Professional learning

Professional learning takes many forms, from everyday experiences to undertaking courses or engaging in specific projects. The Open University offers a vast array of resources and courses to support you, whatever stage of your career you are at, and whatever you are interested in. 

Courses to support professional learning

You may want to study for a qualification to support your ongoing professional learning. Visit our courses webpages for full undergraduate and postgraduate offerings. They include:

Masters in Education

The OU’s Masters in Education programme is designed specifically for those wanting a flexible qualification, which could work with their professional interests and personal contexts.

The programme has been endorsed by Education Scotland for its 'deep learning which participants engage in' and its 'clear focus on the importance of collaboration and peer networks to support learning'.

There are four specialist pathways: Teaching and Learning, Educational Leadership, Applied Linguistics, Inclusive Practices. 

This personalisation, along with the OU’s world leading pedagogical approach and strong learning communities, creates an innovative and exciting environment for transformative professional learning.

Open Masters 

Our innovative Open Masters degree allows you to create a personalised course of study across a range of academic disciplines. Expand your discipline-related knowledge, gain broader subject-specific knowledge and pursue further professional development in areas that align with your employment needs and professional aspirations.

Advance your independent learning module

The OU module Advance your independent learning provides a structure and support for education professionals to conduct their own professional enquiry into an area of interest.

TEachers Learning to Teach Languages (TELT)

Our TEachers Learning to Teach languages (TELT) programme aims to increase and improve language provision in primary schools. Teachers simultaneously learn a new language and the skills to teach that language in the classroom.

Scots language teacher professional learning programme

Our Scots language teacher professional learning programme is designed for teachers teaching any subject at any level in a Scottish school context. It upskills teachers in incorporating teaching Scots language and culture in their classroom practice. The course will be recognised by the General Teaching Council for Scotland with the GTCS professional recognition award.

Following the first intake of teachers in January 2024, the Scottish Government are funding further places on the programme’s second cohort, which starts on 2 September 2024. Register your interest in signing up - by the 28 August 2024 deadline - via the online form link on the programme homepage. 

If you would like to study but cannot commit to the September 2024 start, it is also possible to request a preference on the form for a January 2025 start.

Supporting practitioner enquiry 

Enquiry is at the heart of professional learning in Scotland, underpinned by a critically reflective approach to our work. For many teachers and practitioners it is a stance, involving cycles of questioning, finding out information, and trying new ideas.

It can also be a more explicit activity: developing a particular project to find out more about an issue, or through evaluating the impact of introducing a new resource or idea into your practice. 

Whatever form of enquiry you are engaged with, our free professional learning resources can help:

Topic or issue-based enquiry

Our OpenLearn hub for educators contains a vast array of free materials and courses that would be useful for topic or issue-based enquiry. We have specific materials to support enquiry processes and leadership of and for learning.  

Enquiry skills and approaches 

• Becoming an ethical researcher
• Learning to teach: an introduction to classroom research
• Learning to teach: becoming a reflective practitioner 
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in STEM
• An appreciative approach to inquiry

Leadership of and for learning

• A mentoring mindset
• Collective leadership
• Early years team work and leadership
• Exploring educational leadership
• Learning to teach: mentoring and tutoring student teachers