We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Ellie Overland, Jo Baynham, Mark Sackville-Ford, Richard Dunk, Carrie Birkett, Rebecca Patterson, Ben S, Mamta Naik, and Jean O’Dwyer

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone who is interested in teaching and want to become a teacher in the future. It’s suitable for learners of any age and from anywhere, as it takes a global perspective on teaching.

Topics Covered

Read more

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone who is interested in teaching and want to become a teacher in the future. It’s suitable for learners of any age and from anywhere, as it takes a global perspective on teaching.

Topics Covered

  • What makes a good teacher and can teaching be ‘measured’?
  • How teachers manage behaviour in classrooms.
  • Use own experiences and further research to gain an understanding of different school structures.
  • Develop an action plan to take the first steps into a career in teaching.

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Foundational guide for aspiring teachers

According to students, 'Preparing for Teaching' offers a solid foundation for individuals considering a career in education. Learners particularly praise its practical advice, especially in classroom management, and the effectiveness of the action plan module which provides a clear roadmap for next steps. The course is widely regarded as an excellent introduction for absolute beginners. While the global perspective is appreciated by many for its broad insights, some learners found it occasionally led to a lack of regional specificity and desired more in-depth practical techniques, suggesting it's best for initial exploration rather than advanced pedagogical study. The well-structured content and engaging discussions foster a supportive learning environment.
Content is generally current, though some external links might be slightly dated.
"My only minor critique is that some content felt a little dated, specifically some external links."
Benefits from clear instruction and supportive peer interactions in forums.
"The instructors clearly have a passion for the subject. I gained a lot of clarity on what to expect."
"I also found the community discussions on the forum very engaging and supportive. It’s a great way to explore if teaching is for you."
"The discussion prompts really encouraged critical thinking. I feel much more prepared to pursue further studies now."
Provides an excellent introduction and solid starting point for new learners.
"A solid foundation for aspiring teachers. I found the content on what makes a good teacher quite thought-provoking."
"Excellent introduction to the teaching profession. The course is well-structured, easy to follow, and truly empowering!"
"Very helpful for someone completely new to teaching. It gave me a good sense of the challenges and rewards."
"An absolute must for anyone thinking about teaching! It covered so many aspects I hadn't even considered."
Offers actionable strategies and an invaluable roadmap for aspiring educators.
"This course was incredibly insightful and practical! The modules on classroom management were particularly useful, providing actionable strategies."
"The 'action plan' section truly helped me solidify my next steps. I highly recommend it for anyone serious about teaching."
"As someone considering a career change into teaching, this provided the perfect roadmap. The action plan module was invaluable."
Offers broad concepts; some learners desired more advanced, hands-on application.
"Decent overview, but not as in-depth as I hoped. Good for a general look, but don't expect deep dives."
"Frankly, I was disappointed. The course felt too theoretical and didn't offer enough practical, hands-on advice for actual classroom teaching."
"It's truly for beginners, so if you have any background in education, it might feel a bit slow or repetitive. I was hoping for more advanced pedagogical techniques."
Offers a broad global view but sometimes lacks region-specific practical detail.
"While the 'global perspective' is nice, it sometimes felt too broad and lacked specific examples relevant to my region."
"The 'global perspective' meant it lacked specific, actionable advice for any single educational system."
"The global focus means it tries to be everything to everyone and sometimes ends up being not quite enough for anyone specific."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Preparing for Teaching. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Preparing for Teaching will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
A book about the importance of having a growth mindset in order to achieve success. is relevant to teaching because it provides insights into how students learn and how teachers can create a classroom environment that promotes learning. The author renowned psychologist who has done extensive research on mindset.
Provides practical strategies for managing student behavior without resorting to punishment or rewards. It is relevant to teaching because it helps teachers create a positive and supportive classroom environment that promotes learning.
A step-by-step guide to teaching, this book is ideal for first-time educators. It covers everything from lesson planning to classroom management. The author is an experienced educator who has written extensively on the topic of teaching.
Argues that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge, but also about developing skills and dispositions. It is relevant to teaching because it provides insights into how teachers can create a learning environment that promotes holistic development.
Provides a framework for culturally responsive teaching that is based on the latest brain research. It is relevant to teaching because it helps teachers understand how to create a learning environment that is both equitable and effective.
Provides practical strategies for giving feedback that is effective and motivating. It is relevant to teaching because it helps teachers improve their ability to provide feedback that helps students learn.
Save
Explores the factors that motivate people to work and achieve. It is relevant to teaching because it provides insights into how to motivate students to learn.
Argues that the United States needs to improve its education system in order to compete in the global economy. It is relevant to teaching because it provides a wake-up call to the importance of education in the 21st century.
Argues that homework is harmful to students and families. It is relevant to teaching because it provides a new perspective on the role of homework in education.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser