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Building a Teaching Career: A Step-By-Step Guide

Begin your career in the education profession and enhance your teaching skills with McGraw Hill.

565 enrolled on this course

A student standing in front of a classroom of students and reading from her book.

Building a Teaching Career: A Step-By-Step Guide

565 enrolled on this course

  • 5 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Turn your teaching career aspirations into reality

Whether you’re still deciding to become a teacher, hoping to make a career change, or interested in improving your classroom, this five-week course from McGraw Hill will help individuals at all stages of their teaching journey answer fundamental questions about teaching.

Hear from the experts and join a community of next-generation teachers as you broaden your understanding of the education sector and gain tools to address complex issues.

By the end of this course, you’ll understand teaching as a profession from the inside out, and feel confident entering any classroom.

Build your teaching career by developing a positive teaching identity

This curriculum first focuses on what goes through many aspiring teachers’ minds when they decide to become teachers.

While reflecting on your experiences and values, you’ll discuss the personal and professional qualities and motivations behind effective teachers. By asking yourself these questions, you’ll develop a stronger teaching identity.

Understand education policy and gain strategies to guide your teaching career

A firm foundation in policy and strategy is essential to crafting effective teaching methodologies and ensuring optimal learning outcomes for students.

Familiarise yourself with these policies and unpack their impact on culture, teaching practices, curriculum, and student well-being.

Learn with experts at McGraw Hill

Considered one of the “big three” educational publishers, McGraw Hill has supported the education sector for over a century.

Blending theory and practical solutions, McGraw Hill’s team of experts have developed this course in tandem with the book, “Becoming a Teacher: Issues in Secondary Education.” This text serves as a guide for anyone entering and working in the education profession.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Deciding to Become a Teacher

    • An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 1

    • Welcome to Week 1

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 1

    • Who teaches, and what motivates them?

      This activity outlines research findings into what motivates people to choose teaching as a career.

    • Knowledge and teaching

      In this activity, learners will understand the qualities needed to be a teacher, an introduction to the national curriculum and Hirch’s view on knowledge and teaching.

    • Classroom management

      In this activity, learners will delve into the classroom management skills and the personal, pedagogical, and pastoral skills that a teacher should possess to facilitate effective learning.

    • End of Week 1

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 1

  • Week 2

    On Being a Teacher

    • An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 2

    • Welcome to Week 2

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 2

    • Who is a professional?

      In this activity, learners will understand the qualities possessed by a ‘professional’.

    • The complexity in calling a teacher a ‘professional’

      In this activity, learners will investigate the reasons why a teacher can/cannot be called a ‘professional’.

    • Professionals, craft workers and technicians

      This activity compares and contrasts a teacher with technicians and pre-industrial craft workers as professionals.

    • Research-based knowledge of teaching and learning

      This activity questions whether teachers have research-based knowledge of teaching and learning. The issues with existing educational research methods, and techniques to develop a good teacher knowledge base will be discussed.

    • The government view

      Learners will recall concepts learned in Week 2 to gain insight into the government’s view of teacher knowledge, which will be discussed in Week 4.

    • End of Week 2

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 2

  • Week 3

    Teacher Identity

    • An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 3

    • Welcome to Week 3

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 3

    • What is teacher identity?

      In this activity, learners will understand what constitutes teacher identity and the personal, professional, and structural factors that influence teacher identity.

    • The social context of teacher identity development

      This activity discusses the role of social identity and self-categorization in teacher identity development.

    • Policy and research perspectives on identity development in early career teachers

      This activity outlines teacher identity development in early career teachers with a special focus on identity development as subject specialists as a factor that heavily influences a teacher’s professional identity.

    • How to sustain teacher identity

      This activity provides actionable steps for teachers to sustain their identity while pursuing their careers.

    • End of Week 3

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 3

  • Week 4

    Teacher Well-Being

    • An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 4

    • Welcome to Week 4

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 4

    • Professional and personal well-being of a teacher

      In this activity, learners will understand the causes of negative well-being in a teacher and learn about the teacher's well-being policy.

    • Strategies for professional and personal well-being

      This activity provides strategies for teacher well-being, such as mindfulness-based, cognitive behavioral, professional development, and values-based approaches. The equilibrium model of teacher well-being will be discussed.

    • End of Week 4

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 4

  • Week 5

    The Policy Context: Schools and Teacher Education

    • An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 5

    • Welcome to Week 5

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 5

    • Education policy, schools and teachers

      In this activity, learners understand the impact of changing educational policies in the field of education.

    • Accountability and datafication: governing by numbers

      This activity provides an overview of the role of teacher and school accountability in sustaining student progress.

    • Policy shifts in initial teacher education

      The learners will understand the role of policymaking in initial teacher education (ITE) and the gradual shift in focus from teacher education to training.

    • ITE policies

      This activity provides an overview of ITE policies, the current ITE framework and new frameworks proposed for teacher training.

    • End of Week 5

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 5

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify the personal and professional qualities needed to be a teacher and consider your own motivations to enter the teaching profession
  • Reflect on different research-informed notions of what it is to be a teacher
  • Assess the extent to which teaching might be considered to be a profession or a craft
  • Explore ideas around teacher identity and reflect on how you might develop your own sense of professional identity as you train to teach and then move into a career
  • Evaluate the current policy context around schools and teacher education so that you can make informed choices about training routes and potential employment opportunities
  • Explore the vital importance of well-being as you embark on a career in teaching

Who is the course for?

Whether you are looking to become a first-time teacher or exploring a career move, this course is designed for anyone interested in education as a profession.

Who will you learn with?

I am a Reader in English Education at King’s College London and the Director of Teacher Education with over 20 years experience of working in initial teacher education.

Who developed the course?

McGraw Hill

With over 130 years’ experience, we continue to evolve as a global education pioneer within the sector, transforming from a print-centric producer of content to a leader in digital resources and adaptive learning solutions.

King's College London

King’s College London, established in 1829 and a founding college of the University of London, is one of the world’s leading research and teaching universities, based in the very heart of London.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$39.99

For your first month. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$79/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 13 Jan 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 29 December 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

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  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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