There are a number of options for teachers searching for online graduate courses. Online graduate courses for teachers can be used for continuing education (CEUs), in-service credit, or graduate credit. Teacher professional development via these online graduate courses can be put towards a salary increase, license recertification, or other forms of job advancement. Many universities offer online graduate courses for teachers, especially in teacher professional development.

There are a number of benefits to approaching teacher professional development through online courses. For the teachers, these courses can help them meet state requirements, they can get raises, and (most importantly!) they can learn skills and methods of teaching that they can use immediately in the classroom. For the school districts and states, online courses also have a host of advantages. Online teacher professional development allows teachers to spend less time commuting to classes and more time preparing and working in the classroom. Often online options are less expensive as well, so whether the district or the teacher is paying, money is saved. It’s easier for school districts to monitor the certification process (initially and ongoing).

Through online graduate courses for teachers school districts can help their educators develop the skills necessary to excel and provide the students with the best education possible. These courses have a variety of ways to measure competence as well. Since these courses can be offered for all teachers at a school, they can even discuss the materials learned in a discussion environment if the school wants to set up a time for that. By working together, teachers still get an interactive education from online teacher professional development.

Some of the most common trouble areas that schools face in terms of teacher professional development are: 1) developing a basic framework for how to teach, 2) communication between teachers and administration about what exactly the teachers need, 3) teaching ESL students, and 4) effectively teaching students that are not the norm – underachievers, gifted students, and special education. Other topics that are often the subject of teacher professional development have to do with technology – integrating technology in the classroom, using technology to simplify grading and creating assignments, making websites for classes so that students have up to date information, and learning how to teach these students that are so immersed in technology constantly.

It should be noted that in addition to professional development, teachers can also get other graduate credit online as well as completing entire Master’s of Education programs online. There are options for just about everything. Many online programs also have agreements with local schools so that teachers have access to materials and technology that they might not already have. These agreements can be very helpful for teachers taking online courses.

If a school district is looking for a solution to teacher professional development, online graduate courses for teachers may be a very good opportunity to take advantage of. Teachers can meet state requirements and enhance their skillsets; they can also interact with other teachers in their district who are taking the same programs.

Author Bio: Vince Welsh is CEO of Teacher Education Institute. TEI offers rigorous, graduate-level professional development courses for K-12 classroom teachers. For more about TEI, teacher professional development, online graduate courses for teachers, visit http://www.teachereducation.com

Category: Education
Keywords: teacher professional development, online graduate courses for teachers