In today’s digital age, technology has changed the way educators teach and students learn. In fact, 82% of teachers agree the use of digital tools in the classroom has positively impacted their students’ productivity and engagement.
It’s clear that integrating technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity. If you’re looking to enhance your teaching methods and engage your students like never before, our roundup of the Top 10 Digital Tools for Teachers will guide you through the resources changing the educational landscape.
Why digital tools are needed in online learning environments
In a time where attention is currency and engagement is the backbone of success, studies reveal incorporating interactive elements in online learning can boost student participation rates by nearly 50%.
The world of teaching is evolving, moving beyond the walls of typical classrooms. Now, teachers can connect with their students in new ways online with real-time feedback, making education more interesting and accessible for everyone as well as reaping the benefits of technology in the classroom.
This change has made it easier for educators to grab students’ attention and make learning more enjoyable than ever before.
Revolutionizing education with digital tools
Online tools can help teachers to:
- Enhance Student Engagement
- Personalize Learning
- Boost Communication and Collaboration
- Streamline Assessment and Feedback
- Expand Access to Resources
Transforming virtual classrooms with distance learning tools
Digital tools can transform virtual classrooms into engaging learning opportunities. When considering distance learning tools, look for:
- Seamless integration
- Engagement and fun factor
- Ease of use for students
- Student empowerment
- Encouraging active learning through hands-on activities and discussions
- Using technology to enhance the learning experience
Top 10 digital tools for virtual classrooms
The variety of digital tools for virtual classroom is nearly endless. In this blog, we’ve collected some of the most popular tools used by K–12 districts around the U.S. to make online learning fun and effective, helping students and teachers work better together.
Kahoot!
This game-based learning platform brings fun, engagement and animations to players right from their mobile devices. With 100+ million ready-to-play games, engaging students can start in minutes.
How it works: Teachers, or even students, can create quiz-style games on any topic, which players then answer in real time through an app on their phone. The interface is simple and user-friendly, which is just another reason to love this tool.
What’s included: Kahoot! offers a variety of question types, including quizzes, discussions, puzzles, and surveys. You can even incorporate images and videos into your questions.
Recommended for: This tool is ideal for teachers looking for an engaging and interactive way to evaluate students’ understanding of key concepts in an instant. It also appeals to students looking for a fun and effective way to study.
Where it’s available: Kahoot! can be accessed through any web browser, they also have downloadable apps available for iOS and Android.
Price: Kahoot! offers a free version with basic functions that would be sufficient for most educational uses. However, they have several paid plans with various pricing to provide even more functionality, including detailed reporting and large participant groups.
Kahoot! Game-based learning platform for educators, perfect for Google classrooms.
Quizlet
Quizlet is an effective AI study tool that helps students learn with flashcards, games, and tests. It lets users create their own study sets or use sets shared by others. Quizlet makes studying languages, history, vocabulary, and science simple.
How it works: Users start by either choosing an existing study set or creating a new one with terms and definitions. Quizlet then offers several ways to study, including flashcards, quizzes and games. The platform can even track progress and adapt to help focus on areas that need improvement.
What’s included: Quizlet provides numerous study modes, including Flashcards, Learn, Write, Spell and Match. Users have access to study a wide range of topics via study sets created by millions of other users worldwide.
Recommended for: This digital tool is ideal for students at any level or teachers looking to supplement their learning materials.
Where it’s available: Quizlet can be used through its website or on their apps for iOS and Android.
Price: Quizlet offers a free version or a paid subscription. Quizlet Plus offers more advanced features, like offline access, custom images and audio and advanced learning analytics.
Students can learn and practice concepts anytime or anywhere using Quizlet.
Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle is a creative digital tool for educators to transform any video into an interactive lesson with ease. Teachers can source online videos or use their own, then add voice-overs, notes, and questions to make an enriching learning experience for students.
How it works: Teachers will select a video from Edpuzzle’s vast library or upload their own. They can then customize the video by adding questions, voice notes and comments at time-specific points. Students then watch the videos and interact with the content by answering questions throughout.
What’s included: Edpuzzle offers access to a large collection of videos from sources like YouTube, Khan Academy, and National Geographic, along with tools for editing and customizing videos. It also provides real-time analytics to track student understanding.
Recommended for: This tool is great for teachers looking to offer an enhanced learning experience with animated video content. And it benefits students who prefer an interactive and visual approach to learning.
Where it’s available: Edpuzzle can be accessed on its website through any desktop or mobile browser. It also offers apps for iOS and Android devices.
