Free Online Teacher Development Courses
A curated collection of free professional development courses for teachers in the UAE and GCC region — covering pedagogy, EdTech, classroom management, AI in education, and more.
Google Certified Educator Level 1
Master Google Classroom, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, Gmail, and more for classroom use. Includes performance-based labs. Certification valid for 36 months.
100% free – both training courses AND exam are free through 1 June 2026
Google Gemini Certified Educator
AI literacy certification focused on using Gemini AI for lesson planning, grading, research, and creating future-ready classrooms.
100% free – training and certification exam
Apple Teacher
Choose iPad or Mac track. Complete 8 badges covering Pages, Keynote, Numbers, iMovie, GarageBand, Productivity, and Creativity in teaching contexts.
100% free – all learning resources and badges at no cost
Microsoft Educator Center – Courses & Certification
Master Teams, OneNote, Minecraft Education, Flip, and more. Learning paths for 21st century learning design, collaborative classrooms, and hybrid teaching.
100% free – all courses, learning paths, and Microsoft Certified Educator exam
Khan for Educators Course
Step-by-step guidance on implementing Khan Academy in classrooms. Covers mastery learning, assigning lessons, tracking student progress, and differentiation strategies.
100% free – Khan Academy is entirely free, no ads, no credit card
TeachingEnglish: Organising the Classroom
Learn to use boards and classroom resources effectively. Strategies for promoting social language, starting/finishing lessons, and managing interaction patterns.
100% free – includes certificate of completion
TeachingEnglish: Managing Learners and Resources
Managing resources, groupings, and differentiation to build positive relationships with learners. Practical strategies for diverse classrooms.
100% free – includes certificate of completion
TeachingEnglish: Digital Competences for Teaching English
Integrate digital tools for language learning, collaboration, formative assessment and feedback. Improve digital communication and online CPD skills.
100% free – includes certificate of completion
TeachingEnglish: Classroom Management for Primary
Give primary learners the best English learning environment. Manage instructions, learning activities, resources and physical space effectively.
100% free – includes certificate of completion
Teaching English to Refugees and Displaced Learners
Create trauma-sensitive learning environments. Work creatively with limited resources and manage challenging behaviour positively.
100% free – includes certificate of completion
Climate Action in Language Education
Integrate environmental issues in English language teaching. Develop skills for meaningful, impactful climate action in your local context.
100% free – includes certificate of completion
How To Teach Online
Practical techniques to adapt face-to-face teaching to online lessons. Covers lesson planning, engagement, assessment, and student feedback for online contexts.
100% free – includes free digital upgrade with certificate
Online Educator: People & Pedagogy
Design engaging online courses, make teaching more inclusive, navigate research ethics, shape digital identity. Created by The Open University's Institute of Educational Technology.
100% free – includes free digital upgrade with certificate
Diploma in Teaching Skills for Educators
Communication skills (verbal/non-verbal), instructional planning, student motivation, behaviour management, formulating learning objectives. CPD UK accredited.
100% free to learn and complete. Digital certificate: ~$25 (optional)
Diploma in Educational Psychology
Learn about student learning processes, motivation theories, developmental stages, and how to apply psychological principles in the classroom. CPD UK accredited.
100% free to learn and complete. Digital certificate: ~$25 (optional)
edWeb.net – Free Professional Learning Webinars
Professional learning community with 1M+ educators. Live and on-demand webinars on AI in education, literacy, math instruction, SEL, and more. Free CE certificates.
100% free – webinars, CE certificates, and community access all free
OK2Ask Free Teacher Workshops
Free workshops on AI tools, learning bentos, student empowerment. 75+ self-paced learning opportunities with free certificates and Professional Learning Units.
100% free – workshops, on-demand content, and certificates all free
PBS TeacherLine – Self-Paced Courses
Choose from 15, 30, or 45-hour self-paced courses across STEM, ELA, and arts. Many are available for continuing education credits.
100% free – self-paced courses with CE credits
Waterford.org – Science of Reading Webinars
Free professional learning on neuroscience-informed reading instruction. Covers phonological awareness, emergent literacy, adolescent literacy, dyslexia resources, and dual language learners.
100% free – no registration fees, no credit card needed
Facing History and Ourselves – Online Seminars & Courses
Courses and seminars on dealing with difficult social, political, and cultural topics in the classroom. Focuses on ethics, equity, identity, and belonging.
100% free – seminars, webinars, and online courses with CE credits
Free to Audit
These courses are completely free to take — you only pay if you want an optional certificate.
Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Introduction
Comprehensive intro to teaching covering identity, professionalism, assessment. Taught by educators from across the Commonwealth. Part of an 8-course programme.
Completely free to audit. Certificate: $59
Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Being a Teacher
Explores what it means to be a teacher, classroom management via Kounin's strategies, communication techniques, questioning vs telling in pedagogy.
Completely free to audit. Certificate: $59
Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Learners and Learning
How children learn, self-confidence and agency, differentiating teaching for diverse needs, engaging students through paired/group work.
Completely free to audit. Certificate: $59
Uncommon Sense Teaching Specialization (3 courses)
Neuroscience-backed teaching strategies: procedural learning, neurodiversity (dyslexia, ADHD, autism), classroom habits, rewards, and avoiding educational fads.
Individual courses free to audit. Specialization: 7-day free trial, then $49/mo
Negotiating Learner Differences: Towards Productive Diversity
Examines learner diversity (class, race, culture, language, disability) and pedagogical responses. Covers differentiated instruction and technology for diverse learners.
Completely free to audit. Certificate: $49
Innovative Teaching with ChatGPT
Practical strategies for using ChatGPT in teaching: lesson planning, creative problem-solving, game-based learning, personalized instruction.
Completely free to audit. Certificate: $49
Leaders of Learning
Explore personal theories of learning, leadership in different environments, organizational structure, physical/digital design of learning, and neuroscience of learning.
Completely free to audit. Verified Certificate: $209
Understanding Classroom Interaction
Fundamental concepts of classroom management and discourse. Develops communication, pedagogy, critical thinking, and analytic skills for any teaching context.
Completely free to audit. Certificate: $49
Teaching With Technology and Inquiry
Design-oriented collaborative activities for K-12 STEAM+ learning. Combines research and practice perspectives on integrating technology in inquiry-based teaching.
Completely free to audit. Certificate varies