7 Free Online Courses in January: Reflection and Gratitude

Can you smell the New Year resolutions and aspirations in the air? January seems to be a month dedicated to setting ambitious goals, however, I want you to consider a different approach, to reflect on the path we’ve taken and express gratitude for the milestones we’ve already achieved. I know, some may say We already did that in December, but I think December is not a reflective month at all, as we’re focused on the winter break, parties and new beginnings.

The promise of a fresh start and the excitement of new possibilities can be quite intoxicating, but I think January is exactly the month we should think about the past – about all the things we loved, we did well, we want to repeat. Instead of making too ambitious resolutions like the whole wide world, let’s chill and celebrate the victories, both big and small, that have brought us to this point.

To make you feel more comfortable with that look in the past, I want you to join me on a quest to explore the significance of reflection and gratitude – I found 7 free online courses that will definitely get you in the mood:

1 Learning to Teach: Becoming a Reflective Practitioner by the Open University

• Start: available
• Duration: self-paced
• Recommended for: people interested in honing their teaching skills and developing reflective practices
• You will learn:
  1. about the role of reflective practice in ITE (Initial Teacher Education)
  2. strategies for continuous improvement in teaching methods
  3. about the importance of self-reflection in the teaching profession

2 International Leadership: Reflective Practice in Leadership by the Coventry University

• Start: available
• Duration: free access expires 17 Jan 2024
• Recommended for: people looking to build their leadership skills for their continued professional development
• You will learn:
  1. how to evaluate and reflect on your own leadership capabilities
  2. about some of the reflective models
  3. about the importance of reflective practice in leadership

3 Mindful Wellbeing for Teachers with Stress and Anxiety by the University of Aberdeen

• Start: available
• Duration: free access expires 31 Jan 2024
• Recommended for: people interested in prioritizing mental wellbeing and managing stress and anxiety through mindfulness
• You will learn:
  1. about the evidence base and neurobiology underpinning mindfulness
  2. how to develop mindfulness practices to support reduced anxiety and stress
  3. about the reflective journaling techniques

4 Mindful Leadership by the Goldie Hawn Foundation and Ducere Global Business School

• Start: available
• Duration: free access expires 31 Jan 2024
• Recommended for: people looking to improve their leadership skills through mindful and social-emotional awareness
• You will learn:
  1. about mindful leadership principles
  2. how to use evidence-based strategies for well-being, including breath work, mindful awareness practice, and gratitude
  3. about the role of gratitude in leadership

5 Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Being a Teacher by the Commonwealth Education Trust

• Start: available
• Duration: self-paced
• Recommended for: people interested in gaining insights into the multifaceted role of educators
• You will learn:
  1. how to reflect on your personal and professional development as a teacher
  2. how to promote learning
  3. about the impact of teaching on personal and professional development

6 Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills by the University of Pennsylvania

• Start: available
• Duration: self-paced
• Recommended for: people interested in positive psychology and developing resilience skills.
• You will learn:
  1. techniques for building mental resilience
  2. about the role of gratitude in positive psychology
  3. how to foster a positive mindset

7 Communicating Effectively with Vulnerable Children and Young People by the University of Kent

• Start: available
• Duration: free access expires 31 Jan 2024
• Recommended for: people working with vulnerable children who want to improve their communication skills
• You will learn:
  1. effective communication strategies with vulnerable children
  2. about the importance of empathy in supporting vulnerable individuals
  3. reflective practices to enhance communication skills

Bonus: Reflective Learning by the Open University

• It’s a short video that will help you learn:
  1. how to analyze and learn from personal experiences
  2. various methods for integrating reflective learning into daily life
  3. the impact of reflective practices on personal and professional growth

Bonus: A brief history of ‘thanks’ in English by the Open University

It’s a short article that will help you learn:

1. several different ways to express the gratitude in English
2. the history of the word “thanks”
3.  the distinction between gratitude and indebtedness

I hope you’ll find these courses encouraging enough to stop the New Year, New Me madness and instead think about all these awesome things you’ve already done.

Enjoy!