Price: Edpuzzle offers a free version for teachers, with limitations on the number of videos they can store. The platform also has premium plans offering additional features including increased storage, access to premium content, and enhanced analytics.
Edpuzzle is a multimedia tool for teachers to take video content and turn it into a lesson plan.
Padlet
Padlet is similar to a digital bulletin board where teachers and students can post notes, links, images, and videos. It’s a simple way to collect and share ideas on any topic, making the classroom learning environment more collaborative.
How it works: Users create a Padlet wall by instantly adding different types of content. Other users with access to the wall are also able to contribute, making it a dynamic virtual space for information and ideas.
What’s included: Various layouts and themes to customize your digital wall are included. It supports text, image, video, and links. To facilitate authentic discussion, users can comment on content shared by other users.
Recommended for: Educators looking for a creative way to enable cross-collaboration should give this tool a try. It’s even perfect for students looking to collaborate on assignments or organize notes and research.
Where it’s available: This tool has both iOS and Android apps or access from a web browser.
Price: Padlet offers a free version with limited walls. To create more space on a wall users will likely need to subscribe to a paid version.
Padlet is an interactive bulletin board or interactive whiteboard for teachers to leverage collaboration within their classroom.
Quizizz
Quizizz gamifies formative assessments to enrich students’ learning environment. The instant feedback gives teachers and students visibility to areas for improvement.
How it works: Firstly, educators create or choose from millions of quizzes, then students join the quiz using a code. They answer questions at their own self-guided pace, while educators get instant feedback on their progress.
What’s included: Quizizz provides various quiz formats and question types, including multiple-choice, checkbox, fill-in-the-blank, and poll questions. It also features detailed reports for performance tracking.
Recommended for: This tool is ideal for teachers looking for an interactive way to review or assess student understanding.
Where it’s available: Quizizz is available on both the iOS and Android app stores or through their website.
Price: They do offer a free version for basic functionality. Paid plans are available for educators and schools needing advanced reporting and content customization.
Quizizz is an animated digital tool for teachers to gamify assessments.
Storybird
Storybird is a creative platform where users craft, share, and discover stories through art and writing.
How it works: Users select artwork from an extensive list to inspire creativity. Additionally, users have the ability to write and assemble their narrative around their selected artwork, creating a unique storybook.
What’s included: Storybird offers a selection of art styles and themes for story inspiration, a writing tool for composing narratives, and an online community to share your creation and receive feedback.
Recommended for: Educators looking to inspire creativity in their students or anyone with a love for storytelling.
Where it’s available: This platform is currently available on the Google Play Store and iOS app store, as well as their website.
Price: Storybird has three subscription plans—free, individual, or a school plan.
Storybird offers a tool for digital learning for those looking to improve their storytelling.
Socrative
Socrative helps teachers test and grade students at the speed of learning, saving them time and effort. They’re passionate about giving time back to teachers to do what they’re meant to do—optimize their teaching strategies.
How it works: Teachers choose an activity type from a list of options. Once the teacher launches a quiz, they’ll receive real-time reporting on student performance.
What’s included: Users can create up to five quizzes, have up to 50 students per activity, ability to host one room, and automatic grading. Other features on paid accounts are advanced reporting, dedicated account managers, and priority support.
Recommended for: Educators looking to join the Edtech community by incorporating interactive testing solutions into their classrooms.
Where it’s available: Join hundreds of thousands of other educators using Socrative on iOS, Android, or an online browser.
Price: This tool also has a three-tiered pricing structure—Free, Essentials, and Pro. These range from $0 to $16.99 per month.
Socrative is a great addition to a Google classroom with grading automation saving teachers time.
Flipgrid
This tool is super cool for hybrid or e-learning environments. It allows students and teachers to record videos of themselves answering questions. It gives an in-person experience to otherwise faceless interactions.
How it works: Start a group and invite one or more students by sending them a join code or uploading your Google classroom roster. Post a topic to your group and watch as students express their ideas through video.
What’s included: Access to Flipgrid’s website that allows teachers to create “grids” to facilitate video discussions. Each grid is like a message board where teachers can pose questions, called “topics,” and their students can post video responses.
Recommended for: Teachers looking to flip their outdated approach to asynchronous learning environments and add some personalized learning using the power of video.
Where it’s available: This tool, like most of the other tools mentioned, is available via the Google Play Store and iOS App Store. You can also use this tool via their website.
Price: It’s free! Thank you, Microsoft.
Flipgrid enhances the learning experience by incorporating self-recorded videos to express their ideas.
Pear Deck
Pear Deck learning is a powerful suite of education tools that assess progress, offer real-time feedback, and provide the differentiated instruction and gamified practice to keep students engaged and excelling.
