• McGraw Hill Logo
  • King's College London logo

Building a Teaching Career: A Step-By-Step Guide

Begin your career in the education profession and enhance your teaching skills with McGraw Hill.

609 enrolled on this course

A student standing in front of a classroom of students and reading from her book.

Building a Teaching Career: A Step-By-Step Guide

609 enrolled on this course

  • 5 weeks

  • 2 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Turn your teaching career aspirations into reality

Whether you’re still deciding to become a teacher, hoping to make a career change, or interested in improving your classroom, this five-week course from McGraw Hill will help individuals at all stages of their teaching journey answer fundamental questions about teaching.

Hear from the experts and join a community of next-generation teachers as you broaden your understanding of the education sector and gain tools to address complex issues.

By the end of this course, you’ll understand teaching as a profession from the inside out, and feel confident entering any classroom.

Build your teaching career by developing a positive teaching identity

This curriculum first focuses on what goes through many aspiring teachers’ minds when they decide to become teachers.

While reflecting on your experiences and values, you’ll discuss the personal and professional qualities and motivations behind effective teachers. By asking yourself these questions, you’ll develop a stronger teaching identity.

Understand education policy and gain strategies to guide your teaching career

A firm foundation in policy and strategy is essential to crafting effective teaching methodologies and ensuring optimal learning outcomes for students.

Familiarise yourself with these policies and unpack their impact on culture, teaching practices, curriculum, and student well-being.

Learn with experts at McGraw Hill

Considered one of the “big three” educational publishers, McGraw Hill has supported the education sector for over a century.

Blending theory and practical solutions, McGraw Hill’s team of experts have developed this course in tandem with the book, “Becoming a Teacher: Issues in Secondary Education.” This text serves as a guide for anyone entering and working in the education profession.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Deciding to Become a Teacher

    • An instructor in a classroom with students, smiling at a student who is presenting.

      An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 1

    • A student focusing on the instructor's demonstration in a notebook.

      Welcome to Week 1

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 1

    • An instructor demonstrating to two students using a laptop in a classroom.

      Who teaches, and what motivates them?

      This activity outlines research findings into what motivates people to choose teaching as a career.

    • A lab instructor explaining chemistry experiments to a group of students in a laboratory.

      Knowledge and teaching

      In this activity, learners will understand the qualities needed to be a teacher, an introduction to the national curriculum and Hirch’s view on knowledge and teaching.

    • A man and a young girl high-fiving.

      Classroom management

      In this activity, learners will delve into the classroom management skills and the personal, pedagogical, and pastoral skills that a teacher should possess to facilitate effective learning.

    • A woman is speaking into a microphone.

      End of Week 1

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 1

  • Week 2

    On Being a Teacher

    • A woman making notes while working on a laptop.

      An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 2

    • A woman presenting calculations on a whiteboard.

      Welcome to Week 2

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 2

    • An athlete clearing the bar mid-air during a high jump.

      Who is a professional?

      In this activity, learners will understand the qualities possessed by a ‘professional’.

    • An instructor showing students a human anatomy model.

      The complexity in calling a teacher a ‘professional’

      In this activity, learners will investigate the reasons why a teacher can/cannot be called a ‘professional’.

    • A doctor sitting and making notes.

      Professionals, craft workers and technicians

      This activity compares and contrasts a teacher with technicians and pre-industrial craft workers as professionals.

    • A woman smiling broadly while viewing her laptop.

      Research-based knowledge of teaching and learning

      This activity questions whether teachers have research-based knowledge of teaching and learning. The issues with existing educational research methods, and techniques to develop a good teacher knowledge base will be discussed.

    • A view of Big Ben along the River Thames at dusk.

      The government view

      Learners will recall concepts learned in Week 2 to gain insight into the government’s view of teacher knowledge, which will be discussed in Week 4.

    • A track runner smiling and holding a medal after winning a race.

      End of Week 2

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 2

  • Week 3

    Teacher Identity

    • Two students in discussion in front of a whiteboard.

      An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 3

    • Three young students smiling.

      Welcome to Week 3

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 3

    • Five students on a university campus are smiling.

      What is teacher identity?

      In this activity, learners will understand what constitutes teacher identity and the personal, professional, and structural factors that influence teacher identity.

