Become a Top Teacher
– Online training program for 21st century teachers
Engaging professional development for teachers – hybrid and online
Top Teacher is a research-based, practical, and inspiring hybrid training program designed to develop the competences of 21st century teachers. The program draws from the Finnish education model and teacher training practices.
It introduces the conceptions of learning and teaching which best support learning, develops pedagogical thinking and understanding and provides tools for learner-centered teaching, classroom management and assessment. Program is developed together with a team of education specialists from Polar Partners and University of Turku, Finland.
Top Teacher program contains four courses:
1. Gain Top Results in Basic Education – asynchronous online course or with facilitated workshops.
2. Become a 21st Century Teacher – asyncronous online course.
3. Experience 21st century education – Visit to Finland.
4. Apply your pedagogical skills in practice – Advanced mentoring & training.
Learn more about the foundations of Finnish education and start the program!
Do you want to develop your professional competence?
Top Teacher program is designed for teachers in basic education who wish to acquire a deeper understanding of Finnish education – and how to apply it at work. With the modern pedagogical competencies, you’ll be more qualified to work for example in a Finnish International School.
- Learn the foundations of the world’s best education model
- Deepen your understanding of student-centered learning
- Improve your classroom management and assessment skills
- Develop professionally to discover new opportunities
- Receive a Certificate of Completion from Finland
Take your school to the next level with high-quality teacher training
Teachers’ pedagogical competences will grow during Top Teacher program and your school can achieve better learning results when teaching methods, lesson planning and assessment are aligned designed. Start with Top Teacher program and supportive live training workshops to enhance the development – we help you to develop your school further.
- Intensive high-quality in-service education for teachers
- Tools and methods from the world’s best education model
- Easy way to start developing your school with Polar Partners
- Well-thought learning path for 21st century teachers
Online platform allows flexibility to learning
Top Teacher program can be accomplished at your own pace and the materials can be accessed with any device. Being control of your own progress in motivating and motivation is the key for learning. The content is structured to be done within a few hours at a time in 2–3 months. The most benefit you will gain when co-designing teaching practices with your colleagues and experimenting with the students.
Learning management system LearnWorlds is intuitive and easy to use. You can highlight materials and make notes directly to the materials.
Bite-sized content keeps up the joy of learning:
- Engaging and activating learning experiences
- Insightful academic materials such as presentations, articles, and videos
- Powerful online lessons from experienced educators
- Practical work-related assignments
- Quizzes, questions, tests and games
Polar Partners together with the University of Turku offer an innovative course for educators about the Finnish pedagogy. I learned about Finland’s curriculum, teaching methods, and school culture just to name a few important topics the course covers. The modules and tasks are relevant to real-life teaching situations. I am excited to implement the Finnish curriculum in the classroom so I can best support my students!”
Emily Beuter, first grade teacher at Lincoln International Academy, Santiago, Chile
Top Teacher program contains four courses
1. Gain Top Results in Basic Education
Available online
1. Gain Top Results in Basic Education
Available online
This research-based, practical, and inspiring online teacher training course about Finnish education will equip teachers with pedagogical competencies characteristic of the teachers in the world’s best education. Course focuses on:
- introduces the conceptions of learning and teaching which best support learning
- highlights the importance of a holistic approach in basic education
- encourages to embrace life-long learning over testing and competing
- promotes focusing on equality and well-being
- provides tools for schools and teachers to teach, assess and support the learners.
Topics of lessons:
- Welcome to course
- Importance of professional teachers
- Equal & inclusive education system
- Conception of learning
- Curriculum is the heart of the education
- Mission and general goals of basic education
- Transversal competences
- Significance of school culture
- School as an organisation
- Learning environments and working methods
- Shared responsibility for the school day
- School day supporting educational goals and well-being
- Assessment to support learning
- Assessment procedures
- Types of assessment
- Basis for pedagogical support
- Forms of educational support
- Pupil welfare
- Culturally and linguistically responsive teaching
- Possibilities of teaching technologies
2. Become a 21st Century Teacher
Available online
2. Become a 21st Century Teacher
Available online
This course will dive deeper into the didactics and concrete methods of teaching. We will give you concrete examples and ideas on how to develop your teaching to meet the needs of the 21st century. Course is designed to be both comprehensive and inspiring and it focuses on:
- develops pedagogical thinking and understanding
- improves communication skills
- encourages using learner-centered methods
- introduces how to integrate subjects and build multidisciplinary learning modules
- gives examples of various working methods in different subjects
- provides tools for learner-centered teaching and classroom management
Course content is divided to 21 engaging lessons which include:
- Welcome to the course
- Teacher’s pedagogical thinking and understanding
- Classroom management
- Differentiation
- Principles of co-teaching and teacher cooperation
- Teacher’s communication skills
- Implementing the curriculum
- – 21. Introduction to different school subjects be able to build multidisciplinary learning modules and Instructions for and demonstrations about working methods that support active learning and student-centered teaching and learning
3. Experience 21st century education – Visit to Finland
Only for groups
3. Experience 21st century education – Visit to Finland
Only for groups
This course is all about experiencing Finnish education during an intensive study visit in Finnish schools – experiencing the school environment, teacher’s role in a classroom with students. Observing different school spaces, classrooms, outdoor spaces and also how the spaces are used in learning. Visit includes lectures and workshops with visits to Early chindhood education, basic education and secondary education – every visit will be planned according to the needs and wishes.
We have great partners to suppor the visits in-site, but to organise a study visit also virtually.
Contact us for more information.
4. Apply Your Pedagogical Skills in Practice
Only for groups
4. Apply Your Pedagogical Skills in Practice
Only for groups
This course is designed for long-term teacher competence development for schools after the courses 1-3. Finnish education experts provide more in-service teacher training (online and live) and support for teachers in their work in the topical subjects such as co-teaching, assessment, project-based learning.
Contact us for more information.
Already purchased a course?
Sign inTop Teacher program option for individuals
Online
- Gain Top Results in Basic Education
- Become a 21st Century Teacher
Choose one or both of the courses and study online whenever and wherever you want at your own pace.
IFE1 – Innovative Finnish Educator
- Gain Top Results in Basic Education
Online course with facilitated online workshops.
Group of June-September 2023 is full. Contact us for future groups.
Top Teacher program option for groups
Online
- Gain Top Results in Basic Education
- Become a 21st Century Teacher
Choose one or both of the courses and let your teachers refresh and develop their knowledge and skills flexibly at their own pace.
Customized course page, user management, progress reporting and customer success services included.
Together
- Gain Top Results in Basic Education
- Become a 21st Century Teacher
Choose one or both of the courses and unleash the power of collaborative learning with facilitated virtual workshops for your team.
Customized course page, user management, progress reporting and customer success services included.
On-site
Full Top Teacher program with both of the online courses, facilitated virtual workshops & customized training and mentoring for your school.
Customized course page, user management, progress reporting and customer success services included.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the program for?
This program is for teachers in the basic education (K-9).
What does the course require from the participant?
All you need is access to a computer or mobile and a working internet. Everything is online and available on demand so that you can study at your own pace. A curious attitude and interest in personal development are a plus.
How long is one course?
To complete a course, takes around 80 hours. Course is structured to be done within a few hours at a time in 2–3 months.
When can I participate in courses 2–3?
Online courses 1 and 2 are now available. 3-4 are available for groups as hybrid courses. Please let us know if you are interested. We will inform you in more detail as soon as possible.
Contact us
Let’s get started
If you wish to buy an Individual course, visit the course portal.
For bigger groups, please fill the contact form. We will get back to you within two working days.