Participating in an online professional development course can be an excellent way to bolster your career. Universities and educational institutions offer these classes that may be self-paced or instructor led, and some even provide certificates upon completion of the program.

Professional development is a vital aspect of teachers' careers, providing them with the skills they need to keep abreast of ever-evolving teaching practices and pedagogy research. Furthermore, it gives teachers a competitive edge in the job market.

Coursera

Coursera is an e-learning platform created through partnerships between top universities and companies like Imperial College, Stanford University, Google, and IBM to offer online courses. Offerings span across a variety of subjects and levels - professional certificates to degree programs. In addition, Coursera also offers Specializations that help students build in-depth knowledge. With over 300 universities & organizations such as Imperial College, Stanford University, Google & IBM as partners this learning program has expanded rapidly over time.

Coursera was initially founded by Stanford professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller to teach computer science courses; however, after three Stanford courses received massive student enrollment numbers, its purpose expanded significantly - now becoming one of the largest free e-learning platforms with courses from multiple partner universities and organizations offering courses across a variety of subjects.

Coursera's courses can be taken on various devices, from PCs and mobile phones, with most courses featuring video lectures, weekly assignments, quizzes and discussion forums - with some offering hands-on projects or final exams as well. Students completing successfully can earn verified certificates that demonstrate their abilities upon graduation from courses successfully completed; additionally Coursera provides access to most course materials - this subscription service being especially valuable for professionals looking to develop new skillsets.

Udacity

Udacity is an online learning platform offering a selection of courses and degrees at all levels, as well as support via phone and email. If you're considering enrolling in any particular course, be sure to read reviews first and consider both costs and time commitment before making your decision.

Udacity offers various pricing plans, from monthly subscriptions to one-time payments, with its Nanodegree programs often featuring industry-related curriculum (e.g. a Nanodegree in data analysis could cover topics like data wrangling, visualization and statistical analysis).

To begin with Udacity, you will first need to register and create a profile. When doing so, you will be asked for information such as your name, location, email address and username/password choices as well as being provided an onboarding experience which includes study reminders and personalized learning schedules.

Udacity offers learners looking for quick ways to develop new skills quickly an excellent solution. Their courses are created by experts and may qualify for college credit, while there are also free offerings. You can search by subject, field and skill level - plus take advantage of mobile apps designed specifically to facilitate learning on-the-go!

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning offers online self-paced courses on an extensive selection of subjects. These courses can help you acquire new skills, stay current in your industry and increase professional value. Most are taught by experienced experts and come complete with certificates. Plus you can download a mobile app so that you can access this content at any time!

LinkedIn Learning's extensive library of lessons covers an array of subjects, such as business software and tools, leadership & management training, project management training, soft skills development and more. LinkedIn Learning recently also unveiled learning paths - expertly curated collections of lessons designed to meet specific career goals - so you can share your learning achievements with connections by showing course completion badges on your profile.

LinkedIn Learning's strength lies in its ability to recommend courses based on your interests, the learning of your colleagues and skill level. Content for the site is available in multiple languages including Simplified Chinese and French and its homepage includes a search bar which makes quickly finding courses easier.

LinkedIn Learning offers some powerful tools for making changes in your career, such as career-specific learning paths that can assist with making the jump from traditional work to freelance 3D modeling or the skills assessment tool to identify necessary abilities for career success.

Udemy

Udemy is an online learning solution offering instructor-led classes across numerous subjects. Their quality review process ensures each class satisfies certain standards such as HD video quality, clear course objectives and instructor bio. Udemy also offers a money back guarantee should any course not meet its specifications, though this does not apply to free courses.

This platform provides courses in an array of subjects, spanning business and technology to lifestyle and personal development. It's an excellent option for self-directed learners looking to develop skills applicable directly to their careers or hobbies - from programming and business skills training courses directly applicable in the workplace, and more!

Many of its courses are available in multiple languages and include a preview section where students can watch select lectures before making their purchase decision. Furthermore, this platform features auto-generated captions and transcripts for every lecture as well as a Q&A feature to allow for questions to be asked by paying customers.

At its classes, participants can join for free, and many even come with certificates of completion. Other classes cost $15-$20 with some requiring commitment for completion within a certain number of hours.