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Explore a vast range of professional development topics created by expert educators addressing today’s classroom needs and supporting student achievement.

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Discover flexible personal development options designed to fit your shifting schedule and educational needs. From on-demand training to live sessions and workshops, learn on your own terms.

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Gives teachers voice and choice with access to over 1500+ on-demand training and development courses across 40 topics, K-12 grade levels, and a variety of subject areas at whatever time works best for you.

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30-minute virtual training sessions that are designed for teachers with limited time but who still want high-quality training.

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60-minute, virtual training that follows research-based best practices, engagement, and activities to apply what you've learned right away.

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Why SimpleK12?

Educator voice and choice.

Our professional development courses are developed by expert educators, addressing the real-world needs of teachers and schools. We provide timely, relevant content that empowers you in your teaching career.

Promoting Lifelong Learning

We believe in continual growth and learning. Our flexible, relevant, and engaging professional development courses inspire educators to keep learning, growing, and evolving.

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No matter where you're at in your teaching career, SimpleK12 is here for you. Our professional development courses provide support, guidance, and actionable advice to help you advance in your profession.

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We don't just provide theory; we provide actionable advice. Our trainers are real teachers and educational professionals who provide strategies and tips you can apply immediately.

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Our professional development courses are flexible, allowing you to learn at a pace that suits you best.

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Easily track your professional development with completion certificates for our premium courses.

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Our actionable professional development content allows you to apply what you've learned immediately in your classroom.

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With SimpleK12, you can access our professional development courses whenever and wherever it's convenient for you.

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Choose from a wide range of professional development courses to create a learning journey that aligns with your interests and needs.

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Don't just take our word for it. Hear from the educators who've experienced growth through our professional development courses.

The cost compared to others is just phenomenal. The teachers are excited, it’s convenient, it’s something in which teachers can relate to, and it’s current. It is a tool that you can’t go wrong with using and just the fact that teachers migrate to it, it just sticks with them.

One half-hour SimpleK12 webinar was filled with more information than I receive at an all-day session elsewhere.

We’re using SimpleK12 because it’s a powerful tool for teachers. Anytime you get a committed group of teachers working together for a similar cause, amazing things happen. That’s what’s happened in the Teacher Learning Community.

Our Mission

Founded in 1985, we’ve been at the forefront of online professional development for educators for decades. Our flagship product, ‘Seminar-on-a-Disk,' was an innovative solution for self-paced learning. With the evolution of digital technology, we launched SimpleK12, an online community for educators, and ‘How to Master,' our first virtual platform.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges, but we responded with the tools and resources teachers needed for the sudden shift to virtual teaching. Now, as part of the Teachers of Tomorrow family, we continue to support educators from their initial certification to ongoing professional growth.

As the world evolves, so do we, staying committed to empowering educators through online professional development, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to make a profound impact.

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Free Online Professional Development for Teachers

• May 24, 2022

Now that we’re nearing summer, you might have more time to think about professional learning and licensure requirements. If you’re a teacher looking for a way to meet your professional development goals, there are plenty of options. Here are some free online professional development courses for teachers to consider, along with a brief overview and the requirements to complete each one.

Waterford.org Science of Reading Opportunities for Free Professional Development

These free Waterford.org Science of Reading webinars offer a free online professional learning opportunity to explore research-based classroom strategies. Learn how to use the latest neuroscience to inform reading instruction, help students build key literacy skills, and teach students to become effective communicators. The webinar sessions include:

• Phonological Awareness: The Structure of Spoken Language
• Phonics: Breaking the Reading Code
• Fluency: The Bridge from Word Identification to Reading Comprehension
• Comprehension & Vocabulary: Reading as a Lifelong Tool for Learning
• Language Concepts: The Structure of Written Language
• Communication: The Four Domains of Language

PBS TeacherLine

Through PBS TeacherLine , you can choose 15-, 30-, or 45-hour courses, which are generally available for continuing education credits. You can even earn graduate-level credit through university partnerships. Each course is self-paced and can be completed around your own schedule.

Coursera is a learning resource that partners with universities all over the world to provide free and accessible courses. You can find plenty of professional learning courses specifically for teachers, including:

• Supporting Children with Difficulties in Reading and Writing
• Teaching Character and Creating Positive Classrooms
• Motivating Gen Z Learners: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know

TeachingTolerance

If you’re looking for professional development focused on social-emotional learning, check out TeachingTolerance . Their professional development section includes tons of webinars and self-guided learning resources on topics like diversity, leadership, and empathy in the classroom.

LearnersEdge

LearnersEdge offers free on-demand webinar recordings on a wide variety of topics, from mindfulness and mental health awareness to reading and writing. After you’ve finished the webinar, you can receive a certificate as needed for your specific professional development requirements.

Canvas has a collection of online, self-paced professional development options for teachers—many of which are free. Here are a few examples of the courses they offer:

• The Art and Craft of Remote Teaching
• Safe & Resilient Schools: Mental Health
• Supporting Girls in STEAM

Learning for Justice

Learning for Justice has an archive of webinars on improving equity and access in schools that are available on demand. Here, you can learn about topics like How to Be an Ally in the Classroom and Responding to Hate and Bias at School.

If your district allows webinars to fulfill professional development requirements, this can be a great option.

Whether you’re a STEM teacher or just learning more about the scientific side of teaching, SciLearn offers webinars focused around the neuroscience of learning. A few recent sessions include:

• How to Rewire the Brains of Struggling Learners
• Engaging All Students with Poverty in Mind
• Developing Executive Function from Kindergarten Through High School

National Education Association

The National Educators Association (NEA) maintains a website of live and archived webinars for teachers looking to fulfill their professional development credits. The organization also hosts a podcast called School Me , and while it’s not eligible for credits, it does offer tons of bite-sized “life hacks” for educators.

Sanford Inspire

Webinars are a quick and convenient way to fulfill professional development hours online, but if you’re looking for a more hands-on option, try completing one of the free professional development courses from Sanford Aspire . After finishing the course and passing an assessment, you gain a professional development certificate which you can then submit to your district and potentially redeem for credit.

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) website has a large archive of webinars for teachers, as well as live webinar options for ASCD members. Like other webinar options on this list, each session can be redeemed for an hour of credit if it meets the specific requirements for your license renewal.

The slogan of SimpleK12 is “professional development in your pajamas,” and they offer educational webinars to watch at home. Although some webinars are only available for site members, many others are free to the public.

Free Professional Development Modules by The Library of Congress

The Library of Congress offers build-your-own professional learning modules on subjects like Understanding Copyright and Primary Sources and Inquiry. These are designed for educators interested in presenting their own professional development course for their colleagues, which you can then submit to your district to request licensure credit.

Additionally, there are online webinars and workshops that can potentially fulfill one hour of professional development.

Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM

The arts and humanities are a vital way to teach children creativity and critical thinking. Through the Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM , you can access free toolkits and audio trainings on bringing arts into the classroom—several of which can be redeemed for professional development hours.

Holding both live and on-demand webinars, edWeb can easily fit into your schedule. Because of the range of topics, the webinars can be great free professional development for both teachers of early elementary students and teachers in older grades.

Facing History

Facing History provides both free and paid courses, webinars, and video professional learning options on challenging bigotry in education. If you’re unable to attend an event in person, there is also an archive of on-demand webinars and workshops .

SHAPE America

If you’re a health or P.E. teacher (or you just want to learn more about health education), this resource is for you. SHAPE America is a website run by the Society of Health and Physical Educators that includes plenty of free webinars on K-12 health education. A few examples include:

• Ideas for Equitable and Accessible Teaching in Health and Physical Education
• No-Cost Digital Resources to Support Social, Emotional and Physical Wellness
• Trauma Sensitive Practices in Health Education

TeachersFirst Workshops

Many of the options on this list are self-guided or pre-recorded, but if you’re looking for an interactive professional development option, TeachersFirst might be more your speed. These free, live workshops are each approximately 90 minutes long and scheduled after school hours for teachers with a busy workday.

ShareMyLesson

ShareMyLesson offers a wide variety of short professional development sessions geared toward teachers, administrators, and parents. You can watch these sessions on your own time and receive one hour of continuing education credit for each, provided they meet your specific licensure requirements.

Through KQED Teach , you can take courses on digital media to help you get the most out of educational technology in your classroom. Whether you want to learn how to make a teacher blog, detect online misinformation, or even try your hand at video production, you’re sure to find a course that fits your interests.

EdWeek Special Education Webinars

For special education teachers, EdWeek offers live and recorded webinars for professional learning in education. After watching a webinar, you can receive a certificate verifying one hour of professional development. Recent webinar topics include:

• Equity, Care and Connection: New SEL Tools and Practices to Support Students and Adults
• A Seat at the Table: Strategies & Tips for Complex Decision-Making
• Making Digital Literacy a Priority: An Administrator’s Perspective

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20+ Free Teacher Training Courses and Resources

November 11, 2023

If you have been in the education field for a while, you can not underestimate the significance of using practical teaching skills to boost student achievement. Continually improving your skills helps you master new knowledge and develop new proficiency, which helps improve your students’ learning processes. 

You stay up-to-date with evolving teaching methodologies and create better learning experiences for your students. You also create a more dynamic and inclusive classroom that caters to diverse student needs preparing your learners to succeed in different social, cultural, and economic aspects of our society.

Professional development will also be crucial in your career since many school districts require you to enroll in Continuing Education courses. The teaching skills you acquire in these teacher training courses help you transform learners into active creators of knowledge, preparing them for lifelong learning. 

This guide is a curation of over 20 free teacher training courses and resources that are relevant to the modern classroom. Let’s get started:

1- SimpleK12

SimpleK12 is a leading provider of premium professional development resources for teachers. They provide user-friendly, live, and on-demand training. The institution’s goal is to enhance teacher knowledge and skills, inspiring them to engage better with their learners, perfect their skills, and share their educator experiences. 

SimpleK12 has an extensive community of more than 84,000 K-12 educators who have benefitted from their professional courses, making it stand out as a preferred choice. The community includes paraprofessionals, teachers, assistant teachers, substitute teachers, school counselors, administrators, and curriculum coaches. 

SimpleK12 also boasts a large community of tutors, consultants, and homeschool parents who contribute valuable expertise to the community. 

