Ready to revolutionize your classroom?
Dive into the world of digital teaching tools that transform online learning into an engaging and interactive experience! These tools are game-changers, boosting student participation and making lessons more captivating.
Imagine personalizing learning to fit each student’s needs while improving communication and collaboration—all at your fingertips. With streamlined assessments and a wealth of resources, teaching becomes not just easier, but more effective.
Discover our list of 10 innovative digital teaching tools designed to elevate your online classes and inspire both you and your students. Let’s get started!
Communication and collaboration tools
In today’s online learning world, staying connected and working together is key to success. Communication and collaboration tools are the superheroes that bring teachers and students closer, turning virtual classrooms into lively and interactive spaces.
These education tools make teamwork simple and effective, ensuring everyone is on the same page and learning is a shared journey.
1. Google Classroom
Think of Google Classroom as your digital classroom assistant. It helps teachers send out assignments, share materials and keep everyone in the loop. This handy tool makes organizing classroom activities a breeze and keeps communication flowing smoothly:
- How it works: Google Classroom provides a streamlined platform for distributing assignments, sharing resources and communicating with students.
- What’s included: Integration with Google Workspace (Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides), assignment tracking and real-time feedback.
- Recommended for: Teachers needing a central hub for classroom activities.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android.
- Price: Free with a Google account; premium features available in Google Workspace for Education.
2. Zoom
Zoom is like your online meeting room, perfect for virtual classes and discussions. With features like video calls and breakout rooms, it brings a face-to-face vibe to learning from afar. It’s great for live lessons and keeping those classroom conversations alive:
- How it works: Zoom facilitates virtual meetings and classes with features like video conferencing, screen sharing and breakout rooms.
- What’s included: Video/audio calls, chat, polls and recording capabilities.
- Recommended for: Live lectures, virtual office hours and group discussions.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac.
- Price: Free basic plan; paid plans start at $14.99/month.
3. Miro
Imagine a giant whiteboard where everyone can jot down ideas and plan projects together—that’s Miro! This tool is fantastic for visual collaboration, making it easy for students and teachers to brainstorm and work creatively as a team:
- How it works: Miro is an online collaborative whiteboard that supports brainstorming and project planning.
- What’s included: Templates for brainstorming, mind maps and project management.
- Recommended for: Visual collaboration and interactive workshops.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android.
- Price: Free basic version; paid plans start at $8/user/month.
Interactive Learning Tools
Incorporating interactive learning tools can transform any lesson into an exciting adventure, making education not only fun but also highly engaging. These tools inject excitement by integrating game-like features, real-time interactions and opportunities for creative expression, ensuring that student engagement is at its peak.
By keeping students involved and enthusiastic, these tools play a vital role in making learning a captivating experience.
4. Kahoot!
Kahoot! transforms learning into a lively experience with its game-like quizzes and challenges. It’s perfect for making assessments enjoyable while reinforcing knowledge in a playful way:
- How it works: Kahoot! engages students with game-like quizzes and challenges.
- What’s included: Quiz creation, live games and self-paced challenges.
- Recommended for: Reinforcing knowledge and making assessments fun.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android.
- Price: Free basic version; premium options available.
5. Nearpod
Nearpod takes lessons to the next level by offering interactive presentations with quizzes, polls and even virtual reality experiences. It’s all about creating immersive learning environments where students can actively participate and learn:
- How it works: Nearpod offers interactive presentations with quizzes, polls and VR experiences.
- What’s included: Interactive lessons, real-time feedback and multimedia integration.
- Recommended for: Interactive and immersive learning experiences.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android.
- Price: Free basic version; paid plans start at $120/year.
6. Flipgrid
Flipgrid empowers students to express themselves through video discussions, making it an excellent tool for encouraging student voice and fostering interaction. It’s especially great for language learning, peer reviews and building a sense of community:
- How it works: Flipgrid enables video discussions, encouraging student voice and interaction.
- What’s included: Video responses, topic creation and feedback tools.
- Recommended for: Language learning, peer reviews and community building.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android.
- Price: Free.
Assessment and Feedback Tools
Feedback is an essential part of learning, and assessment tools make it easier than ever to gauge understanding and progress. By offering dynamic assessments and instant feedback, these tools help students and teachers stay aligned and improve educational outcomes.
