7 Free Online Courses in May

We’re almost finishing this schoolyear and yet I have found some courses that will support your professional development, especially if you work with kids and teens. Why? Well, it’s quite obvious – they’re the most vulnerable group of students marked by the covid19 pandemic. That’s why I decided to find the courses focusing primarily on these groups – however, not all of them relate to covid-related issues.

Coping with Changes: Social-Emotional Learning Through Play by the LEGO Foundation

Start: now
Duration: 9 weeks
For whom: teachers of young people
You will learn:

• how to demonstrate strategies to support a child’s learning through play in relation to social-emotional learning
• how to design age-sensitive activities to support children in crisis
• how to demonstrate stress management strategies, including mindfulness, individual and social strategies

Good Practice in Autism Education by the University of Bath

Start: now
Duration: 4 weeks
For whom: people who work with autistic children in schools
You will learn:

• how to identify the educational requirements of children on the autism spectrum with and without intellectual (learning) difficulties
• how to explain the concept of inclusion to promote inclusive culture, policies and practices within mainstream schools
• how to compare specific examples of good practice in autism education

PSHE Education: Helping Children Navigate a Complex World by the PSHE Education

Start: now
Duration: 3 weeks
For whom: teachers who have not received any face-to-face training but would like to develop professionally in PSHE (personal, social, health, and economic) education
You will learn:

• how to explore the impact of PSHE education, for all young people and for your pupils
• how to design your own PSHE lesson in line with safe and effective practice
• how to explain core evidence-based principles of safe and effective PSHE education

Teaching Languages in Primary Schools: Putting Research into Practice by the University of Southampton

Start: 10/05/2021
Duration: 3 weeks
For whom: primary school teachers who teach children foreign languages
You will learn:

• how to explain the importance of classroom and teacher factors in young learners’ progression and outcomes
• how to evaluate language learning resources and practice against language learning theory and evidence
• how to experiment with existing practice or novel resources and record reflections on their effectiveness in terms of linguistic outcomes, cognitive and emotional engagement

Supporting Adolescent Learners: Social and Emotional Wellbeing by Griffith University

Start: now
Duration: 2 weeks
For whom: anyone in a role that supports young adolescents
You will learn:

• how to explore applications of neuroscience with a particular focus on social and emotional impacts for cognitive engagement
• how to explain the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of young adolescents
• how to evaluate strategies to optimise adolescent social and emotional wellbeing

Interfaith Dialogue for Combating Extremism among Young People by the European University Institute

Start: 31/05/2021
Duration: 3 weeks
For whom: anyone interested in radicalisation
You will learn:

• what is resilience to violent extremism and how it can be achieved
• how to assess different approaches to interfaith dialogue and interfaith education projects
• how to evaluate the impact of different interfaith approaches to preventing and combating polarisation in society

Digital Wellbeing by the University of York

Start: 10/05/2021
Duration: 3 weeks
For whom: anyone interested in understanding health and wellbeing in the digital age
You will learn:

• how to reflect on personal digital practices and the impact they have on digital identity and wellbeing
• how to identify some of the benefits and risks of engaging in particular online activities with regards to personal wellbeing
• how to discuss the various facets of digital wellbeing and the associated implications on both a personal and social level

I hope you’ll like the courses I found – are you planning to participate in any of them?