Instruction, Classroom Management, and Communication Tools
Loom
Create, present, and assess with effortless interactive screencasts
Bottom Line: This intuitive tool is excellent for recording and responding to screencasts of any length.
Remind
Messaging platform offers tight focus on school-to-home connection
Bottom Line: Well-designed, highly effective messaging tool delivers on its promise to connect home and school.
Kiddom
LMS offers tangible options to differentiate learning
Bottom Line: An excellent option for monitoring individual progress toward goals, but teachers will need to be deliberate when selecting and assigning content.
LessonUp
Flexible interactive presentation tool engages kids at school and home
Bottom Line: It's great for creating customized and differentiated lessons, but it might not be accessible for every student.
Nearpod
Engage and assess students with media, videos, and interactive slides
Bottom Line: The teacher- or student-paced learning can improve 1-to-1 environments and the learning activities are top notch.
Kahoot!
Game-like student-response tool can spark competitive fun
Bottom Line: This is an effortlessly fun tool, but it shines best with creative implementation that tests its boundaries.
Blendspace
Create multimedia lessons with simple online interface
Bottom Line: It's a good tool for bringing together lots of multimedia resources, but teachers will need to be mindful of content quality and lesson flow.
Edpuzzle
Crop, customize, and remix online video content with interactive tool
Bottom Line: As a tool for the flipped classroom or for student-led creation, a cool tool for teachers to create and share engaging video content.
Google Classroom
Exceptional, simple communication, collaboration, and document sharing
Bottom Line: Though it doesn't have it all, it's an incredible tool for managing and organizing learning.
Hypersay
Live presentation tool adds interactivity to stale slide decks
Bottom Line: This easy-to-use tool gets students more involved in presentations, but a lot of teachers might use similar tools already.
Screencastify
Screen-recording tool facilitates outside-of-the-box instruction
Bottom Line: This is an instructional tool that could reinvent classroom workflow, especially for classrooms in the Google ecosystem.
VEED
Create and edit high-quality screencasts and videos in record time
Bottom Line: This platform is full of features that blend video creation and screencasting, helping teachers expand and differentiate their lessons.
Actively Learn
Empowering reader invites students to read with purpose
Bottom Line: Far beyond the average e-reader, this tool helps students connect with texts and each other while giving teachers useful insight into student thinking.
ClassFlow
Robust lesson creation and delivery tool aids assessment
Bottom Line: With some creativity, this interactive platform can support instruction and assessment.
Verso
Flip the classroom, gather student feedback with easy-to-use tool
Bottom Line: Promote better discourse, participation, and accountability -- across devices -- with this thoughtfully designed platform.
Kialo Edu
A terrific, troll-free zone for structuring student discussion and debate
Bottom Line: A valuable platform for students to learn about social and political issues while practicing digital citizenship and argumentation.
WordPress.com
Solid blogging tool and content management system offers DIY blogs
Bottom Line: This is a great tool to get kids blogging and creating online content.
Discord
Social hub offers a novel but tricky spin on classroom communication
Bottom Line: With some creativity and moderation, this student-loved messaging alternative to Google and Microsoft could be a key extension of your classroom.
Instructional Content for At-Home Learning
PBS Kids
One-stop shop for a wealth of fantastic PBS Kids educational content
Bottom Line: Robust collection of learning resources covers an impressive array of topics.
Redbird Mathematics
Excellent adaptive math for flipped or blended classrooms
Bottom Line: If you're looking for courseware for your classroom, this is based on solid research and proven technology.
Khan Academy
Flexible learning environment offers goal-oriented personalized pathways
Bottom Line: A robust resource for targeted, individualized instruction in most standardized subject areas.
Newsela
Great stories, just-right leveled reading; now mostly by subscription
Bottom Line: While pricey, Newsela has ascended into an all-in-one destination for leveled, non-fiction reading.
TED-Ed
Support kids' sense of wonder with outstanding short video lessons
Bottom Line: TED-Ed includes excellent, engaging videos and support for flipped-class lessons with an incredible community of thinkers and doers.
BrainPOP
Clever animated hosts Tim and Moby masterfully tackle complex topics
Bottom Line: This extensive collection's videos and games break down ideas in a straightforward and thoughtful way.
Gooru
Track progress, differentiate instruction with vast content library
Bottom Line: Though it's not perfect, it's a great portal for supplementing classroom instruction and supporting personalized learning.
NOVA
Compelling science videos have high-quality classroom applications
Bottom Line: Unparalleled science documentaries offer a window into real-world scientific topics in a high-interest way.
Brightstorm
Brief video lessons for kids who need a homework boost
Bottom Line: Short, digestible lessons on all the major subjects are helpful for mastery but not substantial enough for kids who need more help.
BioInteractive
High-quality multimedia brings biological research to life
Bottom Line: Superb multimedia tools and lesson plans help kids explore biology through real-world examples.
HippoCampus
Multimedia lectures and simulations good for supplemental instruction
Bottom Line: This one-stop shop for free distance learning resources is a reliable place for enrichment or remediation.