How it works: Teachers can pair Pear Deck with Google Slides or Powerpoint. After logging in they’ll be prompted to integrate these apps by using Google Slides Add-on or the Pear Deck for PowerPoint Online Add-in. These integrations help teachers incorporate interactive presentation features while they’re building out their lesson plans for virtual learning.
What’s included: This platform is ready to be used to create and build assessments, author or modify questions, have access to sharing and collaboration tools, and grading automation.
Recommended for: Pear Deck’s suite of products remain centered on two key items, time efficiency for teachers and enabling teachers to increase online engagement with students.
Where it’s available: The range of products Pear Deck offers are available directly from their website.
Price: This tool is available with three pricing options—Free, Teacher Premium, and Schools & Districts.
Pear Deck offers a wide-range of product offerings like interactive presentations and gamified practice.
Piazza
Piazza is a user-friendly Q&A platform, aimed to save time and help students learn by leveraging the power of community.
How it works: Piazza supports organized discussions online and Q&A that students can access at any time. Students can comment on answers or post follow-up questions. Students can also edit Q&A wiki-style. Even instructors can join in on the conversation by responding to questions or endorsing a student’s answer.
What’s included: As of 2021, Piazza is a paid-only tool. So, in order to use any of the features mentioned above, institutions or individuals will have to subscribe.
Recommended for: We recommend this tool to schools or institutions looking to equip their teachers with the best tools in the ed-tech space to foster collaboration.
Where it’s available: Piazza is available directly from their website.
Price: If institutions would like to keep Piazza free for their instructors and students, they can sign up for an enterprise site license at the institute or school level.
Piazza pairs well with Zoom classes. This online Q&A platform can be accessed at any time by students, helping to drive collaboration and discussion.
The takeaway?
With the help of these digital tools, educators are breaking through to students in new and exciting ways that encourage them to collaborate even on the smallest tasks. These learning tools not only enhance traditional teaching methods but also foster an environment that’s engaging and interactive for students.
Help your K–12 teachers adapt and thrive in digital classroom environments
As educators, there are many factors to consider when integrating virtual learning tools into your classroom. ASU Prep Global can help with comprehensive support to make the transition hassle-free, including our professional development courses, Thriving as a Digital Teacher or Introduction to Blended Learning. The resources you need to start spending more time teaching and less time worrying about technology are right at your fingertips.
ASU Prep Global partners with other K–12 schools to build new models of educational success, embed early college experiences, and provide access to the latest innovative technologies, digital courseware, and professional development. We’re more than a curriculum provider—we’re an innovation partner to top schools and school districts.
We help our partners create high-impact, high-quality digital education that meets the unique needs of their learners and staff. We’re passionate about partnering with school leaders to help innovate learning for K–12 students and educators through Arizona State University-led research, proven effective learning practices, and industry-leading online education technology.
Top 10 digital tools in the classroom for teachers FAQs
How can digital tools benefit teachers?
- Increased efficiency: With digital tools, teachers can easily create, store, and access lesson plans, worksheets, and other instructional materials. This saves time and effort compared to traditional methods of creating physical copies.
- Personalized learning: Digital tools allow for individualized instruction tailored to each student’s unique needs and learning style. Teachers can use various online resources to engage students at their own pace, making learning more effective.
- Interactive learning: Many digital tools offer interactive features such as quizzes, games, and simulations that make learning fun and engaging for students. This makes the classroom experience more dynamic and promotes active participation.
- Collaboration opportunities: Digital tools enable collaborative learning among students as well as between students and teachers.
Can I personalize my use of these digital tools according to my teaching style?
Yes, you can definitely personalize your use of digital tools according to your teaching style. There are a variety of different digital tools available that cater to different teaching methods and styles. For example, if you prefer hands-on activities, there are interactive simulations and virtual labs that you can incorporate into your lessons. If you prefer a more traditional lecture-style approach, there are presentation tools such as Google Slides or Prezi that allow you to create visually engaging presentations. Additionally, many digital tools have customizable features that allow you to adapt them to fit your specific teaching style. For example, online quiz platforms allow you to create personalized quizzes with your own questions and content. This gives you the flexibility to tailor the assessments to align with your lesson objectives and teaching.
Can I use digital tools on any device?
Yes, most digital tools are designed to be accessible on different devices. This means that you can use them on your laptop, tablet, or even smartphone. With the increasing use of mobile technology in education, it is important for teachers to have access to digital tools that can be easily used on various devices.
Note: ASU Prep Global does not benefit from the purchase or download of resources mentioned in this blog.