Online Professional Development for Teachers: What EmpowerED Offers

Online professional development for teachers means structured, credit-bearing training completed on your own schedule, guided by an instructor instead of a prerecorded video. At EmpowerED Professional Learning, our courses are instructor-guided and self-paced, priced from $9 to $79, each including PD hours and a certificate, built by Dr. Brian Koster for K-12 classrooms.

Key Takeaways

• EmpowerED's instructor-guided courses run from $9 to $79, all delivered online and self-paced, each including a PD certificate.
• Course length ranges from 1 PD hour (Engagement Boosters That Work) to 8 PD hours (Introduction to Effective Online Teaching).
• The Learning Policy Institute reviewed 35 methodologically rigorous studies and found a positive link between teacher PD, teaching practices, and student outcomes.
• Every course includes personalized instructor feedback, not just video content to watch and click past.

What makes online professional development effective for teachers?

Effective online PD combines two things: instructor feedback and immediate classroom application. Video-only courses ask teachers to absorb information passively. Instructor-guided courses ask teachers to apply a strategy, submit it, and get feedback on how it actually worked in their own classroom.

That distinction matters beyond convenience. The Learning Policy Institute reviewed 35 methodologically rigorous studies and found a positive link between teacher professional development, changes in teaching practice, and student outcomes. That's the design principle behind every course we build. Every EmpowerED course pairs self-paced online modules with instructor-reviewed activities and personalized feedback, not a certificate for finishing a video. A teacher enrolled in Data Literacy for Teachers, for example, doesn't just read about classroom data. She builds a one-week intervention plan as a capstone project and gets direct feedback on it from Dr. Brian Koster before she uses it with students.

Our online course catalog

We build professional learning across ten areas: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Teacher Wellness, Growth Mindset for Educators & Learners, AI Skills (for Non-Techies), Data Literacy for Teachers, Engagement Boosters That Work, Mathematical Thinking for Teachers, Introduction to Effective Online Teaching, Designing Lessons for Neurodiverse Learners, Classroom Management in Online & Hybrid Learning, and Effective Assessment & Feedback in Online & Hybrid Learning.

Every one of them is instructor-guided, 100% online, and self-paced, with a PD certificate included on completion. Here's how the courses with published PD hour and pricing detail compare:

Data Literacy for Teachers runs 10 lessons and closes with a capstone project: designing a one-week unit or intervention plan that shows you can collect, analyze, and act on classroom data. Introduction to Effective Online Teaching runs 10 modules and includes a Personalized Online Teaching Toolkit with templates, resources, and implementation plans you keep after the course ends.

How do I choose the right online PD course for my classroom?

Start with the problem you're actually trying to solve this term, then match it to PD hours and price. A one-hour, nine-dollar course fixes a narrow, immediate gap. A five-hour, seventy-nine-dollar course builds a full new skill set with a capstone project attached.

A few ways to narrow it down:

• If you need a quick win before a specific unit: Engagement Boosters That Work is 1 PD hour for $9 and gives you strategies you can apply the same week.
• If your school is pushing data-driven instruction: Data Literacy for Teachers is 5 PD hours, intermediate level, and instructor-guided by Dr. Brian Koster.
• If you're moving a course online or hybrid for the first time: Introduction to Effective Online Teaching (8 PD hours) and Classroom Management in Online & Hybrid Learning (3 PD hours) cover design and routines separately.
• If you want a foundation in AI without a technical background: AI Skills (for Non-Techies) is 2 PD hours for $29.

If you're weighing PD hours against your district's requirements before you enroll, check with your certification office first. Requirements for how many hours count, and toward what, vary by state and district, and we can't speak for your local rules.

Why flexible online PD matters for teachers right now

Flexible, self-paced training matters most where staffing is already stretched thin. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a Nationwide Teacher Shortage Areas Listing covering school years 1990-1991 through 2024-25, last reviewed on February 6, 2025. Teachers covering multiple subjects, filling in for unfilled positions, or picking up hybrid sections don't have room in their week for a fixed-schedule evening class.

That's the constraint we build around. Every EmpowerED course is self-paced and 100% online, so a teacher can move through Growth Mindset for Educators & Learners between grading stacks instead of blocking out a set class time. Instructor feedback still comes back on the work submitted, but the pacing is yours to control. That's the whole point behind our slogan: Learn. Apply. Grow.

Frequently asked questions

Do EmpowerED courses count for recertification credit?

Every course includes a PD certificate on successful completion, showing the PD hours earned. Whether those hours count toward your specific state or district recertification requirement depends on local rules, so confirm with your certification office or instructional leader before you enroll, using your certificate as documentation.

How long do I have to complete a self-paced course?

Courses are self-paced, so you move through modules and lessons on your own schedule rather than a fixed class calendar. Exact completion windows can vary by course, so check the syllabus for the specific course you're considering, or reach out through our contact page before enrolling.

What if a course turns out not to be the right fit after I enroll?

We outline eligibility and terms in our refund and returns policy, which covers how requests are handled. Read it before enrolling so you know exactly what applies to your course and situation.

Is there support if I get stuck partway through a course?

Yes. Every course pairs self-paced modules with personalized instructor feedback, not just recorded content. If you run into a technical issue, need help with your certificate, or have a question about Moodle access, reach info@empoweredpl.com directly, or visit our contact page.

If you're trying to figure out which course fits your grade level, your PD hour requirement, or your budget this term, tell us about it using the enquiry form below this article, and we'll help you find the right fit.