Here are some of the courses and resources you can find on the SimpleK12 website :

• Partnering with Parents Planning Template : This resource is significant in helping you build effective partnerships with your learner’s parents and caregivers. It gives you a framework to discover innovative ways to enhance parental participation and establish opportunities for their involvement. This template helps you master the art of family-school teamwork by nurturing parental support through establishing communication and volunteer initiatives. 
• Summer Learning Planning Tool : This SimpleK12 tool, created by Lauren Boucher helps you realize self-improvement and professional growth. It guides you through a realm of educational possibilities with endless options, from exploring new subjects to growing your expertise. This valuable tool helps you realize the transformative power of summer learning, where you explore the depths of knowledge and unlock your full potential of optimizing learner outcomes through free teacher training resources. 
• Virtual Field Trip Planning Tool : Today, we can take tours all over the world within the confines of our classroom. Using apps such as Google Earth, Google Maps, and other resources, this tool helps you create a virtual field excursion. You can create an agenda plan for pre-, during, and post-activities. You also learn how to create and use manipulatives of things like artifacts to recreate a virtual experience of an actual field trip.
• 7 Tips for Working with Multilingual Learners : This teacher training resource guides you into becoming a more culturally responsive tutor in light of today’s increasing diversity. This resource equips you with seven tips and strategies for working with multilingual learners whose numbers in our classrooms continue to rise. The course, by Matt Bergman guides you on different strategies and tools for interactively to effectively instruct linguistically diverse learners. 
• Math Discussion Prompts : This SimpleK12 resource guides you into asking questions to prompt critical thinking in the classroom. Learners who think critically can have more meaningful, rich discussions with their classmates– highlighting proper understanding of mathematics. You help your students uncover math misconceptions and excel in STEM.
• Nonfiction Reading Discussion Questions : Nonfiction text is essential in introducing your students to unfamiliar vocabulary and new experiences, sparking a world of curiosity. With this resource, you understand the significance of nonfiction text to your learners and contextual cues to increase comprehension with graphs, diagrams, tables, and charts to promote your learners’ critical thinking skills. 
• CER STEM Posters for Students : The Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning teacher training resource will guide you into nurturing your learners’ critical thinking skills to get them thinking like scientists. You get practical and interactive skills to train your learners to develop reasoning and deductive skills. 
• End-of-Year Reflection : This teacher training resource will guide you into nurturing the reflective skills of your learners. It helps you guide your learners through evaluating their achievements in a year and helps them appreciate their highlights, insights, and experiences and how they impact their next school year. 
• 6 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself as a New Teacher: This is a free training resource to help you establish your goals for the year, manage your expectations, and track your success as an educator. You can download the guide and get help interrogating your teaching style for better results. It also lists all the essential procedures you should consider before school starts. 
• Demonstrate Your Mastery Of Each Standard With This Tic Tac Toe Choice Board : Simplek12 provides this free teacher training resource to help you show mastery in a collection of standards. This choice board guides you into ensuring your learners have access to the tools and resources they require for knowledge of a particular skill as directed by the curriculum. 
• Create Universal Lesson Plans with a POP : This is another free teacher resource that guides you into creating lesson plans that accommodate the diversity in your classroom. The Predict, Overcome, and Plan lesson plan design lets you predict the highly probable challenges and create flexible options to address them. You can plan how to assess your students by providing flexibility and structure to your lesson.  

MERLOT stands for Multimedia Education Resource for Learning and Online Teaching. This resource website was created by California State University as a repository for online teacher training resources. 

By capitalizing on its diversity, MERLOT provides free educational content for online, hybrid, and physical class content. The institution provides various materials to build your course or supplement a textbook. 

MERLOT’s most significant advantage is their Open Textbook Project, which hosts one of the world’s largest collections of open texts. Some of the courses and resources you find in MERLOT include: 

• Arts Education K-6 lesson plans
• Multilingual learning toolkit
• Health, Safety, and Nutrition
• Caring for our children
• Games for learning English

3- Teacher Training Videos

Teacher training videos are a free resource that offers a step-by-step guide to incorporating technology into classroom teaching. The organization also provides face-to-face and online training to companies and individuals. 

What makes Teacher Training Videos unique as a teacher training resource is their expertise in providing educational content through visually appealing guides.

Some of the free teacher training video resources they offer include::

• Hybrid Teaching ideas for teachers
• Feedback technology to use part 1
• Complete training, online and in-class
• 3 tools to encourage student collaboration
• Teaching Online introduction

4- OpenLearn: Education Technology

OpenLearn is a teacher training platform that offers free resources such as interactives, courses, and videos. OpenLearn’s technology stands out with their wide variety of free teacher training resources and a flexible schedule for participation.

Their website provides over 1,000 free courses that are readily available. You can access the material at your convenience and study at your own pace. 

Some of the teacher training courses available on OpenLearn include:

• Assessment in secondary music
• Basic science: understanding experiments
• Childhood in the digital era
• Approaches to software development
• Aquatic mammals

5- FutureLearn: Teaching for Home Learning

FutureLearn is a professional teacher training course designed to guide teachers of science tutoring learners aged between 11-19 years at home. FutureLearn uses design, technology, and partnerships to create attractive, flexible, and credible short online courses for its users. 

What makes FutureLearn stand out is the design of their courses. Every course is designed according to the dimensions of effective learning.

Some of the courses you can access at FutureLearn’s website include:

• How to use Classroom 200
• Improve Student Assessment with Microsoft forms
• Blended Learning Essentials: Getting Started
• Teaching Digital Literacy: Video games in Education
• Genomics for Educators

6- edX: Instructional Design Models 

The edX teacher training courses are designed as an infusion of interactive digital tools, digital media, and collaborative projects to help you enhance learner engagement. 

What’s unique with edx courses is that they are planned by subject matter experts. You can learn areas such as effective curriculum design, collaboration, and interrogating techniques in creating your outlines for online courses. 

They also cover how to apply instructional design models to create efficient online learning experiences and how you can collaborate with subject matter experts. 

Some of the courses edx offers include:

• Learning Design Evolution
• Addie Design Model
• Dick and Carey Design Model
• Understanding by Design (UbD)
• Rapid eLearning Design

7- EdTechTeacher

EdTechTeacher is a professional teacher training resources provider that focuses on helping teachers thrive in the current learning environments. They offer onsite, virtual, and self-paced training.

The institution is actively engaged in strengthening relationships between educators, schools, organizations, and businesses. EdTechTeacher’s competitive advantage is their online course development services that are tailored to meet the specific learning needs of children and adults from diverse backgrounds. 

Some of the courses offered in EdTechTeacher include:

• Professional Learning partnerships
• Research and Case Studies
• Learning Module Development
• Training for Instructional Coaches
• EdTech Needs Analysis

8- EdTech Leaders Online

EdTech Leader Online (ETLO) provides a series of online teacher training workshops for K-12 educators and administrators. Their training content is focused on specific subject areas and grade levels. 

Their competitive advantage is their trainers, who are experts in educational technology. 

EdTech Online Leaders Online resources are tailored to the specific needs of children and adult users. Their resources can help you transform your existing educational content into suitable content for online and blended models of instruction.  

Some of the resources available on the EdTech Online Leaders website include:

• Professional Development
• Virtual Schools
• Online Workshops

9- Intel Teach Elements

Intel Teach Elements offers teacher professional development courses that can be accessed remotely. This teacher training resource will help you engage learners with digital learning processes, including Web 2.0, digital content, and social networking in all subject areas. 

Intel Teach Elements stands out because it provides guides for teachers that help integrate technology into their existing curriculum. They also focus on collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking. 

Some courses offered under Intel Teach Elements include:

• Moving into Mobile Learning
• Creativity in the Mobile Classroom
• Designing Blended Learning
• Inquiry in the Science Classroom
• Collaboration in the Digital Classroom

10- The U.S. Department of Education: Office of Educational Technology

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology (OET) creates national policy on educational technology. It presents the significance of technology in transforming teaching and learning. 

Their resources guide you through the possibilities of making learning available everywhere for early learners through K12, higher education, and adult education. 

Some of the resources available through this resource provider include: 

• Games for Learning
• Future Ready Schools: Professional Learning Toolkit

11- Free Technology for Teachers

Free Technology for Teachers is a teacher training resource that teachers can use to create interactive curriculum content. You can use their platform to transform your Google slides, PDF documents, and documents into rich media like videos and other interactive teaching resources. 

This is a free teacher training resource provider that helps you create interactive curriculum content as it is rich with rich media, such as a rich collection of videos. They also offer a great teacher resource for online assignment creation. 

The teacher professional development website allows you to transform your existing paper or PDF assignments into digital worksheets such as Google Slides and Docs into interactive activities while also enjoying the auto-grading features of the website.

This teacher training provider stands out with their ability to integrate with major LMS platforms such as Schoology, Canvas, and Google Classroom, giving you a wide variety of digital media to work with.

Some of the significant resources TeacherMade integrates with include:

• Microsoft Teams
• Google Classroom

12- Microsoft Corporate Citizenship: Training

As part of its corporate social responsibility, Microsoft participates in the training roles of different groups in society. It seeks out community needs and tailors its training to address them.

On their website, you can acquire valuable knowledge to guide your teaching processes through free training resources. You can also share the knowledge gained with your community. 

Microsoft Corporate Citizenship training stands out as a valuable free online digital literacy curriculum that provides knowledge for embracing technology in the classroom.

Some resources you can access on this platform include:

• Optimizing your Work with Microsoft 365
• Microsoft Teams 101 for Nonprofits
• Excel for Nonprofits
• Getting Started with Microsoft Teams

13- Class Central

Class Central is a free listing for online courses. The website aggregates courses from many providers, making it easy to find training programs on any subject. 

Its competitive advantage is that it focuses on free or free-to-audit courses from over 1200 universities, over 80 providers, and 1000+ institutions. 

Some of the courses on this free online course provider include:

• Global Education for Teachers
• Learning and Memory in the Brain: A guide for teachers
• Child Protection for Teachers
• Teaching with Technology and Inquiry: An open course for teachers
• Autism Strategies for Teachers

14- Edudemic

Edudemic is a free online teacher training website that publishes articles and tips based on teaching and learning tools. It also analyzes the current technological changes and how they shape our education. 

The site stands out as a source of information on the most significant ed-tech tools and tips, reviewing innovative products for educators, and how-to articles on education apps. 

Some of their resources include:  

•  Citelighter Is Growing (And Giving Away A Premium Tool To 50 Teachers
•  Using Mother’s Day As A Chance To Connect With Students’ Parents
•  5 Studies On Why Education And Health Are Critical To Improvement
•  Here comes another tech bubble — in education

15- Russell Stannard: Teacher Training Videos  

This free teacher training resource was created by Russell Stannard. The website provides short, clear, and practical videos meant to help teachers and students effectively incorporate technology in their teaching and learning. 

The competitive advantage is that the founder, Russell, is a master in the craft, and his website has previously received awards from The Times Higher Newspaper and the British Council. 

Some of the videos on the website include:

• Using a flipped classroom when teaching online
• Developing student’s fluency in language learning- A simple idea
• Using YouTube in language learning
• Websites for developing speaking skills in languages

16- MIT OpenCourseWare

MIT OpenCourseWare offers on-demand courses that are suitable for independent study. 

What makes them stand out is their high-quality educational materials and resources, such as syllabi, videos, and lecture notes. You can also download all the course material. 

OpenCourseWare is also suitable for higher education to help improve course content, and it also acts as a platform to share courses. 

