Resource Review: Cool.org

As a homeschooling parent, you may wear many hats—teacher, mentor, facilitator, and more.  I always feel more confident when I 'stay in the loop' of educational trends.  It doesn't mean I implement them, but I am interested in what's out there. Professional development (PD) doesn’t have to be expensive or out of reach. That’s where Cool.org comes in.  It's quite well known as a source of great teaching resources, but PD is another aspect of this online community.

Cool.org is an incredible online platform that offers free, high-quality professional development for educators, including homeschoolers. It provides self-paced courses, webinars, and resources designed to support diverse learning environments. There are different levels of access, but for me so far, the free resources have been plenty!

As a busy homeschooler, flexibility is key. Cool.org’s professional development courses are self-paced, so you can learn when it suits you—whether it’s during quiet evenings or while you're doing something else! 

Even though homeschooling doesn’t require formal teaching qualifications, ongoing professional learning can boost your confidence and help you feel more equipped and validated in your role as an educator.

While Cool.org has an extensive catalog, some will be more relevant to homeschoolers than others.  I've been delving into educating teens lately - revisiting past workshops, adding to my still-in-progress online course, and running a face to face session locally.  The cool.org course that I completed this weekend is Mentor Training Using the 18 Core Values.  Because home educating teens is more like mentoring than teaching, really. 

Joining Cool.org is simple and free -

1. Visit Cool.org.

2. Create an account 

3. Browse available courses and select one that interests you.

4. Start learning at your own pace 

Homeschooling is a journey of lifelong learning—not just for kids, but for parents too! With professional development courses (not just cool.org's - there are almost unlimited opportunities to learn online for free) you can continue to grow as an educator, ensuring the best possible learning experience for your children and a sense of satisfaction for yourself.