20 TOOLS

Best Tools for Virtual and Distance Learning

Making virtual learning or distance learning work for all students is challenging. You can have all the best tools in place, but without equitable access at home for all your students -- and adequate prep and training for yourself -- it's tough to replicate a traditional, in-person learning experience. This list assumes you've got those problems worked out and are focusing now on how to set up an effective virtual learning environment -- either adapting your existing curriculum, or designing a brand-new one from the ground up.

To help you along, we've grouped the tools according to some key needs teachers have when setting up virtual classrooms. These needs -- communicating and messaging effectively, facilitating discussion, assessing learning, delivering lessons, and more -- are also critical ways teachers can create remote learning experiences that keep students interested and active. Take note that we've also selected only the top two recommendations within each category. In each case, we've chosen tools that aren't just highly rated for learning but also free or cheap, making it easier for teachers to put together a toolkit that works for them. Of course, you'll also want to check them out for yourself. When you do this, we'd recommend taking time to dig into each tool's privacy and safety practices. To help, many of the tools on this list have privacy evaluations displayed next to our learning ratings on the review pages.

For more resources, check out our collection of distance learning templates and downloadables.

Parent, Caregiver, and Family Messaging

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.

Grades: Pre-K–12
Price:
Free, Paid

TalkingPoints

Multilingual texting tool enhances school-to-home communication

Bottom Line: Easy-to-use tool for supporting communication and engagement with families in 100+ languages.

Grades: Pre-K–12
Price:
Free

Video Lesson Creation

Edpuzzle

Crop, customize, and remix online video content with interactive tool

Bottom Line: This is a valuable tool that teachers can use to flip classrooms or support student-led creation.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Screencastify

Easy screen-recording tool facilitates outside-the-box instruction

Bottom Line: This is an instructional tool that could reinvent classroom workflow, especially for classrooms in the Google ecosystem.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Student Portfolios

Seesaw

Versatile digital portfolio appeals to teachers, students, and parents

Bottom Line: A powerful multimedia learning and communication tool that demonstrates student progress over time.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Bulb

Slick portfolio tool has cool features, limited feedback options

Bottom Line: A neat tool for publishing online, possibly better suited to teacher content creation than student publishing.

Grades: 7–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Learning and Classroom Management

Schoology

Robust learning management tool comes with challenges

Bottom Line: With patience and creativity, it can evolve into a rich learning management system.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Notion

Cool, customizable tool turns notebooks into workspaces

Bottom Line: With some scaffolding, this could be a great way to capture, organize, and share info without juggling a class site, notebook, to-do list, and more.

Grades: 9–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Lesson Planning

Common Curriculum

Sleek lesson planner replaces bulky binders, promotes collaboration

Bottom Line: Flexible and collaborative lesson planning, calendar design, and classroom site creator save teachers precious time.

Grades: Pre-K–12
Price:
Free

Planboard

Handy -- and free -- one-stop digital lesson planner saves time

Bottom Line: This platform simplifies lesson planning with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free

Communication and Discussion

Along

Messaging tool helps classrooms forge and foster meaningful dialogue

Bottom Line: This tool opens up avenues for conversation and relationship building between teachers and students.

Grades: 4–12
Price:
Free

Parlay

Comprehensive discussion platform develops critical-thinking skills

Bottom Line: A great tool in any subject or topic for teachers looking to make discussion a central part of their classroom.

Grades: 5–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Bramble

Whimsical virtual meeting space with flexible classroom potential

Bottom Line: This virtual meeting platform is a novel alternative for making online gatherings quirky, engaging, and fun.

Grades: 7–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Assessment and Feedback

Intergalactic Mobile Learning Center

Free collaborative tools a bit clunky, but kid-friendly and cohesive

Bottom Line: For elementary classrooms and virtual learning experiences, this collaborative app site will keep kids connected with the material and each other.

Grades: 1–5
Price:
Free

Kaizena

Nifty add-on enables audio and text feedback in Google Docs

Bottom Line: If your classroom relies a lot on Google Docs, this might just be the feedback tool you're looking for.

Grades: 6–12
Price:
Free

Class Website Creation

Edublogs

Encourage student expression and maintain digital portfolios with easy-to-use blog creator

Bottom Line: Edublogs is a fantastic platform for any teacher committed to providing consistent opportunities for creation and reflection.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Google Sites

Make your own website with easy, intuitive drag-and-drop features

Bottom Line: With a few clicks, students can design a basic but custom, responsive website that allows for easy collaboration with their peers.

Grades: 6–12
Price:
Free

Slideshows and Lesson Delivery

Koala

Kid-friendly communication platform jazzes up virtual instruction

Bottom Line: Share high-quality interactive lessons in a virtual classroom environment.

Grades: K–5
Price:
Free, Paid

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.

Grades: K–12
Price:
Free, Paid

Pear Deck

Interactive slideshows offer a variety of ways to engage and assess

Bottom Line: It’s an appealing platform that can improve formative assessment, particularly for teachers using Google Classroom.

Grades: 3–12
Price:
Free, Paid

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