7. Socrative
Socrative spices up assessments with real-time quizzes and polls, providing immediate insights and feedback. It’s a fantastic choice for keeping assessment dynamic and engaging, allowing for quick adjustments to teaching strategies:
- How it works: Socrative provides real-time quizzes, polls and assessment tools.
- What’s included: Instant result aggregation, exit tickets and formative assessments.
- Recommended for: Dynamic assessment and instant feedback.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android.
- Price: Free basic version; premium plans available.
8. Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle turns videos into interactive lessons with embedded questions, perfect for enhancing engagement in flipped classrooms. It makes video-based learning more interactive, ensuring that students stay focused and teachers can track progress seamlessly:
- How it works: Edpuzzle transforms videos into interactive lessons with embedded questions.
- What’s included: Video editing, quizzes and progress tracking.
- Recommended for: Flipped classrooms and video-based learning.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android.
- Price: Free with limited features; premium versions available.
Content Creation and Presentation Tools
Creating and sharing engaging content is a breeze with the right tools, and content creation and presentation tools are here to empower both educators and students. These tools make it easy to craft visually appealing materials and collaborate effectively, adding a creative dimension to learning.
9. Padlet
Padlet acts like a digital bulletin board where everyone can post and share ideas collaboratively. It’s perfect for brainstorming sessions, project collaborations and resource sharing, bringing creativity and organization to the forefront:
- How it works: Padlet is a digital board where users can post and share content collaboratively.
- What’s included: Customizable boards, media uploads and real-time collaboration.
- Recommended for: Brainstorming, project collaboration and resource sharing.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android.
- Price: Free with basic features; paid plans start at $12/month.
10. Canva for Education
Canva for Education provides a suite of tools to design stunning visuals and presentations tailored for educational purposes. It’s ideal for educators looking to create eye-catching teaching materials, with a range of templates and collaborative features to make design a simple and enjoyable process:
- How it works: Canva for Education offers tools for creating educational visuals and presentations.
- What’s included: Design templates, collaboration tools and educational content.
- Recommended for: Crafting visually appealing teaching materials.
- Availability: Web, iOS, Android.
- Price: Free for educators and students; additional features available in paid plans.
Conclusion
Inspired to incorporate these user-friendly online tools into your regular lesson plans?
By integrating digital teaching tools into your online classes, you can create a more dynamic and effective virtual learning environment that enhances both student performance and student understanding.
These tools, and many more, offer unique capabilities to address various teaching and learning needs, from fostering collaboration and interaction to enhancing content delivery and assessment. Embrace these technologies to revolutionize your online teaching and inspire your students to reach their full potential, ensuring they achieve greater success and comprehension in their educational journey.
For even more suggestions, check out our post on the best digital tools for teachers in the classroom.
ASU Prep empowers K–12 teachers to excel in digital classrooms
Navigating the world of virtual learning tools can be complex, but ASU Prep Global offers the comprehensive support needed to make this transition seamless. With our professional development courses like Thriving as a Digital Teacher and Introduction to Blended Learning, educators can focus more on teaching and less on the logistics.
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.
10 digital teaching tools to revolutionize your online class FAQs
How can digital tools benefit teachers?
Digital tools offer a range of benefits for teachers, including streamlining lesson planning, enhancing student engagement and providing immediate feedback. They also allow for more personalized learning experiences, making it easier to address the diverse needs of students.
Do I need technical expertise to use these digital tools?
No, most digital tools are designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, requiring minimal technical expertise. Many platforms offer tutorials and support to help you get started, ensuring that you can effectively integrate these tools into your teaching without advanced technical skills.
Can I use digital tools on any device?
Yes, most digital tools are accessible on various devices, including computers, tablets and smartphones. This flexibility allows you to use the tools in different settings and ensures that both you and your students can access learning materials from anywhere.
How do I stay up to date with digital teaching tools?
Staying up to date with digital teaching tools involves regularly exploring educational technology blogs, joining professional online communities and participating in webinars or workshops.
Social media can also be a valuable resource, offering insights into the latest tools, updates and trends in digital teaching. Following educators and tech experts on platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn can provide quick access to new information. Additionally, many platforms offer updates and new features, so keeping an eye on the tools you use will help you stay current. Embrace these channels to ensure continuous learning and innovation in your teaching practices.