break without disrupting their lives.
This flexibility has a direct impact on the classroom learning environment. Teachers can implement new real-time strategies, testing and refining them with their students as they progress through their professional development course. Instead of waiting for periodic in-person workshops or seminars, teachers can access new resources, ideas and teaching techniques year-round.
Enhancing Instructional Techniques
Online professional development courses present teachers with diverse subjects, from differentiated instruction to integrating technology in the classroom. These courses allow teachers to dive deeply into areas that interest them or align with their students' needs. As teachers explore new instructional techniques, they often find innovative ways to engage students and improve learning outcomes.
For example, a teacher might take an online course on addressing bullying and aggression in the classroom. They can immediately apply the skills they learn, which include enhanced knowledge of and response to bullying victims and a better understanding of the factors that lead students to become bullies.
This continual upgrading of skills helps teachers meet the diverse needs of their students, including those with learning differences or those who benefit from differentiated instruction. The ability to cater to various learning styles within one classroom helps create a more inclusive and effective learning space.
Improving Student Engagement and Achievement
When teachers engage in professional development, the ripple effect is felt in their students' engagement and academic achievement. For instance, online courses focused on student engagement strategies teach educators how to create lessons that capture and hold students' attention. These courses often emphasize active learning strategies, collaborative activities and multimedia tools that can turn passive learning environments into vibrant, interactive spaces.
This shift in student motivation can improve attendance, participation and overall academic performance. Teachers trained to foster a growth mindset, use formative assessments or introduce social-emotional learning (SEL) into their classrooms can further enhance students' learning experiences and outcomes.
Fostering a Collaborative Learning Environment
Online courses for teachers provide educators with a collaborative platform, allowing them to network with peers across the country or even the world. This global community of educators enables teachers to share best practices, ask questions and discuss challenges with like-minded professionals. Teachers can bring back new ideas and perspectives gained from these interactions, leading to cross-pollination of innovative teaching strategies.
It also allows educators to reflect on their practices and make adjustments based on feedback from peers who have implemented similar strategies in their classrooms.
Supporting Teacher Well-being
Teaching is a demanding profession and maintaining enthusiasm and effectiveness in the classroom requires a strong support system and opportunities for growth. Online professional development can serve as a form of self-care for teachers. These courses offer a way to recharge, stay inspired and reconnect with their passion for education.
By choosing courses that align with their personal interests or professional goals, teachers can regain a sense of control over their professional growth. This renewed sense of purpose often leads to higher job satisfaction, which in turn impacts the classroom environment. A motivated, inspired teacher creates a positive atmosphere where students feel encouraged to take risks, engage in learning and pursue their own academic goals.
Fresno Pacific University Online Courses for Teachers
Fresno Pacific University has been a pioneer in providing teachers with access to high-quality professional development courses. Educators can choose from hundreds of topics, including selections from The Great Courses series and courses focused on teaching STEM courses.
States across the country accept the professional development credits teachers earn at Fresno Pacific University to count toward the credits needed to maintain licensure. Educators also can complete multiple courses to earn Professional Development Certificates in more than 20 different areas.