Teaching internationally is a fabulous opportunity to join a community of educators who are like-minded, supportive and proactive.

With a network of colleagues around the world, reaching out to others online can provide valuable ideas to use in the classroom, inspiration on how to implement new technologies and a forum for discussing the latest policies that may affect teachers.

But sometimes it can feel like there are so many recommendations on how to improve teaching practice that it’s hard to know where to start.

With new books being published and promoted on a seemingly daily basis, choosing the one that will be the most beneficial for you can feel like a difficult task - particularly if you’re not even sure what you want to learn more about!

Keeping up with education research

Here are some easy tips to keep up with the latest conversations in education, depending on how much time you have:

Got five minutes?

Use Twitter to your advantage.

There are a range of accounts with the aim of making the lives of educators easier through summaries of educational theories or strategies. It’s definitely worth checking out @impactwales - it offers a range of sketchnotes on various topics on education that are quick and easy to read.

Also, the Education Endowment Foundation (@EducEndowFoundn) produces quick summaries of its research findings - perfect to fill those five minutes as you’re waiting for your class to arrive.

10 minutes

Check out the debates happening in the teaching community on Twitter.

The handles @ukedchat and @edchateu regularly schedule discussion topics and times for people in education to come together and share ideas and opinions.

It could be worth tuning in to check out the views of fellow educators or even to get the answers to questions of your own.

20 minutes

If you can’t seem to find the time at home, podcasts are perfect for making the most of your commute. The Talking Teachers Podcast regularly discuss ideas from educational literature and the Tes Podagogy podcast has something for everyone in education  - saving you time yet still allowing you to stay in the know.

30 minutes

With the self-professed aim of “raising research literacy in the teaching profession”, @researchED1 on Twitter offer links to YouTube videos on sessions led by influential educators on pertinent issues.

The researchED videos allow you to access the latest research at your own convenience, and the range of topics on offer will appeal to everyone working in education.

1 hour

Finally, if you’re feeling particularly proactive, you may choose to attend a webinar. Learning Spy Academy offers a variety of options for online CPD.

Alternatively, webinars are often be advertised online and could be provided either by your examination board, Ofsted or one of the many teachers of your subject on Twitter offering professional development.

These approaches offer a great deal of flexibility - you can devote as much or as little time to becoming familiar with the world of educational literature as you like.

Some of the ideas out there are subject-specific, allowing you to trial ideas in the classroom, and others may be more focused on whole-school issues like curriculum or improving your leadership skills.

You never know - even just 10 minutes a week could prove to be an amazing investment in your own professional development.

Emma Sanderson is Head of English at Hartland International School in Dubai and has taught internationally for six years. She tweets @emmanaomi