The Foundations of Teaching for Learning programme is for anyone who is teaching, or who would like to teach, in any subject and any context - be it at school, at home or in the workplace. With dynamic lessons taught by established and respected professionals from across the Commonwealth, this eight course programme will see you develop and strengthen your skills in teaching, professionalism, assessment, and more. As you carry on through the programme, you will find yourself strengthening not only your skills, but your connection with colleagues across the globe. A professional development opportunity not to be missed.
This introductory course considers the three domains of being a teacher: Professional Knowledge and Understanding; Professional Practice; and Professional Values, Relationships and Engagement.
Enhance your course by joining the Commonwealth teaching community on our website, Facebook and Twitter.
Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Introduction
Offered By
Commonwealth Education Trust
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
12 hours to complete
Being a Teacher: A Professional Privilege
This first week gives an introduction to the course and asks what it is to be a teacher. This is a chance for you to reflect on you own identity and aspirations as a teacher and gain an informed understanding of the world, or worlds, of childhood. You will build on and extend your existing knowledge as a teacher. We will discuss the ways in which teaching can be defined as a profession and what it means to be a professional teacher.
4 videos (Total 47 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
4 videos
Lecture 2: Being a Teacher8m
Lecture 3: The World of Childhood11m
Lecture 4: Being a Professional14m
4 readings
Syllabus10m
Grading and Logistics10m
General Overview10m
Outline for Week One: Being a Teacher: A Professional Privilege10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz 120m
Week
23 hours to complete
Thinking About Learning
The videos in this week are all related to the theme of children and young people’s learning. The emphasis is on thinking ‘skills’ – learning how to think effectively and creatively. We ask how you as a teacher ensure that students are thinking while they are in your classroom. You will write an essay which brings together the various strands of your learning. This is for your own professional development, but it will also help you to consider what the implications are for teaching and learning in your own classroom.
4 videos (Total 50 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
4 videos
Lecture 2: Thinking About Thinking10m
Lecture 3: Teaching for Learning12m
Lecture 4: Thinking About Curriculum14m
1 reading
Outline for Week Two: Thinking about Learning10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz 220m
Week
31 hour to complete
How Good is My Classroom?
This week is focused on the classroom and asks you to consider the question ‘How good is my classroom?’ It asks you to revisit, replay, and bring together the many ingredients that make a classroom a stimulating place for learning and an enjoyable and engaging place for teaching. We come back to the importance of assessment for learning. As Dylan Wiliam says, ‘assessment is minute by minute in the classroom’, not simply something that happens at the end of the course.
4 videos (Total 46 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
4 videos
Lecture 2: Questioning8m
Lecture 3: Thinking about Assessment12m
Lecture 4: Planning for Improvement14m
1 reading
Outline for Week Three: How Good is my Classroom?10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz 320m
Week
43 hours to complete
Continuing to Learn in a Changing World
This week focuses on ways that we can help children to live and learn in a world of change. We will consider the importance of cultivating creativity and acknowledging multiple types of intelligence. We will also look at learning that takes place informally outside of school. We will identify key features of excellent practice in schools and look at the benefits of professional development. This is the final week of this course. If you have stayed with us to the end, congratulations! This may be an ending but it is also a beginning as you move on to the next course.
4 videos (Total 49 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
4 videos
Lecture 2: Outside of School15m
Lecture 3: Professional Development10m
Lecture 4: A Review: Questions of Professionalism12m
1 reading
Outline for Week Four: Continuing to Learn in a Changing World10m
1 practice exercise
Quiz 420m
4.6
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got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top Reviews
Thanks a lot Coursera! Appreciation Commonwealth Education Trust. Thank you dear Professor John MacBeath and everybody contributing to the development and running this wonderful experience for us.
This course is really useful to new and experienced teachers, instructors from kindergarten to college levels. It brings you to meet yourself in new perspective of teaching and learning context.
Instructor
Professor John MacBeath
Professor EmeritusUniversity of Cambridge, UK
About Commonwealth Education Trust
The Commonwealth Education Trust invests in primary and secondary education and the professional development of teachers throughout their careers. Through education it seeks to enhance the opportunities for children from all walks of life to contribute to the sustainable development of their communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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