7 Free Online Courses in April

Disclaimer: By “free” I mean the educational content, not the certificates.

I really do hope you can feel the spring in the air, as in my place it’s snowing! However, in case you also feel like staying in, I have some interesting courses you can enjoy this month. This time I focused on the courses that can help you improve your attitude, so you can become not only better educators, but also happier people. So, let’s get started!

1. Teaching EFL/ESL Reading: A Task Based Approach by University of London, UCL Institute of Education

Start date: 03.04.2023
Duration: 6 weeks
For whom: teachers interested in TBA
You will learn:

• about the main components and tenets of a task-based approach to teaching language
• about connections between TBLT approaches and the teaching of reading
• how to use and construct reading tasks and sequences for use in your own classroom

2. The Science of Happiness by the University of California, Berkeley

Start date: 03.04.2023
Duration:  11 weeks
For whom: teachers interested in positive psychology
You will learn:

• about why social connections, kindness, and community are key to happiness
• about mental habits that are most conducive to happiness and how mindfulness can help
• how to increase your own happiness and foster happiness in others

3. Language Assessment in the Classroom by the British Council

Start date: 17.04.2023
Duration:  4 weeks
For whom: teachers interested in understanding how language assessment works
You will learn:

• about the basic principles involved in reliable and valid test design
• about assessment needs of students within a given context
• how to explain some practical techniques for assessing different language skills and knowledge

4. Inclusive Education: Essential Knowledge for Success by the University of Queensland

Start date: 26.04.2023
Duration:  2 weeks
For whom: teachers interested in genuine inclusion in education
You will learn:

• about educators’ obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• about the social model of disability and universal design principles
• how to apply inclusive language

5. Teacher as Investigator: Developing Awareness of Student Strengths and Needs by Understood

Start date: self-paced
Duration:  –
For whom: deeper understanding of what learning and thinking differences are and how they manifest in classroom
You will learn:

• key facts about learning and thinking differences and concepts in neuroscience that impact student learning
• about the steps in the IEP process and their role
• how to create a plan for implementation of IEPs in their classroom and tracking progress

6. Language of Caring, Science of Change: How to Rapidly Improve School Climate by the Institute of Wellness Education

Start date: self-paced
Duration:  –
For whom: teachers interested in science-based strategies that help people engage with each other and in a healthy learning process
You will learn:

• about the five key factors that contribute to school climate
• about a framework in which to work on improving school climate
• how to assess your own school climate based on the criteria described in this course

7. Managing Stress and Time by Arizona State University

Start date: 17.04.2023
Duration:  5 weeks
For whom: teachers interested in time and stress management
You will learn:

• about managing expectations and understanding your feelings
• about stress and time management toolkit
• how to start managing your time effectively, learn what causes your stress and control those factors

I hope you’ll find a course you like and have fun.

Enjoy!