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For many, education is synonymous with schooling, and with preparation for a subsequent career. From this perspective, education may seem like little more than a series of boxes to check: show up at class, learn the material, do the homework, pass the test, and, finally, get the diploma that gets you the job. This kind of rote, almost transactional experience of learning can be all too common, and it represents a misunderstanding of what it means to be an educator - or an educated person.
Instead, education can and should be an ongoing process of learning and discovery that extends beyond the hours, months, and years you spend in school (whether on-campus or online). Great teachers and learning institutions help you develop the mindset of being open to the lessons of the world, not just the lessons of the classroom, and to believe in your own ability to continually acquire and use new knowledge.
Thus, the job of an educator isn’t just about teaching; it’s about fostering this positive attitude towards education, and cultivating hopeful environments and relationships for learning that can last a lifetime.
In our fast-changing world, this ability to seize new learning opportunities with eagerness and curiosity is more important than ever for your career as well as your personal life. In just the past decade, the rapid advance of technology and the information revolution have created entirely new disciplines - and highly sought-after career paths - in areas like data science and machine learning. Similarly, we have seen a flourishing of research and writing in areas of self-improvement, happiness, and mindfulness, giving us new tools to enhance our well-being - provided we are open to learning them.
The most obvious educational professionals we encounter in our lives are teachers. From your first kindergarten teachers that taught you how to share, to the college professors that helped you learn to interpret modern art, to expert online instructors that help you learn to use data science at your job, teaching can be an incredibly meaningful career path no matter what subject and level of student you want to work with. It’s also a very popular career: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 3 million kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school teachers in America.
Schools also employ educators who support students in ways that go beyond the classroom. Guidance counselors and career counselors help advise students on their path through the educational system, including help in setting career goals and selecting the courses and extracurricular activities that will help achieve them. School psychologists and other types of counselors may also work at schools to serve as an invaluable resource for students to help manage emotional issues or problems in their family life.
Teachers and counselors that work directly with students aren’t the only type of educators, of course. Cultivating the right learning environment at schools requires lots of “behind the scenes” educators, such as principals, superintendents, and school district administrators. These administrative professionals are responsible for day-to-day operations, setting policies, and hiring staff at schools, providing essential support structures that enable teachers to do their jobs. There are also instructional designers and curriculum designers that use their pedagogical expertise to develop the materials that teachers use in the classroom.
Coursera is committed to expanding access to high-quality learning, and that includes making great courses and Specializations in education available from top-ranked institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Colorado Boulder, Arizona State University, and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. You can learn about broad subjects such as higher education and teacher training, or more specialized topics in areas like educational technology and instructional design.
Regardless of whether you’re looking to develop foundations for a new career in teaching or are an educational professional trying to deepen your expertise, online courses through Coursera offer you the opportunity to learn the same material as on-campus students at a significantly lower cost. The ability to do your coursework on a flexible schedule also makes it possible to learn while continuing to work at your existing job or while raising a family.
Education courses on Coursera cover a wide array of topics crucial for educators and those interested in learning sciences:
Education courses on Coursera are designed for learners of all backgrounds:
Coursera offers several pathways for obtaining credentials in education:
These credentials are designed to support your professional development and help validate your knowledge in the field of education.
Pursuing education courses on Coursera can open up various career paths within and related to the field of education:
Online Education courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Education skills. With a wide range of Education classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Education career.
When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Education, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.
Learning program | Description |
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Guided Project | Learn a job-relevant skill that you can use today in under 2 hours through an interactive experience guided by a subject matter expert. Access everything you need right in your browser and complete your project confidently with step-by-step instructions. |
Project | Learn a new tool or skill in an interactive, hands-on environment. |
Course | Take courses from the world's best instructors and universities. Courses include recorded auto-graded and peer-reviewed assignments, video lectures, and community discussion forums. When you complete a course, you’ll be eligible to receive a shareable electronic Course Certificate for a small fee. |
Specialization | Enroll in a Specialization to master a specific career skill. You’ll complete a series of rigorous courses, tackle hands-on projects, and earn a Specialization Certificate to share with your professional network and potential employers. |
Professional Certificate | Whether you’re looking to start a new career or change your current one, Professional Certificates on Coursera help you become job ready. Learn at your own pace from top companies and universities, apply your new skills to hands-on projects that showcase your expertise to potential employers, and earn a career credential to kickstart your new career. |
MasterTrack® Certificate | With MasterTrack® Certificates, portions of Master’s programs have been split into online modules, so you can earn a high quality university-issued career credential at a breakthrough price in a flexible, interactive format. Benefit from a deeply engaging learning experience with real-world projects and live, expert instruction. If you are accepted to the full Master's program, your MasterTrack coursework counts towards your degree. |
Degree | Transform your resume with a degree from a top university for a breakthrough price. Our modular degree learning experience gives you the ability to study online anytime and earn credit as you complete your course assignments. You'll receive the same credential as students who attend class on campus. Coursera degrees cost much less than comparable on-campus programs. |
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