Check out this list of our favorite free online professional development opportunities for teachers and school-support professionals.

<p>
  At Cross Country Education, we know your dedication to your students extends
  throughout the year. This summer, whether you have some free time or
  you&rsquo;re working in overdrive on the transition to virtual instruction,
  you&rsquo;ll find these free online course offerings can help! Now more than
  ever, it&#39;s critical to continue actively learning so you remain on top of
  your game as an educator. Check out this list of our favorite free online
  professional development opportunities for teachers and school-support
  professionals, and don&rsquo;t forget to bookmark your favorites!
</p>

<h2>MOOCs for Online Professional Development</h2>

<p>
  Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) were designed to make learning widely
  accessible via the internet. Most MOOCs are created and published by
  well-known universities, and many even consist of the same coursework college
  instructors deliver to their own students. Plenty of the courses are free or
  inexpensive to attend. New courses are added regularly, and the topics are
  endless.
</p>

<p>
  <a
    href="https://www.coursera.org/collections/free-online-courses-finish-in-a-day"
    >Coursera</a
  >
  and <a href="https://www.edx.org/">edX</a> are just two of the many different
  MOOC platforms. You can start by exploring MOOC websites like Coursera and edX
  for different topics. Then, find enrollment information for those that
  interest you and sign up! Here are some examples of fun, engaging, and diverse
  topics we&rsquo;ve found on Coursera and edX:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <a href="https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being"
      >The Science of Well-Being from Yale</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a
      href="https://www.edx.org/course/technology-entrepreneurship-lab-to-market"
      >Technology Entrepreneurship from Harvard</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="https://www.edx.org/course/the-health-effects-of-climate-change"
      >The Health Effects of Climate Change from Harvard</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a
      href="https://www.coursera.org/learn/fashion-design?edocomorp=free-courses-high-school&amp;&amp;ranMID=40328"
      >Fashion as Design from MoMA</a
    >
  </li>
</ul>

<h2>Other Professional Development Opportunities for Educators</h2>

<p>
  <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/">Eventbrite</a> typically promotes local,
  in-person events; however, due to COVID-19, they have adapted their platform
  to include many online options. You can browse Eventbrite by date or topic of
  interest. Here are a few courses you may find intriguing:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <a
      href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leadership-development-in-education-online-tickets-102071761386?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch"
      >Ongoing Series: Leadership Development in Education</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a
      href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bollywood-bhangra-dance-class-with-prashant-tickets-102932411614?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch"
      >Bollywood Dance Classes</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a
      href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-stand-up-comedy-nycs-hottest-comedians-tickets-33791364882?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch"
      >Virtual Stand Up Comedy</a
    >
  </li>
</ul>

<p>
  <a href="https://ymca360.org/">YMCA360</a> is an on-demand platform that is
  open to all. On YMCA 360, you can find classes geared toward group exercise,
  youth engagement, well-being, and more, from some of the most in-demand
  instructors. To begin, check out these fun and engaging classes:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <a href="https://ymca360.org/on-demand/category/85/videos/131"
      >Bootcamp with Laurie &ndash; 30-Second Super Sets</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="https://ymca360.org/on-demand/category/22/videos/87"
      >Kids Yoga with Corri</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a href="https://ymca360.org/on-demand/category/15/videos/135"
      >Barre with Jennifer &ndash; Session 1</a
    >
  </li>
</ul>

<h2>Virtual Education&hellip;on Virtual Education!</h2>

<p>
  If you could use a little help transitioning to online instruction and virtual
  student engagement, you are not alone. Nationwide, educators are being asked
  to implement online learning for their students as school systems close in
  response to COVID-19. We bet you could appreciate some solid resources for
  virtual education&hellip;on virtual education!
</p>

<p>
  Learning Forward Professional Learning Association has published
  <a href="https://learningforward.org/supporting-educators-during-covid-19/"
    >Supporting Educators During COVID-19</a
  >, a webinar series on distance learning. The series was designed to make
  online instruction manageable and productive and to help you boost student
  engagement. You can download the webinar, materials, and presentation slides
  and view them at your convenience. Here are a few of their presentations to
  get you started:
</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <a
      href="https://learningforward.org/webinar/teaching-in-an-online-environment/"
      >Teaching in an Online Environment</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a
      href="https://learningforward.org/webinar/how-to-lead-when-the-path-isnt-clear/"
      >How to Lead When the Path Isn&rsquo;t Clear</a
    >
  </li>
  <li>
    <a
      href="https://learningforward.org/webinar/taking-care-of-yourself-during-uncertain-times-mindfulness-and-well-being-for-educators/"
      >Taking Care of Yourself During Uncertain Times: Mindfulness and
      Well-being for Educators</a
    >
  </li>
</ul>

<h2>Updates on How COVID-19 Continues to Impact Education</h2>

<p>
  To stay abreast of the latest developments in education as it relates to
  coronavirus, tune in to EdSurge. This education news service offers a live
  webinar series on the second Friday of the month called
  <a
    href="https://events.edsurge.com/webinars/understanding-the-impact-of-coronavirus-on-k-12-education/?_ga=2.154253496.1495338891.1589577936-2073477335.1589577936"
    >Understanding the Impact of Coronavirus on K-12 Education</a
  >. You can register to receive updates on the COVID-19 series as well as other
  topics.
</p>

<h2>Relax and Grow as You Enjoy Your Summer</h2>

<p>
  As you bask in the warm sun, remember, summer is a time to relax and renew.
  It&rsquo;s also the ideal time to soak up some new knowledge so you can shine
  bright for your students for the new school year!
</p>

<p>
  Interested in checking out some of our other favorite virtual resources? Visit
  our
  <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/blog"
    >Cross Country Education blog</a
  >
  to find info on free teaching resources, CEUs, and other professional
  development opportunities for educators and school-support professionals.
</p>


Free Online Professional Development to Help You Grow as an Educator and Shine for Your Students