What Technical Skills and Tools Do You Need for an Online CELTA Course?

Connor O'Donoghue
3 days ago
4 min read

Before you start an online CELTA course, it is worth taking some time to check that your equipment, internet connection and basic digital skills are in place. A CELTA course is intensive, and technical difficulties can quickly become stressful if you are not prepared.

Different CELTA centres use different platforms and systems, but most online courses rely on three core elements:

A live teaching platform
A document sharing platform
In some cases, a learning platform for self-study units

Your centre will confirm exactly which tools you will be using. Below is an overview of what you should expect in general, followed by details specific to DC Teacher Training.

1. The Live Teaching Platform

Every online CELTA course uses a live video conferencing platform for teaching practice, input sessions and tutorials. At DC Teacher Training, we use Zoom, which is the most widely used platform for online teacher training worldwide.

You do not need to purchase a paid Zoom account. Your tutors will host sessions using professional accounts, so there is no risk of meetings ending early due to time limits on free plans. You can join sessions using a free Zoom account.

What equipment do you need?

You must join sessions from a computer. A laptop or desktop is essential. Even if you have a high-quality tablet or iPad, the Zoom app on tablets does not support screen sharing functionality, which is required for teaching practice.

You also need:

A stable internet connection that supports uninterrupted video calls
A webcam and microphone (which you should test before the course begins)
A quiet, private space where you will not be interrupted

You should treat your Zoom classroom as a workplace. Teaching practice cannot be done successfully while supervising a child, working in a public internet café, or dealing with constant background noise. If your connection buffers, freezes, or drops out, this will affect both your learners and your assessment.

It is advisable to test your internet connection and your Zoom setup before the course begins.

What Zoom skills will you need?

There are four core functions that you will use regularly during the course:

Screen sharing: You must be able to share your screen so students can see lesson materials such as slides, images or documents.
Sharing audio: If you teach a listening lesson, you will need to play an audio track in a way that students can hear clearly through Zoom.
Using the chat and sharing links: You may need to paste links to collaborative documents, such as Google Docs, into the chat box so students can access them.
Breakout rooms: You will assign students to small groups so they can complete tasks together.

These functions are not complicated, and you will receive training at the beginning of the course. However, you are expected to become confident with them quickly. If you are still unable to share your screen or manage breakout rooms after the first few days, this can negatively affect your teaching progress.

Do you need advanced presentation tools?

No. Some CELTA trainee teachers enjoy using tools such as PowerPoint, Prezi or Canva. You are welcome to do so, but there is no requirement to use specialist software. A clear Word document or PDF shared on screen is perfectly acceptable. What matters is clarity of presentation, not design sophistication.

2. The Document Sharing Platform

Online CELTA courses also rely on a central platform for sharing lesson plans, course documentation and resources. Different centres use different systems, such as Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint or Dropbox.

At DC Teacher Training, we use Google Classroom.

What skills do you need?

The main technical skill required is simple file management:

Downloading a document, such as a lesson plan template
Editing it on your computer
Uploading it to the correct location in Google Classroom

All course materials are stored there. This includes:

Lesson plan templates
Course books and listening tracks
Input session materials
Useful links e.g. Zoom classroom links

To access Google Classroom, you will need a Google account. We will ask you for a Gmail address before the course begins, and this address will be linked to your course.

The process of downloading and uploading files is straightforward, but if you are unfamiliar with shared folders, it is worth practising in advance.

3. The Learning Platform for Self Study

Some online CELTA courses, especially part-time courses, include structured self-study units. These are typically delivered through a learning platform.

At DC Teacher Training, our part-time online courses use Moodle. The materials are curated by Cambridge University Press & Assessment and include readings, videos and interactive tasks.

To use Moodle effectively, you need:

An up-to-date web browser
The ability to navigate online learning materials
The discipline to complete units independently

If you are on a full-time online course with us, you will only use Zoom and Google Classroom. If you are on a part-time online course, you will also use Moodle.

How Prepared Do You Need to Be?

You are not expected to be an expert in these platforms before the course starts. You will receive guidance and training at the beginning.

However, you are expected to:

Have reliable equipment and internet access
Be able to use a computer confidently
Learn core functions quickly once they are demonstrated

The CELTA course can be intensive. Struggling with basic technical tasks adds unnecessary pressure. A short period of preparation before the course begins can make a significant difference to your experience.