National Geographic’s free online courses for educators equip teachers with powerful tools to transform their classrooms. Through these courses, educators build their own skills and knowledge so they can foster the mindset of a National Geographic Explorer in their students. National Geographic online professional learning courses vary in their lengths and schedules so that busy educators can find a program that fits their needs.
Courses are open to any educator from anywhere in the world who works with students in either a formal or informal setting. In many of our courses, learners can earn graduate credits through our university partnerships. Read more about our available courses below.
Course List:
Self-Paced Courses:
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Developing a National Geographic Explorer Mindset with Your Learners (MINI-COURSE)
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Storytelling for Impact in Your Classroom: Photography
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Storytelling for Impact in Your Classroom: Video
Cohort-Based Courses:
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Teaching Global Climate Change in Your Classroom
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Mapping as a Visualization and Communication Tool in Your Classroom
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Connecting the Geo-Inquiry Process to Your Teaching Practice
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Teaching Students to ASK Their Own Geo-Inquiry Questions
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Collecting Data to Explore Plastic Pollution in Our Communities
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Integrating Service with Learning Goals
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Educator Certification
For Educators
Teaching Global Climate Change in Your Classroom
Follow National Geographic Explorers to the treetops of the rain forests, the reefs of Mexico, the glaciers of Iceland, and the shores of the Chesapeake Bay as they find solutions to global climate change. Practice innovative ways to visualize the changing climate with your students as we all seek a planet in balance.
- Audience
- Formal and informal educators
- Dates
- Summer 2021
For Educators
Mapping as a Visualization and Communication Tool in Your Classroom
Maps can inspire us and inform us. They help us see the world in a new way. Join National Geographic Explorers and cartographers to learn how your students can understand and create powerful maps in any classroom.
- Audience
- Formal and informal educators - all subjects, all grade levels
- Dates
- Summer 2021
For Educators
Connecting the Geo-Inquiry Process to Your Teaching Practice
Can people from small fishing villages help protect oceans? Are cattle ranchers the key to saving the Florida panther? What can national park rangers do to improve girls’ education in Mozambique? National Geographic Explorers ask questions, collect data, and create stories that inspire others to take action. Bring these skills to your classroom with the National Geographic Geo-Inquiry Process.
- Audience
- Formal and informal educators—any grade, any subject
- Dates
- Summer 2021
For Educators
Teaching Students to ASK Their Own Geo-Inquiry Questions
Curiosity starts with a question. Empower your learners to formulate their own questions—for participation, self-advocacy, and lifelong learning—with strategies and tools in this online course. Developed in partnership with the Right Question Institute, this course integrates the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) with the ASK Phase of the National Geographic Geo-Inquiry Process.
- Audience
- Formal educators of any subject in grades 4–12
- Dates
- Summer 2021
For Educators
Collecting Data to Explore Plastic Pollution in Our Communities
Follow National Geographic Explorers in the Sea to Source and Mount Everest Expeditions as they carefully collect data to track plastic pollution in the Ganges River and document climate change in Mount Everest. Hone your skills in guiding your students to design and select data collection methods that explore problems in their communities.
- Audience
- Formal and informal educators: all subjects, all grade levels
- Dates
- Summer 2021
For Educators
Integrating Service with Learning Goals
Curiosity and compassion drive National Geographic Explorers to the ends of Earth as they seek solutions to our trickiest problems. Empower your students to take action in their own communities as they meet curriculum goals.
- Audience
- All formal and informal educators with a focus on grade 5–9 subject areas
- Dates
- Summer 2021
FOR EDUCATORS
Storytelling for Impact in Your Classroom: Video
In our digital era, video is everywhere—and a powerful way to inspire change. Learn about digital storytelling and how to integrate video as an effective and dynamic instructional tool in your classroom. This short, self-paced online course is part of the Storytelling for Impact series developed in partnership with Adobe.
For Educators
Storytelling for Impact in Your Classroom: Photography
Engage your students in photographic storytelling as they explore, learn, and communicate their ideas in ways that inspire action. In this short, self-paced online course in partnership with Adobe, gain a deep understanding of photographic storytelling, and the value of photography as an instructional tool in your classroom.
FOR EDUCATORS
Developing a National Geographic Explorer Mindset with Your Learners
Learn how to foster the mindset of a National Geographic Explorer in your students and explore innovative strategies and resources to transform your teaching. This hourlong, self-paced mini-course will introduce you to National Geographic’s interdisciplinary approach to education, its powerful resources, and a supportive community of educators.
- Audience
- Formal and informal educators - all subjects, all grade levels
For Educators
Educator Certification
Challenge yourself to teach about the world in innovative and interdisciplinary ways. You will collaborate with inspiring educators as you generate activities centered around real-world issues and implement them with your students.
- Audience
- Formal and informal educators—any grade, any subject