Some of the courses and resources suitable for teachers include:

• Teaching college-level science and engineering
• Advice for educators
• Educators thumb
• Linear Algebra-Communications Intensive
• Introduction to numerical methods

17- ClassTechTips

This free teacher development resource by Dr. Monica Burns helps educators use technology to design meaningful formative assessments and inspire every learner. 

The website has teacher development resources like podcasts, books, and blogs. 

Run by a former teacher, the website develops practical teacher resources.

Some of the available resources include:

• Podcasts: How student-driven play shapes creative minds with Kim Zajac
• Books: EdTech Essentials, 40 ways to inject creativity into your classroom
• Blogs: High-dosage tutoring for K-12 schools, 24 ChatGPT prompts for science teachers

18- Mimio Educator Blog

The Mimio Educator teacher development resources focus on developing comprehensive, user-friendly educational experiences. 

Mimio provides feature-rich interactive displays and valuable audio systems that advance STEM study and high-quality professional development. 

Some of the resources on this teacher development website include: 

• Empowering Education: Interactive Assessments and Innovative Tools
• Leveraging Tech to Enhance Campus Safety: A Guide for Schools
• Selecting Classroom Audio Tools for Inclusive Learning
• Sharing Notes: Enhancing Learning After Every Lesson

Alison is a free online educational website with videos, class materials, and lectures on various topics. You can sign up for several courses and enhance your professional development as an educator. 

What makes Alison different is that they offer certificates on completion, which are recognized by institutions across the United States. Each course outlines the materials provided, the instructor’s credentials, the syllabus, and how long it will take you to complete the course. 

Here are some of the website’s suitable courses for educators:

• Teaching Assistant Fundamentals
• Physical Education- Coaching Styles and Techniques
• Introduction of Forest Schooling
• Phonics Teaching Guide

20- Edpuzzle

Edpuzzle is a web-based educational application that allows you to select and customize videos by cropping, adding quizzes, or recording your own. 

Through this platform, your learners can learn basic lessons independently, giving you adequate time to work on other activities that reinforce learner understanding. You can also track your learners’ progress and grade their engagement with the videos created. 

Here are some of the courses available through this free online professional development website:

• Project-Based learning
• Edpuzzle beginner with canvas
• Edpuzzle beginner with Schoology
• Gamification in class
• Diversion and Inclusion

Sophia Learning is an educational website that provides high-quality online courses for your career development. The platform offers free online tools and resources to create, share, and develop classroom groups for learners’ discussions. It also allows you to monitor analytics and learner progress. 

Here are some of the courses available on Sophia learning:

• Introduction to Statistics
• Introduction to Nutrition
• Approaches to Studying Religions

KQED is a free teacher professional development website that helps you polish your media-making skills and guides you into incorporating media literacy in your teaching. It is focused on educators in grades K-12, all subject areas and roles. 

KQED offers a variety of resources, including podcasts, blogs, and courses, all of which are valuable in your development as a teacher. 

Here are some of the resources available on the website:

• How Nutrients Move Through Watersheds | Interactive Lesson
• What Are Perfect Squares
• Supporting Dual Language Learners | PBS KIDS Self-Paced Learning

23- Edutopia

Edutopia is an online educational resource that focuses on transforming pre-K-12 education so that all learners can acquire and efficiently apply appropriate skills and attitudes essential to thriving in education.

Edutopia is significant in inspiring change-makers in education. It guides educators in enhancing the learning process and enabling them to find, share, and transition to what is working in advancing educational experiences.

Here are some of the resources for educators available on the website:

• Teaching Young Learners to Connect With Nature
• How to Nurture Your Joy in Teaching
• 4 Strategies to Help ELLs in the Mainstream Classroom
• How Storytelling Inspires Children to Learn English

24- TeachThought

TeachThought Teacher Training Resource is a website that equips teachers with knowledge on K-12 education. It uses resource curation, collaboration, curriculum development, podcasts, and thought leadership to facilitate its teacher professional development role. 

The platform’s main selling point is their ability to provide industry-leading professional development to educators. 

Some of the resources on this website include:

• What is Vygotsky’s sociocultural Learning Theory?
• A visual summary: 32 learning theories every teacher should know 
• What does the research say about learning through play

25- Shake Up Learning

Shake Up Learning is an online planning resource that can help you make the most of technology at all levels of educational instruction. 

The platform provides empowering educational resources, workshops, and publications to develop educators for enhanced learning outcomes. 

Some of the courses available on this website include:

• Google Classroom Masterclass
• The Blended Learning with Google Workshop
• The Dynamic Learning Workshop
• 10+ Classroom Management Classroom Management Tips to Keep Kids Focused

Improving Your Teaching Knowledge and Skills

As a teacher, your role is significant in inspiring, nurturing, and pushing the limits of learners’ young minds to realize their optimal educational and adult potential. As the world of education continues to evolve, continuous professional development will help you remain well-informed, effective, and relevant.

You also become a better teacher in technological integration, organization, and learner assessment. 

SimpleK12 is an industry leader in offering tailor-made professional courses that enhance inclusion, promote life-long learning, and provide actionable career information and insights. 

Take your preferred teacher training course now and improve your awareness of emerging issues in education, create more interactive and engaging learner activities using technology, and become a great teacher. 

How to Become a Teacher In Georgia in 2023

November 11, 2023 by alfred

Texas Teachers Certification Areas

Texas teachers currently offers 50+ certification areas:.

• Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 6–12 (272)
• American Sign Language (ASL) (184)
• Art EC–12 (178)
• Bilingual Education Supplemental (164)
• Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) Spanish (190)
• Business and Finance 6–12 (276)
• Chemistry 7–12 (240)
• Computer Science 8–12 (241)
• Core Subjects EC-6 (291)
• Core Subjects 4–8 (211)
• Dance 6–12 (279)
• English as a Second Language Supplemental (154)
• English Language Arts and Reading 4–8 (117)
• English Language Arts and Reading 7–12 (231)
• English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies 4–8 (113)
• Family and Consumer Sciences EC-12 (200)
• Health EC–12 (157)
• Health Science 6–12 (273)
• History 7–12 (233)
• Journalism 7–12 (256)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Arabic EC–12 (600 & 605)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) French EC–12 (610)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) German EC–12 (611)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Latin EC–12 (612)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Japanese EC–12 (602 & 607)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Mandarin Chinese EC–12 (601 & 606)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Russian EC–12 (603 & 608)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Spanish EC–12 (613)
• Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Vietnamese EC–12 (604 & 609)
• Life Science 7–12 (238)
• Marketing 6–12 (275)
• Mathematics 4–8 (115)
• Mathematics 7–12 (235)
• Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering 6–12 (274)
• Mathematics/Science 4–8 (114)
• Music EC–12 (177)
• Physical Education EC–12 (158)
• Physical Science 6–12 (237)
• Physics/Mathematics 7–12 (243)
• Science 4–8 (116)
• Science 7–12 (236)
• Social Studies 4–8 (118)
• Social Studies 7–12 (232)
• Special Education EC–12 (161)
• Speech 7–12 (129)
• Technology Applications EC–12 (242)
• Technology Education 6–12 (171)
• Texas Assessment of Sign Communication–American Sign Language™ (TASC–ASL™) (073)
• Theatre EC–12 (180)
• Trade and Industrial (T&I)

20 Free Continuing Education Courses for Teachers

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: May 3, 2024 , Reading time: 9 minutes

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Like any other professional, a teacher can keep a thriving career by improving their teaching skills and expanding their knowledge through continuing education courses .

For teachers’ professional development, a CE course is crucial for their career, which explains why most school districts across the US will require teachers to enroll in CE courses, and many of them are free and self-paced!

Apart from subject-specific classes, professional development courses also focus on universal areas for all teachers. Ideal for K-12 to college instructors , these courses allow teachers to improve their skills, develop innovative methods of teaching students, and deepen their knowledge.

Free Continuing Education Courses for Teachers

Critical issues in urban education.

University of Chicago (via Coursera)

Professional development courses like these are perfect introductory courses to Urban Education Issues. This professional development class focuses on the critical issues surrounding the education reform space in the US, specifically on issues that have summoned polarized views and controversy.

Best Features:

• Shareable Certificate
• 100% online and free
• Flexible deadlines
• Gives you a meaningful insight into the “ no child left behind” concept 

Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling

University of Houston (via Coursera)

This 5-week, 14-hour free online course introduces teachers to digital storytelling and how you can use digital stories to enhance your student’s learning experiences.

• Very powerful system with lots of guidelines for teachers’ online professional development

Caring for Others (Specialization)

University of Colorado Boulder (via Coursera)

This four-month professional development course studies how society cares for the at-risk members and the caregivers in the field. Does it aim to find answers to questions like how much misery is in the world these days? Will digital media play a role in sensitizing/desensitizing the grief of others? What are the types of paid care work? How do caregivers manage their emotions?

• Flexible Schedule
• Suitable for Beginners (no previous background knowledge is required)

Compassionate Leadership Through Service Learning – Jane Goodall & Roots & Shoots

This is an easy-to-understand ten-hour CE course for teachers that equips you with the relevant teacher resources so you can unveil the differences between community service and service-learning. You will apply the Roots and Shoots model in helping the youth have their voices heard in addressing the needs in their community. 

• Suitable for beginners
• Uses the Roots and Shoots program model

Teacher SEL: Programs, Possibilities & Contexts

University of Colorado Boulder, via Coursera

SEL, or social and emotional learning, is a type of student program that continues to rise in many schools. This professional development CE course, handled by Dan Liston and Randy Testa, examines the clear and solid teacher SEL programs and other alternatives to enhance teaching skills.

• Thought-provoking but easy to follow
• Ideal for the advanced learners

Copyright for Educators and Librarians

Duke University (via Coursera)

This very informative five-week, fourteen-hour professional development CE course presented by some of the most knowledgeable instructors in the industry will give you a greater appreciation for the pros and cons of copyright.

• Flexible Deadlines 
• Numerous tools to address practical problems in the library

Blended Language Learning: Designs and Practice for Teachers

The University of Colorado Boulder, via Coursera

This free professional development online course is designed for language teachers who want to learn to build and teach a blended language course. Upon completing the course, you will earn 1.5 Graduate Teacher Education credits (GRTE) that are used for professional teacher enhancement and re-licensure and school district salary advancement

• Flexible deadline
• The course is broken down into several chunks. 

TESOL Professional Certificate

Arizona State University (via Coursera)

Through this TESOL professional certificate, you will learn how to write lesson plans, record yourself while teaching, or make a professional teaching portfolio that will surely impress your employer. In the final Capstone course, you get to have the chance to submit your teaching portfolio for an expert review.

• Ideal for beginners
• Flexible schedule

Teach English Now! Teaching Language Online

For those interested in teaching ESL, this online professional development course will teach you everything you need to learn about online teaching. The course featuring teaching methods is fun because of its interesting “International Travel” theme that entertainingly delivers the contents and lectures.