    • Four students smiling and talking in a library.

      The social context of teacher identity development

      This activity discusses the role of social identity and self-categorization in teacher identity development.

    • A man standing and looking serious with his arms crossed.

      Policy and research perspectives on identity development in early career teachers

      This activity outlines teacher identity development in early career teachers with a special focus on identity development as subject specialists as a factor that heavily influences a teacher’s professional identity.

    • Three girls chatting over coffee on an university campus.

      How to sustain teacher identity

      This activity provides actionable steps for teachers to sustain their identity while pursuing their careers.

    • Lateral view of an open book.

      End of Week 3

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 3

  • Week 4

    Teacher Well-Being

    • A lecturer presenting in a class with appreciative students.

      An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 4

    • Many students in different groups conversing in a library.

      Welcome to Week 4

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 4

    • Three smiling women wearing pink ribbons representing breast cancer awareness.

      Professional and personal well-being of a teacher

      In this activity, learners will understand the causes of negative well-being in a teacher and learn about the teacher's well-being policy.

    • A man on his morning run in the city.

      Strategies for professional and personal well-being

      This activity provides strategies for teacher well-being, such as mindfulness-based, cognitive behavioral, professional development, and values-based approaches. The equilibrium model of teacher well-being will be discussed.

    • A man running a programming code on his laptop.

      End of Week 4

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 4

  • Week 5

    The Policy Context: Schools and Teacher Education

    • A young boy looking into a microscope with an amazed expression.

      An overview

      An outline of the topics that will be covered in Week 5

    • A group of young corporate professionals engaged in a discussion.

      Welcome to Week 5

      A brief overview of the concepts that will be taught in Week 5

    • A group of students taking notes together next to a whiteboard.

      Education policy, schools and teachers

      In this activity, learners understand the impact of changing educational policies in the field of education.

    • A student doing mathematical calculations on a whiteboard.

      Accountability and datafication: governing by numbers

      This activity provides an overview of the role of teacher and school accountability in sustaining student progress.

    • A man smiling while signing a document.

      Policy shifts in initial teacher education

      The learners will understand the role of policymaking in initial teacher education (ITE) and the gradual shift in focus from teacher education to training.

    • A girl using a marker to write on a whiteboard.

      ITE policies

      This activity provides an overview of ITE policies, the current ITE framework and new frameworks proposed for teacher training.

    • A runner crossing the finish line with outstretched arms.

      End of Week 5

      A brief summary of the concepts covered in Week 5

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify the personal and professional qualities needed to be a teacher and consider your own motivations to enter the teaching profession
  • Reflect on different research-informed notions of what it is to be a teacher
  • Assess the extent to which teaching might be considered to be a profession or a craft
  • Explore ideas around teacher identity and reflect on how you might develop your own sense of professional identity as you train to teach and then move into a career
  • Evaluate the current policy context around schools and teacher education so that you can make informed choices about training routes and potential employment opportunities
  • Explore the vital importance of well-being as you embark on a career in teaching

Who is the course for?

Whether you are looking to become a first-time teacher or exploring a career move, this course is designed for anyone interested in education as a profession.

Who will you learn with?

Simon  Gibbons

I am a Reader in English Education at King’s College London and the Director of Teacher Education with over 20 years experience of working in initial teacher education.

Who developed the course?

McGraw Hill Logo

McGraw Hill

With over 130 years’ experience, we continue to evolve as a global education pioneer within the sector, transforming from a print-centric producer of content to a leader in digital resources and adaptive learning solutions.

King's College London logo

King's College London

King’s College London, established in 1829 and a founding college of the University of London, is one of the world’s leading research and teaching universities, based in the very heart of London.

Ways to learn

Buy this course

Subscribe & save

Limited access

Choose the best way to learn for you!

$79/one-off payment

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Free

Fulfill your current learning needDevelop skills to further your careerSample the course materials
Access to this courseticktick

Access expires 12 Mar 2025

Access to 1,000+ coursescrosstickcross
Learn at your own paceticktickcross
Discuss your learning in commentstickticktick
Certificate when you're eligiblePrinted and digitalDigital onlycross
Continue & Upgrade

Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$79/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 12 Mar 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Learner reviews

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...