For teachers, earning professional development credits is essential to maintain their teaching license. However, quality professional development courses for teachers also help them attain professional goals, including refining their skills, staying current with the best practices in their fields, improving student outcomes and finding personal and professional fulfillment.
It’s an investment in themselves that immediately pays off in the classroom. With hundreds of online professional development courses, teachers can easily find continuing education options that expose them to innovative teaching methodologies, strategies and best practices.
Incorporating these approaches into their work allows teachers to create more engaging and effective student learning experiences. The National Education Association (NEA) encourages educators to pursue professional development as soon as possible after entering the classroom.
“It’s never too early in your career to think about professional development,” the NEA noted. “Investing in yourself as an educator is the best way to ensure both career growth and academic growth for your students.”
The Value of Professional Development Courses for Teachers
Teachers who seek professional development reap the rewards for their efforts immediately. Professional development courses significantly bolster a teacher’s readiness to confront classroom challenges.
Most importantly, professional development courses provide a gateway to fresh ideas and novel perspectives. Quality courses offer a wealth of new insights, enriching an educator’s reservoir of knowledge.
These courses also fortify a teacher’s confidence by increasing their expertise within a specific teaching area. This enthusiasm for continued learning not only boosts the teacher’s knowledge and confidence but may also invigorate interest in learning among their students.
Enrolling in continuing education for teachers also fosters connections with colleagues. The experience of learning alongside like-minded educators opens the door to idea exchange, mentorship and valuable advice.
The Need to Stay Current on Best Practices
Writing about professional development for educators, the teacher-focused website For the Love of Teachers wrote that teacher’s strategies, techniques and methods require constant updating. No matter how much experience teachers have–or how recently they graduated from college–they still need to continue expanding their knowledge in the subjects they teach.
“Just as students never stop learning, the same goes for teachers and educators,” the website noted. “Career success will only be possible in our profession if we continue to work on our professional development.”
While the benefits of continuing education are clear, it’s often difficult for teachers to find the time to search for and enroll in the best professional development courses. Fresno Pacific University, which has long specialized in providing online professional development courses for educators, has created a variety of courses and certificate programs, all available in one place.
Types of Professional Development Courses Available
Fresno Pacific University offers a wide range of professional development courses for teachers across many different subject areas. These courses are notable both for their high quality and convenience. Teachers across the country take the university’s courses, working at their own pace from wherever they live.
Educators can search for a particular course or browse popular topics, including English language arts, mathematics, social emotional learning, STEM and technology courses. The university also has a large number of certificate programs. Educators can earn the certificates by completing a required number of 100% online courses. Certificate topics range from history and coaching to health education and computer science.
For teachers motivated to work at the pinnacle of their profession, these courses can help them attain their goals, improving both their classroom performance and career prospects.