• Informative and enjoyable videos

Teaching Tips for Tricky English Grammar

University of California, Irvine (via Coursera)

This easy-to-learn professional development course is part of the Teach English: Intermediate Grammar specialization. Ideal, especially for ESL teachers or those interested in learning how to teach the English language, the course focuses on the problems many students face when learning intermediate grammar.

Virtual Teacher Specialization

At two hours per week, this 7-month professional development specialization course teaches you the best practices for online teaching, virtual community building, student engagement, effective ways of using synchronous and asynchronous technologies, social media, data analysis techniques, and so much more. 

• Self-paced learning option

Resilient Teaching Through Times of Crisis & Change

The University of Michigan (via Coursera)

This free online course is a perfect introduction to the practices and principles of resilient teaching and is designed with higher education lecturers, faculty, and graduate student instructors in mind across various instructional environments. 

• The course helps you adapt to the unpredictable times in education.

Foundations of Virtual Instruction

This professional development CE course for teachers helps professionals learn the pitfalls of online learning and overcome them by focusing on the basics that truly impact student learning in a class environment.

• 100$ online and free
• Flexible Deadlines
• The lessons are interconnected throughout the course.

Advanced Instructional Strategies in the Virtual Classroom

This is an outstanding course designed to help you use methods of virtual instruction, especially in critical areas of K-12 education.

You learn and study the pitfalls that most new teachers come across and how you can overcome these issues by focusing on the essentials that have the best impact on student learning in a blended environment. 

• Helps develop advanced-level techniques in an online class

Journey Conversations: Weaving Knowledge & Action

Yale University (via Coursera)

This free CE course for teachers discusses evolutionary sciences and humanities like religion, philosophy, art, and history. It is a professional development class that is part of the Journey of the Universe: A Story of Our Time specialization , a 20-series interview with environmentalists and scientists.

• Presented in a format that encourages learning and participation

Performance Assessment in the Virtual Classroom

The University of California, Irvine (via Coursera)

This free CE course for teachers is designed to help teachers effectively assess each student’s virtual performance, including feedback models, compliance issues, data analysis, and online grade book functions.

• Flexible Deadline
• Excellent information presented, high-quality presentations, and resources 

Improving Classroom Management with Class Dojo

Coursera Project Network

This short but helpful professional development CE course will help you set up your Class Dojo , a school communication platform that teachers, students, and families use every day to build close-knit communities.

• Takes one hour
• Effective in explaining how the platform works and efficiently teaching enrollees how to manage classroom activities. 

e-Learning Ecologies (Innovative Approaches to Teaching & Learning for the Digital Age)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (via Coursera)

This thought-provoking professional development, online continuing education course explores the seven different affordances of e-learning ecologies that open up real potentials for New Learning- transformative, 21 st -century learning.

Best Features: 

• Presents a variety of examples of learning technologies

Multimodal Literacies – Communication & Learning in the Era of Digital Media

Based on the book Literacies by Mary Kalantzis, this professional development CE course for teachers explores future directions for a career. It is also ideal for individuals seeking a profession in education and workplace leaders who believe their mission is “educative.”

• The course is important for educators of all subjects.
• The contents are supported with clear explanations in videos and reading lists.

Assessment for Learning

This free online professional development CE course outlines the present debates and analysis of the weaknesses and strengths of learning assessment methods and technologies, including in the areas of computer diagnostic and adaptive testing.

• Provides many approaches for assessments using different modes of technology. 

Frequently Asked Questions

As a teacher, why is it important to continue your education?

Teachers must be abreast of the best and most recent instructional practices to meet the needs of students!

Professional development goals are achieved by enrolling in MOOCs with live webinars, free webinars, and self-paced learning tools.

Instruction today has become complex and multifaceted. It is the teacher’s responsibility to improve a student’s outcome using the best instructional methods to lessen achievement gaps–which an online continuing education course addresses.

What are the requirements for continuing education for teachers?

The requirements for a formal or online professional development or continuing education course vary depending on your state and specialization.

Check first with your school and state teaching board for the specific guidelines for getting Continuing Education Units or CEUs through online courses and reaching those professional development goals.

Most schools and states require teachers to earn a minimum number of CEUs or CECs (continuing education credits) every five years before one can renew a teaching license.

Summary Points

Online professional development courses for continuing education are indeed very important to teachers in so many ways ! Enroll in free online courses today and enjoy these benefits:

• Qualify for promotion and higher salary
• Ease the transition to a better or new education career for professional growth
• Boost job security and marketability
• Encouraging proper time management skills for optimal performance
• Get more opportunities for professional networking

Additional Information:

• What Are the Benefits of Continuing Education After College?
• Professions That Require Continuing Education (CE)
• Free Continuing Education Courses for Nurses

Related Posts

Explore ratings and reviews for schools and universities on our platform, your essential guide for making informed educational decisions. Find all the help and information you need for your educational journey in one convenient place.

Free Professional Learning for Teachers

A few years ago I created a list of free professional development opportunities for teachers , and I’ve heard from so many of you with more great options. That’s why I decided to create a new post to highlight 10 more amazing ways to continue your professional learning.

This time I didn’t break the options down quite so much, so you’ll find this list includes online courses, live webinars, and pre-recorded options. Regardless of the format, every single option on this list is absolutely free because, as teachers, we already pay enough out-of-pocket.

10+ More Free Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

I’ve made sure to indicate the ideal grade range and focus of each site to help you quickly narrow down whether one of these options is the right professional learning opportunity for you.

Before you start, make a list of what you’re hoping to learn or get out of your online learning experience. Then you’ll be able to go into this process ready to make the best choices for your needs. However, if you aren’t quite sure what you want to learn about, don’t stress! There are a ton of great options to support your professional growth .

1. ShareMyLesson

Ideal for: Upper Elementary – Middle School Teachers

Website :  https://sharemylesson.com/

• Free virtual conference designed to be implementation focused
• Over 30 webinar options available
• Easy to get credit hours for completing the professional learning for teachers
• Culturally relevant topics designed to increase inclusivity in schools

What you’ll find:

• Developing Empathy through Indigenous Cultures & Stories
• Differentiating Instruction without Lowering Rigor
• Essential Techniques for PBL Success
• How to Successfully Work with Defiant Students

2. Inspire Teaching

Ideal for: Aspiring Counselors, Teachers building SEL skills

Website :  https://www.inspireteaching.org/

• Regularly updated to address changing educational landscape
• Courses are 30-60 minutes
• Offers certificates of completion
• Professional learning is accessible on mobile

• Social-Emotional Learning & Trauma-Informed Practices
• Neuroscience of Stress
• Supporting Diverse Learners with Digital Instruction

3. EDweb.net

Ideal for: Upper Elementary & Middle School Teachers

Website :  https://home.edweb.net/

• Free to join for access to hundreds of webinars
• Take quizzes for continuing education credits
• Interesting and relevant topics for professional learning for teachers

• The Science of Literacy Instruction
• Teaching Problem Solving in Math
• Teaching with the News in a Time of Challenge and Change
• Integrating SEL into Remote and Hybrid Learning

4. Scientific Learning

Ideal for: Teachers interested in brain-based learning

Website :  https://www.scilearn.com/webinars/

• Certificates available
• Webinars focused on high-risk groups
• 60-minute research-based professional learning sessions
• Developing Executive Function in K-12
• 5 Secrets to Jumpstart Learning in Students of Poverty
• Teaching with the Brain in Mind
• How to Rewire the Brains of Struggling Readers

5. ASCD Professional Webinars

Ideal for: Teachers & Instructional Coaches

Website :  http://www.ascd.org/professional-development/webinar

• Great professional learning options for teachers & instructional coaches
• Lots of options from the past few years
• Special members only training opportunities for ASCD members
• Solving Academic and Behavior Problems in the Remote Environment
• Just-in-Time Strategies for Ensuring Equity
• Rise to the Challenge: Designing Rigorous Learning that Maximizes Student Success
• How to Integrate SEL into Learning

6. APA Professional Development for PreK-12 Teachers

Ideal for: Teachers wanting support for Classroom Management & Behavior

Website :  https://www.apa.org/education/k12/professional-development

• All options are approved by APA for CE credit hours
• Relevant topics related to psychology & learning
• Includes great options for counselors, school psychologists
• Classroom Disruption Interventions
• Developing Responsible & Autonomous Learners
• Practical Classroom Management
• Using Classroom Data to Give Systematic Feedback to Students to Improve Learning

7. Future Learn

Ideal for: Middle – High School STEM Teachers

Website : https://www.futurelearn.com/subjects/teaching-courses

• Offers free 7-day trial (with lots of courses you can finish in that time)
• Options for online degrees, micro-credentials, expert tracks, and short courses
• Micro-credential available for online teaching
• Teaching Coding
• Linking Curriculum Learning to STEM Careers
• Interdisciplinary Learning
• Digital Learning – Resources for Successful Online Learning

8. Sesame Street in Communities

Ideal for: PK-Kinder

Website : https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/professional-development/

• Offers training videos, webinars, and courses
• Designed to support early learning
• SEL & academic options for parents and childcare providers
• Spanish options available
• Make Believe with Math
• Brave, Strong, Resiliant
• Helping Families Thrive Through COVID-19
• Learning Through Play

9. Teaching Strategies

Ideal for: Teachers PK-12

Website: https://teachingstrategies.com/blog/webinars/

• Offers options related to virtual and in-person teaching
• Offerings related to early childhood and elementary
• Includes PD related to home-school engagement
• Harnessing the Power of How to Promote Deep, Reflective Thinking
• Working with Trauma-Impacted Young Children
• Making Distance Learning Work: Virtual Classroom Setup as a Teaching Strategy
• Using the Cultural Wealth of Families to Create Meaningful Learning Contexts for Children

10. WNET Education: Concept to Classroom

Ideal for: Upper Elementary or Multi-subject Teachers

Website: https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/

• Free monthly webinar that offers an upgrade option for $5 to get PD certificate
• A simple, easy-to-navigate site
• Options across a variety of different areas of education
• The multimedia format includes video and reading w/ focus on implementation
• Regularly adding new courses
• Option to get continuing education credits

11. Model Teaching

Ideal for: Taste-testing a return to graduate school; teachers looking for credit hours or grad credits

• Options for grad credit & state recertification (paid)
• Differentiation
• Assessment & Data Collection
• Technology in the Classroom
• All core subjects

Take the next steps with your professional learning

Whether you’re just hoping to grab a few PD credits from the comfort of your couch or you’re seeking an online graduate degree in education , there are so many options available today. Although you’ll need to do a little research and find a few spare hours, you can find almost anything you need.

Many of us have been thrown for a loop due to Covid restrictions. However, one positive has been the rapid expansion of online professional development options. These courses don’t require travel or hours in a hot, stuffy conference room. This makes them a definite win!

Last but not least, if you know of other sites that offer free, online professional learning for teachers, let me know in the comments below.

