Education

For many, education is synonymous with schooling, and with preparation for a subsequent career. From this perspective, education may seem like little more than a series of boxes to check: show up at class, learn the material, do the homework, pass the test, and, finally, get the diploma that gets you the job. This kind of rote, almost transactional experience of learning can be all too common, and it represents a misunderstanding of what it means to be an educator - or an educated person.

Instead, education can and should be an ongoing process of learning and discovery that extends beyond the hours, months, and years you spend in school (whether on-campus or online). Great teachers and learning institutions help you develop the mindset of being open to the lessons of the world, not just the lessons of the classroom, and to believe in your own ability to continually acquire and use new knowledge.

Thus, the job of an educator isn’t just about teaching; it’s about fostering this positive attitude towards education, and cultivating hopeful environments and relationships for learning that can last a lifetime.

In our fast-changing world, this ability to seize new learning opportunities with eagerness and curiosity is more important than ever for your career as well as your personal life. In just the past decade, the rapid advance of technology and the information revolution have created entirely new disciplines - and highly sought-after career paths - in areas like data science and machine learning. Similarly, we have seen a flourishing of research and writing in areas of self-improvement, happiness, and mindfulness, giving us new tools to enhance our well-being - provided we are open to learning them.‎

The most obvious educational professionals we encounter in our lives are teachers. From your first kindergarten teachers that taught you how to share, to the college professors that helped you learn to interpret modern art, to expert online instructors that help you learn to use data science at your job, teaching can be an incredibly meaningful career path no matter what subject and level of student you want to work with. It’s also a very popular career: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 3 million kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school teachers in America.

Schools also employ educators who support students in ways that go beyond the classroom. Guidance counselors and career counselors help advise students on their path through the educational system, including help in setting career goals and selecting the courses and extracurricular activities that will help achieve them. School psychologists and other types of counselors may also work at schools to serve as an invaluable resource for students to help manage emotional issues or problems in their family life.

Teachers and counselors that work directly with students aren’t the only type of educators, of course. Cultivating the right learning environment at schools requires lots of “behind the scenes” educators, such as principals, superintendents, and school district administrators. These administrative professionals are responsible for day-to-day operations, setting policies, and hiring staff at schools, providing essential support structures that enable teachers to do their jobs. There are also instructional designers and curriculum designers that use their pedagogical expertise to develop the materials that teachers use in the classroom.‎

Coursera is committed to expanding access to high-quality learning, and that includes making great courses and Specializations in education available from top-ranked institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Colorado Boulder, Arizona State University, and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. You can learn about broad subjects such as higher education and teacher training, or more specialized topics in areas like educational technology and instructional design.

Regardless of whether you’re looking to develop foundations for a new career in teaching or are an educational professional trying to deepen your expertise, online courses through Coursera offer you the opportunity to learn the same material as on-campus students at a significantly lower cost. The ability to do your coursework on a flexible schedule also makes it possible to learn while continuing to work at your existing job or while raising a family.‎

Educators are people who have a passion for learning and sharing what they know with an audience. People who enjoy working with young children and adolescents are best suited for roles working in elementary and secondary education. If your interest lies in mental health, a career as a guidance counselor may be the best role for you to consider. Educators with an interest in research, reading, and writing may find a rewarding career as a librarian or curator. People who never want to stop learning and have a passion for inspiring and encouraging others are best suited for roles in any level of education.‎

Educators can take a number of rewarding career paths. The most obvious path for educators is teaching courses to students in a classroom, online, or blended setting. Some career paths involve educators conducting workshops for other educators with topics including how to teach online classes, digital storytelling, and how to blend in-person and online learning for a successful hybrid educational experience. Educators may also choose to teach a specialty, like a musical instrument or art course. Educators interested in leadership roles may consider career paths that include becoming a principal or superintendent. For those interested in human psychology, well-being, and goal setting, a career as a guidance counselor or college counselor may be a path to consider.‎

If you’re an educator interested in creating a safe and welcoming learning environment, you may want to explore topics related to conflict resolution in education, supporting students learning to read and write, social and emotional learning, and positive psychology methods in the classroom. Educators can also benefit from topics centered around self-improvement, including methods to organizing and learning mindsets and skills. Educators who work in a museum can explore teaching strategies and topics related to teaching art with themes and engaging with art.‎

Educators can work in classrooms as teachers, colleges or universities as professors, museums as curators, or in public or school libraries as librarians. Some educators also work as administrators. They are tasked with hiring staff, developing programs, keeping students and staff safe, managing the financial operations of the building, and running the daily operations of the institution.‎