Being a Professional Teacher: Our New Course

Every day, as an education team, we are fortunate to work alongside our worldwide teaching community – and we are always looking for new ways to provide support and further TPD. We are therefore proud to announce the launch of our new course, ‘Being a Professional Teacher’ – a course written based on feedback from our Teach2030 teachers.

Our community’s experiences – whether it be the number of years of teaching or the country of origin – are varied and different. Whilst some are directed as to what to learn and when by managers, others are working in smaller settings and need to come up with their own direction.

However, one thing that they all have in common is a desire to improve teaching practice and become the best teacher possible by using our free Teach2030.com professional development courses and joining our free live workshops and seminars. We now want to assist with how to navigate the classroom, the wider school and the world beyond in the most appropriate way.

According to the job site Indeed (2023), professionalism in teaching means “a set of implied and explicit standards educators are expected to follow while working as a teacher. ​Professionalism in the field of education involves interacting with students, colleagues, administrators, parents and other members of the community in an appropriate and respectful way that encourages a successful learning environment.​”

We want all teachers involved in our Teach2030 programmes to be confident, courteous professionals who are not only able to manage classrooms successfully, but also present themselves effectively in their place of work.

Our new course ‘Being a Professional Teacher’ outlines and explains how to apply teaching standards. These are the foundations of teaching, which we carefully categorise into 3 main areas: ‘Professional Behaviour,’ ‘Professional Relationships’ and ‘Professional Knowledge.’ Content includes how to protect  students from danger, conduct oneself in meetings, communicate effectively with parents, build trust between teachers and students, and so much more! Providing practical, contextualised scenarios and tasks, this interactive and engaging course will project  professionalism into new heights – no matter whether the teacher is brand new to teaching or has years of experience.

As part of our robust methods to test the course, we asked our Teach2030 Ambassadors to complete the course before its launch. 100% stated that it is well contextualised and appropriate for their country and context.

Humyra, Maliha, Teach2030 Ambassador for Bangladesh said:

Embarking on the “Being a Professional Teacher” course has been a transformative journey. It’s not just about teaching techniques; it’s about defining my professionalism and fostering genuine connections with students, parents, and colleagues. Through reflective exercises, I’ve uncovered areas to improve and enhance my teaching standards. Aligning with international benchmarks assures me that I’m on the right track. The course’s emphasis on creating a safe and stimulating learning environment resonates deeply. It’s more than a course; it’s a roadmap for me to evolve as an educator, embodying respect, collaboration, and continual growth in my teaching adventure. 

Our new course supports other Teach2030 courses, particularly our Growth Mindset for Teachers and Learners course, where teachers are upskilled to provide meaningful feedback and support life-long learning with their use of inspiring, positive, encouraging language so all learners are valued. Meanwhile, our Planning Lessons to Reach All Learners course develops lesson planning skills to meet the needs of all learners in the classroom.

Our thanks to Chris Owen and Hilary Wright, Helga Todd Foundation Education Advisors, for all the invaluable support that they have provided to writer of the course, Alex Starr, our Lead Education and Partnership Consultant.

To enable teachers to take this course, please donate now to the Commonwealth Education Trust.