• Google Classroom
• Google Workspace Admin
• Google Cloud

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week ♥️ Visit our blog here.

Happy teacher appreciation week ♥️, empowering educators and supporting lifelong learning with free of charge, online training for the classroom.

Learn basic and advanced skills across Google Workspace for Education tools

Explore ideas and tips designed to help educators make the most of Google’s classroom technology.

Help your institution collaborate easily, streamline instruction, and keep the learning environment secure

We've designed a collection of training and resources for you to help your institution be better connected, safer and a digitally empowered place to be.

Learn the basics of Google Workspace for Education with quick videos sent to your inbox

Leverage Google Classroom to manage, measure, and enrich learning experiences

Whether you’re just starting out with Google Classroom or exploring advanced functions, this course covers features that help simplify class management, accelerate grading, and more.

Practice Sets

In this course, you will learn how to create a practice set, assign it to your students in Classroom, and analyze student performance to inform further instruction. You can use practice sets to create interactive assignments, provide students with built-in hints and resources, and automate grading. Practice sets will engage your students in learning while saving you time.

Google Tools for In-Person Learning

In this course, you will learn practical strategies using technology that supports in-person learning and classroom management. You will add value to your students’ learning experience by integrating high-impact uses of Google Workspace for Education in your classroom.

Chromebooks for Educators

By the time you finish this course you will be able to use Chromebook’s essential tools, tips and tricks. This knowledge will enable you to design and deliver powerful instructional experiences for your students.

Explore additional trainings to support your work in the classroom and beyond

Digital citizenship and safety course.

Help students stay safe online and become responsible digital citizens

DISTANCE LEARNING FOR EDUCATORS

Learn how to use Google tools to keep students engaged while teaching remotely

Accessibility Tools Training

Make learning accessible for all students with Chromebook

Support English Language Learners

Support students learning English with Google Translate tools

INSPIRE CREATIVITY THROUGH LEARNER ENGAGEMENT

Engage and deepen learning opportunities through creative distance learning.

Get up and running with Google tools for education

Bring technology to life in the classroom with tips, training, and resources to help educators get the most out of Google tools.

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Continuing Education Courses for Teachers

If you are looking for continuing education courses to advance your teaching career, you have come to the right place. We offer over 300 affordable, engaging online classes designed to fit around your busy schedule.

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Free Online Course for Teachers

Registration opens 8/7/23 – Don’t miss your chance to register!

Earn Credit for Free

The University of San Diego is excited to offer a free online continuing education course for teachers! This free online course will allow you to explore the University of San Diego’s online platform for teachers and see if our 500+ online educator courses are right for you and your professional development.

This free course has been created from one of the University of San Diego’s most popular online courses, Be on My SIDE: Educating for Social Justice, Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity. Students who enroll will be able to explore the first half of this popular course while earning a graduate-level extension credit for free.

Registration for the free course opens August 7th, 2023, and is limited to the first two hundred registrants. Don’t miss your chance to explore our offerings while earning credit!

Restrictions may apply*

Registration is now open!

USD’s free online educator course is now open for registration! Click the button below to visit the course page and register. Registration closes August 13, 2023 and will be capped at 200 students. Don’t miss your chance to take one of USD’s online educator courses for free!

Course Overview

Be on My SIDE: Educating for Social Justice, Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity  will address the role of educators as allies, advocates and catalysts for positive change.  Educators will examine their personal biases, reflect upon the research, listen to and understand perspectives and strategies of experts in the field, and develop an action plan to address challenges related to race, ability, mental health, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and other issues pertaining to social justice, inclusivity, diversity and equity in education. This course has been split in half to allow participants to explore this topic and the University of San Diego’s continuing education program for free.

The free portion of this course allows students to gain a deeper understanding of issues related to social justice, inclusivity, diversity and equity (SIDE) in education. You will share your personal journey as a student and your philosophy as an educator. You will also examine and fine tune the strategies you have in place for creating a welcoming environment, and contemplate your role as a leader in fostering a culture of belonging.

In the second part of the course, which can be enrolled in while taking the free portion, you will earn one extra unit by exploring and analyzing ethical scenarios in  Case Studies on Diversity and Social Justice Education  by Paul Gorski and Seema G. Pothini. You will apply concrete steps in resolving conflict, addressing bias and restoring justice in your educational setting. You will also create a sustainable action plan that incorporates resources, activities and strategies in educating for SIDE.

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I love the continuing education classes at USD because unlike classes I’ve taken at other universities, I feel like the material is really applicable and I’m actually learning something. The courses push my learning without being too challenging/time consuming to complete while working full time. The professors also really seem interested in your growth rather than just checking off that you completed the requirements.

*Registration opens 8/7/23 and will close at 200 registrants or midnight 8/13/23, whichever comes first. Registration will be offered on a first come first serve basis. If you experience issues during registration, please contact us on our about page. Participants who complete the free portion of the course will earn one unit of graduate-level extension credit. Transcripts are not provided for free. Students requiring a transcript for verification of completion and credit earned may order one here.

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Continuing and Professional Education Courses

May 21, 2024

Did you know that Clemson Online hosts over 100 non-credit courses throughout the year? From training courses to formal qualifications and certifications, Clemson Online offers various short, online, non-credit-bearing CPE courses ranging from family genealogy to birding and wildlife photography. Each year, we typically have 3500 people complete these courses.

Take advantage of the many new online Continuing & Professional Education courses available today! CPE courses offer opportunities for a wide range of interests and skill levels, ranging from  novice gardeners to industry professionals looking to enhance their abilities. 

Visit our redesigned Catalog registration page to view current offerings and find an online course that is right for you! Filter or sort between CPE and Extension courses or view the unique CPE and Extension specific catalogs! Check out all available and upcoming online courses now.

Upcoming Events

Quick hits: lockdown browser and respondus monitor, thursday, may 23rd, 3:30-4:00 pm.

This Quick Hit will cover using two academic integrity tools for online quizzes, Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor. Whether you’re new to these tools, want to see their features demonstrated, or have a specific question about using these tools in your class, this training has you covered. When registering, please include any questions you have about this training topic.

Facilitated by John Dickinson, IT Services Specialist.

Registration:   QH: Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor. 

Fostering Online Classroom Communities

Wednesday, june 5th, 1:30-2:30 pm.

Social presence is an important element of online learning and student engagement. Drawing from the Community of Inquiry framework, this workshop will provide tools and best practices for increasing meaningful community in your online course. When registering, please include any questions you have about this training topic.

Facilitated by Millie Tullis, Digital Learning Strategist.

Registration: WW: Fostering Online Classroom Communities.

Contact  Millie Tullis  with any questions about this session.

Clemson Online – Where Tech and Teaching Meet

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Clemson Online Fall 2023 Development Calendar

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Navigating Learning Loss: The Vital Role of Live Tutoring with Certified Teachers

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Amidst growing concerns about the persistent lack of learning loss recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a noteworthy success pattern emerging: live tutoring with state-certified teachers. While headlines lament the challenges [1], personalized instruction, immediate feedback, and social engagement, all via certified teachers, offer a pathway to academic recovery. Moreover, stringent background checks ensure the safety and well-being of students, further underscoring the importance of this approach.

Personalized Instruction

One of the defining features of live tutoring with certified teachers is its capacity for personalized instruction. Dr. John Hattie, education researcher and author, notes: “Effective teaching is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor; it requires an understanding of each student’s unique learning needs.” [2] Certified teachers are adept at assessing these needs and tailoring their instruction accordingly. Through real-time interaction, they can identify and address areas of weakness, providing targeted support that is essential for combating learning loss.

Immediate Feedback

In the words of renowned psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, “Feedback is essential for learning. It tells us where we are and what we need to do to improve.” [3] Live tutoring facilitates this feedback loop, offering students timely insights into their progress and understanding. By correcting misconceptions as they arise, tutors who are certified teachers can prevent the accumulation of gaps in knowledge that often characterize learning loss. This immediate feedback fosters a culture of continuous improvement, empowering students to take ownership of their learning journey.

Social Interaction and Engagement

Beyond its instructional benefits, live tutoring fosters social interaction and engagement— crucial components of effective learning environments. Research by Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, education policy expert, underscores the importance of social relationships in education, stating, “Learning is a social process that thrives on collaboration and interaction.” [4] Certified teachers cultivate a supportive tutoring environment where students not only feel empowered to ask questions, seek clarification, and participate actively in their learning but they can also experience an authentic connection with their tutor. According to the American Psychological Association, “Improving students’ relationships with teachers has important, positive and long-lasting implications for both students’ academic and social development.”[5]

Accountability

Live tutoring also instills a sense of accountability in students, encouraging greater diligence and commitment to their studies. Education advocate Michelle Rhee observes, “Accountability is not just about holding students to high standards; it’s also about providing them with the support they need to meet those standards.” [6] By engaging with certified teachers in real-time, students are motivated to stay on track and fulfill their academic responsibilities.

Pedagogical Expertise

Central to the efficacy of live tutoring is the pedagogical expertise of certified teachers. Drawing on research-based instructional strategies, these educators possess the knowledge and skills to facilitate meaningful learning experiences. Educational researcher Dr. Robert Marzano emphasizes the importance of evidence-based teaching practices: “Effective instruction is grounded in research and guided by best practices.” [7] Live tutoring with certified teachers ensures that students receive instruction that is not only content-rich but also pedagogically sound.

Moreover, certified teachers are adept at differentiating instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners. In a classroom or tutoring setting, students come with varying abilities and interests. Differentiation involves tailoring instruction to accommodate these differences, ensuring that all students have access to appropriate learning experiences. This might include modifying the content, process, or product of instruction to suit individual students’ needs [8]. For example, a certified teacher might provide additional support to a struggling student, offer enrichment activities to a high-achieving student, or adjust the pace of instruction to match students’ readiness levels.

The ability to differentiate instruction is a hallmark of effective teaching, yet it requires a deep understanding of both content and pedagogy. Non-certified teachers may lack the training and expertise necessary to effectively differentiate instruction. Without the foundational knowledge of educational theory and instructional methods, they may struggle to identify and address the diverse needs of learners. As a result, students may not receive the targeted support they need to succeed, potentially exacerbating learning gaps and disparities.

Rigorous Background Checks and Training

In addition to content and pedagogical expertise, the importance of rigorous background checks for tutors cannot be overstated. As education scholar Dr. Diane Ravitch asserts, “The safety and well-being of students should always be paramount in education.” [9] By vetting teachers through comprehensive background checks and providing ongoing training, educational institutions uphold the highest standards of professionalism and safeguard the welfare of students.

