Updated October 24, 2023
Learning never stops for teachers. Even if continuing education were not required by law, educators would still strive to deepen their subject knowledge, stay up to date with the latest research, hone their classroom skills, and learn to use educational technology tools.
The following education professional development sites will help teachers update and refresh their practice, connect with other educators, and, in some cases, earn continuing education credits. All offer substantial PD content for free or at a modest price.
Top Sites for Educator Professional Development
Modern Classrooms Project Professional Development
The mission of the Modern Classrooms Project is to help educators implement a self-paced, mastery-based instructional model supported by technology. To access the free 52-lesson Modern Classrooms Essentials course, simply create an account and start learning. The course covers the principles of the instructional model and how to implement it, lessons, blended instruction, and interviews with teachers and students who have adopted the techniques.
EdWeb Educator Professional Development Webinars
Looking for a faster way to do professional development? Explore these free one-hour webinars covering topics ranging from artificial intelligence and misinformation to high-impact tutoring and literacy scaffolding, organized by date and time order. Free account required. Continuing education credits available.
OK2ASK Free virtual educational technology workshops
A modest but practical selection of free professional learning opportunities, with upcoming live sessions focused on student feedback, questioning strategies, content creation and coding. Convenient on-demand content is also available. Certificates provided for participation in live sessions. Bonus: Save time and hassle by signing up for all or multiple sessions at once.
Next Generation Personal Finance Virtual PD
Founded by educators and entrepreneurs, the nonprofit Next Gen Personal Finance aims to ensure that all students and teachers have access to free, high-quality financial education resources. Explore the selection of free online professional development related to finance and mathematics, or check out the Free PD on demand. Self-paced modules are created on the Nearpod platform, but no subscription is required. Teachers can also earn NGPF certification through free certification courses in banking, budgeting, credit, behavioral economics, and more. Visit NGPF Academy to see all PD options.
National Geographic Online Courses for Educators
What is the National Geographic Explorer mindset and how can you teach it to your students? These and other key pedagogical concepts are examined through the lens of science, photography, exploration, and experimentation. Create a free account, enroll in professional development courses, and start learning how to take your teaching to the next level.
KQED Teaching
Free self-paced online professional development focused on media literacy and creation. Earn eight micro-credentials to become a PBS Certified Media Literacy Educator. Bonus: Two free online storytelling workshops, on October 25 and 26, 2023.
Teaching channel
Teaching Channel, a video-based online community for teachers, is a great resource for lesson ideas, video training, and earning credit toward professional development requirements. The robust social network connects educators with shared interests to each other. Free and premium content.
Annenberg Apprentice
A rich treasure trove of professional development and classroom resources, searchable by grade and subject. These fantastic in-depth videos examine a variety of topics, from teaching algebra to applying neuroscience research findings in the classroom. Free.
OER Commons Professional Learning and Teacher Education
Explore tens of thousands of free open educational resources from preK-20, curated by the nonprofit OER Commons. Connect with other teachers in topic-specific forums and search for free OER training/PD resources by standards, educational level, subject, and material type.
ReadWriteThink Strategy Guides
Whether you’re interested in learning a new teaching strategy or polishing your current approach, these guides will be valuable assets in your efforts. Each strategy guide includes information on the research base, classroom implementation, and lesson plans. Topics include writing, teaching with technology, inquiry-based learning, and more.
Stanford Graduate School of Education Youcubed
Research-based ideas, strategies, and tools to take your math teaching to the nth degree. Youcubed provides a multitude of mathematics resources to learn and use, including lessons, activities, videos and professional development classes. Most important is the focus on growth mindset in the math classroom and task-based teaching to engage and inspire students. Extensive free online resources and paid workshops.
PBS Learning Media
A wealth of free resources for professional development, including standards-aligned videos, lesson plans, interactives, and more. Six elements of professional development are explored in detail, from planning and preparation to assessment, the learning environment, and more. You can search by grade, resource type, popularity, and creation date.
tech & Learning Professional Development Center
Check out tech & Learning’s PD Hub, where we feature articles on how to incorporate the latest educational technology tools into classroom instruction and more.