In navigating the complex landscape of learning loss, live tutoring with state-certified teachers stands as a beacon of educational resilience. With its foundation built on personalized instruction, immediate feedback, social interaction, accountability, and pedagogical expertise, certified teachers pave the way for academic recovery and success. Prior to engaging with any tutoring vendor, schools and districts should elevate these attributes as non-negotiable standards. By rigorously evaluating potential partners based on these criteria, schools and districts can ensure that their investments are directed towards interventions that effectively address learning loss and propel student achievement forward. In prioritizing the use of qualified educators as tutors, we fortify the educational landscape, providing every student with the necessary support to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

References:

1. National Public Radio (NPR). (2022, June 8). “Students’ Pandemic Learning Loss.” NPR.org .

2. Hattie, J. (2012). Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning.

3. Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

4. Darling-Hammond, L. (2010). The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future.

5. American Psychological Association (2010, 2015). “Improving Students’ Relationships with Teachers to Provide Essential Supports for Learning.” APA.org .

6. Rhee, M. (2013). Radical: Fighting to Put Students First.

7. Marzano, R. J. (2007). The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction.

8. Tomlinson, C. A., & Allan, S. D. (2000). Leadership for differentiating schools & classrooms. ASCD.

9. Ravitch, D. (2013). Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools.

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Free Continuing Education Opportunities

What to know.

CDC, Medscape, and other HIV organizations offer a variety of free Current Continuing Medical Education (CME), Continuing Education (CE), Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE), and other learning programs for health care providers to build and maintain their skills across the HIV prevention and care continuum. Access current learning opportunities below.

Current CME and CE programs

Expert Insights on Optimizing HIV Treatment as Prevention to Address Health Disparities

This activity is intended for primary care physicians, ID/HIV and public health & preventative medicine specialists, nurses, nurse practitioners and other clinicians who care for people with HIV. The goal of this activity is for learners to be better able to address barriers in HIV care by implementing treatment as prevention of the sexual transmission of HIV. Upon completion of this activity, participants will:

• Have increased knowledge regarding their role of treatment as prevention (TasP) in preventing sexual transmission of HIV
• Identifying the appropriate antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen for TasP in individuals exposed
• Identifying barriers to HIV prevention and care for disproportionately affected populations
• Demonstrate greater confidence in their ability to work as part of an interprofessional team to communicate with people with HIV (PWH) to improve retention in care

Authors: David Wohl, MD; Myron S. Cohen, MD; James L. Raper, PhD, RN, FNP-BC; Anu Hazra, MD; Rupa R. Patel, MD, MPH

Note: While an account is free to clinicians, a Medscape account is required to view the program.

CME/CEU: This activity is acceptable for up to .75 contact hours of CME or CE credits. Certification began on 09/28/2023. Term of approval is for one year from this date (09/28/2024). Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

A Status Neutral Approach to Providing Holistic HIV Prevention and Care Services

This activity is intended for primary care physicians, infectious disease/HIV specialists, public health and preventive medicine specialists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and other clinicians who treat patients with HIV/AIDS.

The goal of this activity is for learners to be better able to integrate a status neutral approach into clinical practice using an interprofessional team-based approach.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will:

• Have increased knowledge regarding the status neutral approach to the delivery of HIV-related services
• Demonstrate greater confidence in their ability to integrate a status neutral approach into clinical practice in an interprofessional team-based approach

Author: Oni Blackstock, MD, MHS

CME/CEU: This activity is acceptable for up to .25 contact hours of CME or CE credits. Certification began on 07/20/2023. Term of approval is for one year from this date (07/20/2024). Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Individualizing Sexual Health Care: A Virtual Patient Simulation

There is more to sexual wellness than treating STIs. Can you provide these virtual patients with a comprehensive sexual wellness screening?

Enhance your clinical skills as you engage with patients in an objective and realistic interactive simulation. Treat patients, diagnose medical conditions, and prescribe medications. There are no limits to your choices—order from thousands of labs, diagnoses, devices, and drugs using an intuitive patient chart-based interface.

Powerful metrics track your performance and provide instant expert feedback on your decisions. Upon completion, results will be presented, along with author commentary on each case.

Authors: Michelle S. Cespedes, MD; Babafemi O. Taiwo, MBBS

CME/CEU: This activity is acceptable for up to 1.0 contact hour of CME or CE credits. Valid for credit through 04/24/25. Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Current CPE programs

STI/HIV Training Modules for Pharmacists from the National Community Pharmacists Association

Per the STI National Strategic Plan (2021-2025), pharmacists are included amongst non-traditional providers who are integral in supporting ongoing scale-up of STI screening and linkage to care. A series of six 30-minute educational modules has been developed on a range of topics collaboratively by the National Network of STD Clinical Prevention Training Centers and National Association of County & City Health Officials . CE is available, and topics include:

• Intro and Sexual Health Discussions with Patients
• Creating an Environment of Equitable Care
• STI Diagnosis and Testing
• HIV Testing for Non-Traditional Settings
• STI Treatment
• HIV PEP, PrEP, and Prevention

HIV Testing in Retail Pharmacies

This training aims to equip pharmacists and pharmacy staff to conduct HIV testing using rapid test technology with control solutions. The training teaches participants CDC's Six-Step HIV Testing Protocol and reviews considerations for implementing HIV testing in pharmacy settings.

Note: To sign up for this course, contact the National HIV Classroom Learning Center at [email protected] .

Format: 1-hour eLearning pre-course, 4.5-hour virtual training.

Other learning opportunities

HIV Prevention Certified Provider

HealthHIV's HIV Prevention Certified Provider program is an online, self-paced CME curriculum composed of five free e-learning courses in HIV prevention. These courses cover the clinical and practice information that health care providers need to effectively employ HIV prevention interventions.

After completing this program, participants will receive:

• A certificate recognizing them as an HIV Prevention Certified Provider.
• 5.0 CE credits.The HIV Prevention Certified Provider designation is available to:
• Medical doctors (MDs).
• Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs).
• Physician assistants (PAs).
• Nurse practitioners (NPs).
• Registered nurses (RNs).
• Bachelors of science in nursing (BSNs).
• Doctors of pharmacy (PharmDs).
• Other types of health care providers.

CDC Learning Connection

Stay informed about quality public health trainings with CDC Learning Connection. Featured trainings are interactive and user-friendly, and they often offer free CE. Sign up for the monthly newsletter to stay up to date.

This learning system provides access to thousands of courses from CDC and other public health organizations. Courses cover a variety of topics, and many offer free CE.

Effective Communication for Healthcare Teams: Addressing Health Literacy, Limited English Proficiency and Cultural Differences

This course helps health care professionals assess their patients' health literacy and language needs and practice culturally competent care.

The AIDS Education and Training Centers' National HIV Curriculum

The up-to-date National HIV Curriculum offers six modules with 37 lessons and corresponding question bank topics across HIV diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Free CME credit, Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points, Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) contact hours, and CE contact hours are available throughout the site. Free pharmacology CE for advanced practice nurses is also available for many activities.

Access HIV clinical tools, guidelines, continuing education, and patient materials on HIV screening, prevention, treatment and care.

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• Open access
• Published: 16 May 2024

Non-technical skills training for Nigerian interprofessional surgical teams: a cross-sectional survey

• Barnabas Tobi Alayande 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ,
• Callum Forbes 1 , 3 ,
• Paul Kingpriest 4 ,
• Adeyinka Adejumo 5 ,
• Wendy Williams 6 ,
• Felix Wina 7 ,
• Christian Agbo Agbo 8 ,
• Bamidele Omolabake 8 ,
• Abebe Bekele 1 ,
• Bashiru O Ismaila 2 ,
• Fiona Kerray 9 ,
• Augustine Sule 2 ,
• Egide Abahuje 10 , 11 ,
• Jamie M. Robertson 12 ,
• The Non-technical Skills for Surgery Nigeria Group ,
• Steven Yule 9   na1 ,
• Robert Riviello 1 , 3 , 6 , 12   na1 &
• Mercy Isichei 2 , 13   na1  

BMC Medical Education volume  24 , Article number:  547 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

241 Accesses

3 Altmetric

Metrics details

Introduction

Non-technical skills (NTS) including communication, teamwork, leadership, situational awareness, and decision making, are essential for enhancing surgical safety. Often perceived as tangential soft skills, NTS are many times not included in formal medical education curricula or continuing medical professional development. We aimed to explore exposure of interprofessional teams in North-Central Nigeria to NTS and ascertain perceived facilitators and barriers to interprofessional training in these skills to enhance surgical safety and inform design of a relevant contextualized curriculum.

Six health facilities characterised by high surgical volumes in Nigeria’s North-Central geopolitical zone were purposively identified. Federal, state, and private university teaching hospitals, non-teaching public and private hospitals, and a not-for-profit health facility were included. A nineteen-item, web-based, cross-sectional survey was distributed to 71 surgical providers, operating room nurses, and anaesthesia providers by snowball sampling through interprofessional surgical team leads from August to November 2021. Data were analysed using Fisher’s exact test, proportions, and constant comparative methods for free text responses.

Respondents included 17 anaesthesia providers, 21 perioperative nurses, and 29 surgeons and surgical trainees, with a 95.7% survey completion rate. Over 96% had never heard of any NTS for surgery framework useful for variable resource contexts and only 8% had ever received any form of NTS training. Interprofessional teams identified communication and teamwork as the most deficient personal skills (38, 57%), and as the most needed for surgical team improvement (45, 67%). There was a very high demand for NTS training by all surgical team members (64, 96%). The main motivations for training were expectations of resultant improved patient safety and improved interprofessional team dynamics. Week-long, hybrid training courses (with combined in-person and online components) were the preferred format for delivery of NTS education. Factors that would facilitate attendance included a desire for patient safety and self-improvement, while barriers to attendance were conflicts of time, and training costs.

Conclusions

Interprofessional surgical teams in the Nigerian context have a high degree of interest in NTS training, and believe it can improve team dynamics, personal performance, and ultimately patient safety. Implementation of NTS training programs should emphasize interprofessional communication and teamworking.

Peer Review reports

Non-technical skills (NTS) are defined as a constellation of cognitive and social skills, demonstrated by teams and individuals, needed to reduce error, and to improve human performance in complex systems [ 1 ]. Derived originally from high-risk industries like aviation, aerospace, nuclear, explosive, military, and high-speed sports, these skills are essential in surgical care [ 2 ]. These skills can enhance the way surgical teams carry out surgery [ 1 ].

Failure of NTS such as situation awareness, decision making, leadership, communication and teamwork has been shown to contribute to up to half of all intra-operative errors [ 3 ]. Often considered soft skills, these competencies are many times overlooked in both formal and informal clinical training - particularly in low resource contexts where emphasis is placed on technical skills [ 4 ]. However, published literature shows that failure of NTS is a significant cause of adverse events in over 50% of all fatal medical accidents [ 5 ]. The consequence of not teaching NTS is at the heart of errors, sentinel events and near misses compromising a patient safety culture [ 6 ].

In addressing the absence of reliable ways to teach NTS, the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, and the University of Aberdeen developed the Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) framework [ 1 ]. NOTSS refers to a behaviour rating tool grounded in a skills taxonomy that permits a valid and reliable observation and assessment of situation awareness, decision making, leadership, communication, and teamwork [ 7 ]. Considered by some as the gold standard for NTS, NOTSS has been extensively used across the world to prevent or mitigate surgical errors [ 8 ].

Even though up to 76 different published tools have been used to measure NTS in seven distinct areas of clinical practice, NTS training has been largely restricted to the high-income context [ 8 , 9 ]. Through a mixed methods approach involving Rwandan surgeons, anaesthetists, and nurses, the NOTSS behaviour rating system was modified for use in a variable resource context [ 4 ]. Non-Technical Skills for Surgery in Variable Resource Context (NOTSS-VRC) is targeted to address variability in resources, staff, systems support, and language frequently encountered by surgical teams in low- and middle-income countries [ 10 ]. The key modifications in NOTSS-VRC have been in the inclusion of contextual indicative behaviours that address this variability [ 4 , 10 , 11 ]. Other NTS courses have been designed for low-resource settings such as the Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training (VAST) and SAFE Operating Room Course [ 12 , 13 , 14 ].

Although Nigeria and Rwanda are both sub-Saharan African countries and share some commonalities, they are different in regional location (West versus East Africa), working languages of healthcare teams, health system organization, specific kinds of resource variability, and availability of NTS training. Currently, there is no identified programme holistically offering training or continuing medical education using this framework for surgery, obstetrics, trauma, anaesthesia, or nursing in West Africa. This survey was designed to gather input from health professionals and trainees working in North-Central Nigeria on the need for NTS for surgery specific to surgeons, perioperative nurses, and anaesthetists.

Before modifying or implementing any NTS training program, it is important to assess the interest, preparedness, and training preferences of the local Nigerian workforce. A bespoke survey was developed to evaluate this by our multidisciplinary group of local researchers collaborating with the NOTSS global team consisting of clinical educators, surgeons, anaesthetists, a clinical psychologist, nurses, and surgical safety and human factors trainees [ 11 ]. A well-designed NTS program should be highly contextualized and meet the needs of the target healthcare workers [ 15 ]. The focus of the survey was to identify trained surgical providers’ current exposure to NTS and highlight the perceived needs and preferences of local surgical teams to guide the design of training modules on NTS for the Nigerian variable resource context.

The survey design adhered to the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES) [ 16 ]. It was primarily a quantitative survey with a section for qualitative written responses. The voluntary survey was designed by a local team of surgical providers with training in NOTSS-VRC from Rwanda. Mentorship for the design was provided by the multidisciplinary and trans-sectoral NOTSS Global team. The survey was targeted at the 133 surgical providers, anaesthesia providers, and perioperative nurses working within six purposively selected institutions in North-Central Nigeria, spanning a wide variety of facility type and governance. These facilities included a non-profit secondary facility with focus on HIV-related surgical care, a private tertiary health facility, a specialist hospital, a state government-owned teaching hospital, a non-teaching federal medical centre, and a federal government-owned teaching hospital. These facilities were selected for their high surgical volumes and the presence of a multidisciplinary and interprofessional surgical team. Using a 95% confidence interval and an 8% margin of error, a representative sample of 71 out of 133 was selected through a convenience, stratified snowball technique at each institution, starting from the head of surgery, the lead perioperative nurse, or the lead anaesthesia provider. We elected to use convenience sampling to select surgical team leads based on their accessibility and availability to the researchers. Rather than being drawn at random from a larger population, in this strategy, participants were picked because they are easily available to the research team and would be able to influence propagation of the survey as leaders. We then stratified these leaders by their speciality into nursing team leads, surgical heads of department, and anaesthesia heads of department so that all cadres within the operating room are represented. The rational for the stratified snowball method was that these leaders would be able to identify and connect us to their peers who worked in interprofessional teams at the selected hospitals more effectively.

Ethical clearance for the NTS study was obtained from the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria Institutional Review Board (JUTH/DCS/IREC/127/XXXI/2277). Informed consent was obtained from participants prior to taking the approximately 7-minute survey. Participants were informed of the purpose of the survey, introduced to the primary investigator, and told the approximate length of time needed to fill the survey prior to consent. The survey consisted of close-ended questions (for quantitative analysis) and a free text response component (for qualitative analysis). The role of the individual on the surgical team, previous knowledge about NTS for surgery and NOTSS-VRC, and details of any prior training were collected. Respondents’ perceptions of the importance of constructs of situation awareness, decision making, leadership, communication and teamwork in the Nigerian context, and their perception of the single most important NTS for personal and team improvement were identified. The survey also identified interest in formal training in NTS, the perceived benefits of NTS. In addition, the survey collected responses on the ideal duration and format for a NTS training program (in person versus online versus blended). A free text section collected hindrances and enabling factors for participating in NTS training.

Names, demographic information, and institutional affiliation were not collected. No personal information was collected or stored. Information was collected using a restricted Google form, and unauthorized access was prevented by limiting editing rights to three investigators. Respondents were able to review and change their answers using a back button. Access to collected data was only permitted on password-protected computer devices. The survey was developed through an iterative process, and the usability and technical functionality of the electronic questionnaire was pre-tested before dissemination. The open survey was not advertised online but was disseminated to surgical, obstetrics, anaesthesia, and perioperative nursing leads at target facilities. The survey was limited to clinically active participants. Initial contact with potential participants was made on WhatsApp, and the forms required web-based data entry. No cookies, IP address check, or automated log file analysis was performed; however, data were cleaned manually and examined for double entries and other inconsistencies including submissions with atypical timestamps.

Surveys were administered through an electronic, web-based, single-page Google form with 19 questionnaire items, and responses were automatically captured. No incentives were provided to any participants. Data were collected from August 9 to October 6, 2021. Items and questionnaires were not randomized or alternated. A post-submission completeness check was carried out, finding that 6 respondents had incomplete entries. The response rate was 95.7% ( n  = 68; N  = 71); and the completion rate (the number of people submitting the last questionnaire page, divided by the number of people who agreed to participate or submitted the first survey page) was also 95.7% ( n  = 68; N  = 71). Any questionnaires with less than 50% completion, or with missing demographics ( n  = 4) were excluded from analysis. Questionnaire items were not weighted, and propensity scores were not applied to adjust for any sample. Analysis was carried out in R software version 4.1.0 [ 17 ] using proportions and Fisher’s exact test. We analysed free text written responses to identify barriers and enhancers to NTS training in the context and generated themes using the qualitative constant comparative method as described by Glaser [ 18 ]. Responses were quantised by theme and presented by frequency and percentage alongside quotes of sample phrases. We used group open coding involving one investigator and a research assistant (BA and PK) and resolved disagreements by discussion. Qualitative analysis was carried out using a grounded theory qualitative approach and a constructivist research paradigm and a convergent (parallel) design [ 19 ]. The free text data were analysed using topic detection/categorisation technique which employs grouping or bucketing of similar themes relevant for the project [ 19 ]. No sub-categories were identified. Inductive qualitative analysis was carried out [ 18 ]. For the two open-ended questions from the survey, we categorized the text into a number of similar themes in an inductive manner [ 18 , 19 ].

There was a total of 67 respondents, which included 17 anaesthesia providers (25.4%), 21 perioperative nurses (31.3%), and 29 surgeons and surgeons-in-training (43.3%).

Overall, there was poor awareness of NTS across all specialties (Table  1 ), with only 32 of 67 (47.8%) having heard of NTS use in surgery. This shortfall in awareness was most evident amongst the anaesthesia providers with only 6 of 17 (35.3%) having previously heard of NTS, compared with 13 of 29 (44.8%) of surgical providers, and 13 of 21 (61.9%) of perioperative nursing staff. Similarly, awareness of NOTSS-VRC training was low with only 14 (21.2%) having previously heard of any NTS course adapted for variable resource contexts. This was particularly true of surgeons/surgeons-in-training relative to other professions ( p  = 0.022), as only 2 (6.9%) had prior knowledge of the course. Only 6 respondents (9.1%), none of whom were surgeons, had previously attended a NTS training program ( p  = 0.031). The NTS training courses that respondents specified that they had attended previously were not purely NTS training, as they were exclusively local hospital or university-based training sessions rather than internationally recognised training courses. One respondent identified a ‘handling and maintenance of minimally invasive instruments’ training course as containing NTS.

When asked to rate each of the components of NTS in terms of importance, all categories were rated predominantly as ‘very important’ (86.6–91.0%). None of the NTS categories were rated as ‘not important’ by any of the respondents. In ranking the four categories (Table  2 ), overall, most respondents (38, 56.7%) ranked ‘communication and teamwork’ as the one they would most personally like to learn about and ‘situational awareness’ as the least. This held true across specialties with no statistically significant difference between groups’ ranking of the categories. In addition, respondents perceived that ‘communication and teamwork’ were most needed for interprofessional team improvement in their context. Deviating from other surgeons and anaesthesia providers, nursing staff ranked decision making as less important than leadership; however, this was not statistically significant (Fisher’s exact p -value = 0.055).

There was an overwhelming positive interest in receiving NTS training in the future with 64 respondents (95.5%) expressing a desire to attend training. Their primary motivation was that NTS training would improve patient safety (66; 98.5%). Table  3 shows the preferred duration and format for NTS training.

The most common thematic barriers to respondents attending NTS training in the future included time conflicts (31, 46.3%), and cost barriers (14, 20.9%). Lack of access to training (10, 14.9%) and an unsupportive work environment (9, 13.4%) such as hierarchical dynamics and work-related psychological stress were also identified as key barriers (Table  4 ). Seventeen respondents (25.4%) identified no barriers to attending future NTS training. The most common enabling factor for attending future NTS training was the desire to improve patient safety (34, 50.7%). The desire for self-improvement (18, 26.9%) and the desire for an improved work environment (10, 14.9%) were also identified as key enabling factors. Five respondents (7.5%) could not highlight any factors which would motivate them to attend a future NTS training course.

Most respondents from operating room teams in North-Central Nigeria had never heard of any NTS for surgery framework useful for variable resource contexts and only 8% had ever received any form of NTS training. Interprofessional teams identified communication and teamwork as the most deficient personal skills (38, 57%), and as the most needed for surgical team improvement (45, 67%). There was a very high demand for NTS training by all surgical team members motivated by expectations of improved patient safety and improved interprofessional team dynamics. Week-long, hybrid training courses (with combined in-person and online components) were the preferred format for delivery of NTS education. Factors that would facilitate attendance included a desire for patient safety and self-improvement, while barriers to attendance were conflicts of time, and training costs. The way forward for NTS training in North-Central Nigerian context is interprofessional training in hybrid format which prioritizes communication and teamwork, emphasizes patient safety, and is delivered at low costs.

There is very limited exposure to surgical-team centred NTS frameworks and training in Nigeria, and across West Africa. This is in contrast with the United Kingdom, North America, East Africa, Australasia, Europe, Japan, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, where NOTSS is taught regularly as an integral part of the surgical training programs and continuing medical education [ 20 ]. In the Nigerian context, there appears to be emphasis on technical skills over NTS. Over 2,500 Nigerian surgical specialists have been trained by the Nigeria Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) and the West African College of Surgeons (WACS), neither of which include structured NTS as a part of their curricula [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Nursing care training in the context also lacks emphasis on measurable, contextualized NTS [ 24 ]. Lack of exposure to these crucial interprofessional skills in regional medical education creates a significant gap in training and practice that needs to be addressed. While systems issues are a major challenge in this context, and much effort goes into handling surgical systems challenges like supply chain, human resources, surgical access, and surgical financing [ 25 ], this pragmatic emphasis can lead to a neglect of human factors and NTS. Our survey findings show that poor NTS have been identified as a challenge by interprofessional surgical teams, but training solutions have not yet been identified in the context.

Communication and teamwork were identified as the most important NTSs needed in the Nigerian surgical environment for personal development, team building, and improvement of patient care. The Nigerian health care scene has been a minefield of unhealthy interprofessional rivalry between cadres of health workers [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. This has been responsible for a lack of cooperation, a sense of unwholesome hierarchy, mistrust, and fear that often carries itself into the operating room [ 27 ]. These age-old challenges have led to recurrent industrial actions, and counter-industrial actions, organizational tensions [ 26 , 27 , 29 ]. Respondents suggest prioritizing training in communication and teamwork over training in other cognitive aspects of NTS (situation awareness and decision making) as the way forward in the Nigerian context. The Nigerian healthcare system can potentially be enhanced with interprofessional education (IPE) and collaboration [ 30 ]. Early, multidisciplinary NTS training is a potential approach to addressing these aspects of the Nigerian surgical, and larger, medical practice space.

Longer-term training was suggested as the ideal format for NTS training in Nigeria. Designing NTS training courses to last for one week, as opposed to a few hours or 2–3 days was strongly suggested by respondents. This might reflect the recognition of the magnitude of exposure necessary to fill the gaps in NTS that have been identified in the context [ 26 , 28 ]. Although financial incentives rank low as a facilitator, we cannot tell how much this might contribute to the desire for a longer training course. In this context where provider to patient ratio is significantly low [ 21 ], it will be challenging to ask clinical providers to leave their clinical duties for a one-week stretch for any type of training. Interval training of two to three days duration twice to thrice a year would be an acceptable compromise to meet provider expectations, while being sensitive to workload, and avoiding the fatigue of an extended course [ 31 ].

In-person training appears to have fallen out of favour with respondents as the majority (70.1%) preferred a hybrid approach. This is likely connected with lessons learned by the global community during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 32 ]. It is now accepted that high quality education and training can be carried out remotely, via online platforms. Strictly online courses introduce the challenge of wide internet bandwidth, high cost of internet data in Low- and Middle- Income Countries, and the challenges of online learning. The in-person component of blended courses will give the opportunity to include practical, non-didactic components like direct observation and evaluation of learners’ intraoperative NTS in a live operating space for a limited resource setting. Despite the availability of technology solutions including augmented reality, extended virtual reality, and machine learning, they are difficult to implement in a limited resource setting with poor quality internet [ 33 ]. Respondents see blended NTS courses as the way forward.

Highest priority barriers included the perioperative and institutional work environment (59.7%), and lack of funding to pay for NTS courses (20.9%). Other courses in Low- and Middle- Income Countries have identified similar barriers [ 34 ]. Surgical staff believed that NTS training would “clash with normal duties” or be limited by the “tight schedule of a residency training programme” or that they would not be released to attend trainings by their employers. This can be understood in the light of the low Surgeon Anaesthesia and Obstetrician specialist density in Nigeria (1.8 per 100,000), and the significant impact time away from work for development has on increasing the patient backlog [ 35 ]. Attending such courses can easily be seen as disruptions of patient care. Optimizing the work environment, and leadership buy-in are therefore key to preparing surgical staff for a NTS training in this context [ 36 ]. Setting up sponsored courses would also encourage engagement. Using mixed methods, Reis et al. found that lack of time, perception of overload at work, inadequate digital infrastructure or competence, and a variety of motivational and emotional elements were barriers to continuing medical education courses among primary care providers [ 37 ]. Our findings show that highest priority facilitators were essentially altruistic ideologies undergirding the motivation for NTS training. These include desire for improved patient safety, self-improvement, and improvements in work environment, as opposed to funding and financial incentives or the need for a certificate. Surgeons, anaesthesia providers, and perioperative nurses in the Nigerian context understand the priority of patient safety. Introduction of a multidisciplinary, interprofessional NTS curriculum that is sensitive to these felt needs is important for successful NOTSS-VRC training in this context. Preliminary results have been presented as an abstract at the American College of Surgeons Conference, 2022 [ 38 ].

Limitations

Although this work sampled surgical service providers at secondary and tertiary level facilities, some surgical services (circumcision, debridement, initial open fracture care, incision, and drainage of abscesses etc.), are also being provided at primary level in Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa and were not included in this survey. In addition, this survey was purposively limited to North-Central Nigeria due to maximize resources and connections. It could have been distributed to a broader population for more representative national data. Further studies involving providers at this level may provide a more holistic understanding of motivations for NTS training. Secondly, challenges of internet access in an LMIC like Nigeria might bias results, as only surgical providers, anaesthesiologists, and nurses with internet access or internet enabled devices could have responded. The likelihood of exposure to NTS may be higher among those with internet enabled devices, considering the increase in online education following the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should consider hybrid online and interviewer-administered paper surveys to ensure a more representative sample.

Surgical teams in North-Central Nigeria are highly motivated for NTS training. Multi-disciplinary and inter professional teams consisting of perioperative nurses, anaesthesia providers, and surgeons believe that NTS skill development can improve patient safety, team dynamics, and personal performance. In the context of Nigeria, implementation should emphasize communication and teamwork to address the tensions and interprofessional rivalry noted in the local work culture. A hybrid, low-cost approach to training (combining online and in-person components) is preferred by respondents. Optimizing the work environment and ensuring that hospital and theatre leadership teams buy into the programs and champion NTS training are key to successful NOTSS-VRC training in this context. The way forward for NTS training in North-Central Nigeria is hybrid, low cost, inter professional training with an emphasis on teamwork and communication for improved patient outcomes and surgical safety.

Availability of data and materials

The dataset used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

Interprofessional education

Non-technical skills

Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons

Non-Technical Skills for Surgery in Variable Resource Context

Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys

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Acknowledgements

Steven Yule, Robert Riviello, and Mercy Isichei are co-senior authors, with equivalent contributions.

The Non-technical Skills for Surgery Nigeria Group

Barnabas Tobi Alayande 1,2,3,4

Callum Forbes 1,3

Paul KingPriest 4

Adeyinka Adejumo 5

Felix Wina 7

Christian Agbo Agbo 8

Bamidele Omolabake 8

Bashiru O Ismaila 2

Augustine Sule 2

Egide Abahuje 10,11

Robert Riviello 1,3,6,12

Mercy Isichei 2,14

Tosin Abah 4

Akims Shattah 2

Linus Hapiyati Homoweto 4

John Onyeji 15

Joseph Okoko 16

Joshua Sule 16

1 Center for Equity in Global Surgery, University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda

2 Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

3 Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

4 Surgical Equity Research Hub, Jos, Nigeria

5 Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

6 Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

7 Department of Surgery, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

8 Department of Surgery, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Markudi, Nigeria

9 Department of Clinical Surgery, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

10 University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda

11 Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America

12 Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

13 The Faith Alive Foundation, Jos, Nigeria

14 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

15 Garki Specialist Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria

16 Oasis Medical Center, Jos, Nigeria

Barnabas Alayande was funded for this research by the Association for Academic Surgery/Association for Academic Surgery Foundation Global Surgery Research Fellowship Award 2021. AAS had no direct involvement in the design of the study, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, and in writing the manuscript.

Author information

Steven Yule, Robert Riviello and Mercy Isichei contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

Center for Equity in Global Surgery, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda

Barnabas Tobi Alayande, Callum Forbes, Abebe Bekele & Robert Riviello

Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

Barnabas Tobi Alayande, Bashiru O Ismaila, Augustine Sule & Mercy Isichei

Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America

Barnabas Tobi Alayande, Callum Forbes & Robert Riviello

Surgical Equity Research Hub, Jos, Nigeria

Barnabas Tobi Alayande & Paul Kingpriest

Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Adeyinka Adejumo

Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America

Wendy Williams & Robert Riviello

Department of Surgery, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria

Department of Surgery, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Markudi, Nigeria

Christian Agbo Agbo & Bamidele Omolabake

Department of Clinical Surgery, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Fiona Kerray & Steven Yule

University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda

Egide Abahuje

Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ilinois, United States of America

Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America

Jamie M. Robertson & Robert Riviello

The Faith Alive Foundation, Jos, Nigeria

Mercy Isichei

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• Barnabas Tobi Alayande
• , Callum Forbes
• , Paul Kingpriest
• , Adeyinka Adejumo
• , Bamidele Omolabake
• , Bashiru O Ismaila
• , Augustine Sule
• , Egide Abahuje
• , Robert Riviello
• , Mercy Isichei
• , Tosin Abah
• , Akims Shattah
• , Linus Hapiyati Homoweto
• , John Onyeji
• , Joseph Okoko
•  & Joshua Sule

Contributions

B.T. made substantial contributions to study conceptualization, design of the survey, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data, and contributed to drafting and reviewing the work. C.F., and P.K. contributed to the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data contributed substantially to the original draft and substantively revised it. The Non-technical Skills for Surgery Nigeria Group was involved in the acquisition, interpretation of data, and substantively revising the work. A.A., S.F.W., C.A.A., B.O.I., B.O. acquired and interpreted data and substantially revised the draft. W.W., F.K., A.S., E.A., J.M.R. made substantial contributions to interpretation of data, and substantially revised the manuscript. A.B., S.Y., R.R., and M.I. made substantial contributions to survey conceptualization, design of the work, validation, supervising the survey and substantively revising the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barnabas Tobi Alayande .

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Ethical clearance for the NTS study was obtained from the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria Institutional Review Board (JUTH/DCS/IREC/127/XXXI/2277). Informed consent was obtained from participants prior to taking the 7-minute survey. Participants were informed of the purpose of the survey, introduced to the primary investigator, and told the approximate length of time needed to fill the survey prior to consent. The study was performed in accordance with relevant local guidelines and regulations, and in accordance to the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Alayande, B.T., Forbes, C., Kingpriest, P. et al. Non-technical skills training for Nigerian interprofessional surgical teams: a cross-sectional survey. BMC Med Educ 24 , 547 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05550-8

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Received : 02 February 2023

Accepted : 10 May 2024

Published : 16 May 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05550-8

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• Non-technical skills for surgery
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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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