As educators around the world adapt to online teaching, it is important to have access to effective distance learning tools that can enhance virtual teaching and foster student success. With the rise of eLearning, there are now a variety of digital tools available for teachers to use in their digital classrooms. In this blog post, we will explore 10 of the best long-distance learning tools and discuss how they can benefit both teachers and students.
How to create an engaging online learning environment
Teachers at all levels—elementary, middle, or high school—can effectively connect and engage with their students in a virtual environment using a variety of innovative online learning tools. The best of these tools not only help teachers stay organized and track student progress but also foster engagement and collaboration among students.
When students are engaged with their teachers and peers in an interactive online setting, they are generally more motivated to succeed and perform better than those who are less connected.
Fostering student success and engagement with online tools
Online tools are a great resource for helping teachers with tracking student mastery data while improving understanding and retention of concepts. These tools can also increase motivation and interest in a subject which can lead to better academic performance. In addition, these tools can boost collaboration while helping teachers connect better with students’ families.
Transforming virtual classrooms with distance learning tools: What to look for
It’s possible to revolutionize your virtual classrooms using cutting-edge distance learning tools. Here’s a few things to look for in online learning apps that will make it easy and seamless to enhance the online learning experience, promote student engagement, and ensure communication between educators and learners.
- Teacher dashboards
- All-in-one environments
- Easy/seamless integration
- Engagement and fun factor
- Ease of use for students
- Student empowerment
- Active learning through hands-on tasks
- Available for low costs
Adapting to eLearning: 10 essential tools
There are many benefits of technology in the classroom. The proper use of technology can enhance the learning experience of the student and assist the teacher in their mission to help the student succeed in the classroom and beyond. Here are our recommendations for the best all-in-one tools for managing a digital classroom and for increasing student engagement and collaboration.
Best digital learning tools
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all options, but these 10 digital learning tools deserve to be considered by teachers looking to better integrate online learning into their mode of instruction.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom helps teachers create engaging learning experiences they can personalize, manage, and measure. Part of Google Workspace for Education, it empowers educators to enhance their impact and prepare students for the future.
Google Classroom can be used to streamline assignments and quizzes, boost collaboration, and foster communication. Plus it’s available on the web or by mobile app. You can use Google Classroom with many tools that you already use, such as Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar.
There is no cost to get started with the basic version and there are low-cost subscription models with more robust features.
Teachers can use Google Classroom for things like video meetings, managing classes, assignments, and grades online. They can also integrate other Google features like YouTube videos, Google Slides, Google Forms, and files from Google Drive into assignments.
Google Classroom makes it easy for students to submit assignments and track progress. They can also check feedback and grades online and share resources and interact with their peers.
Google Classroom helps streamline classroom organization, including assignments and student-teacher communication.
Google Meet
Experience effortless, reliable, and secure video conferencing with Google Meet. Easily connect your school community for classes, parent-teacher conferences, professional development, and more.
As part of Google Workspace for Education, Google Meet seamlessly integrates with other Google products like Classroom, Slides, Docs, and Gmail, providing a cohesive and efficient digital experience.
Meet offers a robust platform for virtual classrooms, integrating seamlessly with the Google Classroom learning management system for easy access to scheduled meetings and class resources.
As a moderator, you can end meetings for all participants and control chat usage to maintain students’ focus. Customize the settings to fit your needs, from participant permissions to breakout rooms, and start engaging with your students digitally. By leveraging these features, educators can create an interactive, inclusive, and efficient virtual classroom.
Google Meet is an invaluable tool that brings modern solutions to traditional teaching challenges.
Padlet
Padlet, the most widely used e-learning tool, reimagines a bulletin board for the digital age. It offers educators a dynamic space where both teachers and students can post notes, links, pictures, and videos. Its intuitive platform, built by teachers, simplifies the process of gathering and sharing ideas on any topic, fostering an environment for creativity and collaboration.
Key Benefits for Educators:
- Enhance collaboration: Padlet enables students to contribute effortlessly, promoting teamwork and collective learning. Teachers can create interactive spaces where every student has a voice.
- Spark discussions: Open up channels for meaningful discussions. Whether it’s brainstorming sessions or reflective assignments, Padlet encourages active participation.
- Encourage creative expression: With a range of layouts and themes, educators can design visually appealing walls that inspire students to think outside the box and express their ideas creatively.
- Boost digital literacy: By incorporating Padlet into the classroom, students become more familiar with digital tools, preparing them for the future, in a world driven by technology.
Available as an app for iOS and Android, or accessible through any web browser, Padlet caters to various teaching styles and needs. While the free version includes limited wall space, subscribing unlocks additional features and capabilities, making it an invaluable tool for any modern classroom.
Padlet is an interactive bulletin board or interactive whiteboard for teachers to leverage collaboration within their classroom.
Schoolhouse.world
Schoolhouse.world is a digital tool that’s a game-changer in modern classrooms. When your students learn from their peers, they get to see new approaches and techniques that might not come up in regular classes. Sometimes, just hearing an explanation from a different perspective can make all the difference.
Schoolhouse.world sets up small-group tutoring sessions where students can connect with others who know exactly what they’re going through. It’s a supportive space where they can build confidence, ask questions, and really find their voice.
Teachers incorporate Schoolhouse.world for a variety of reasons including:
- Personalized Learning: Use it to offer personalized learning experiences that reinforce what you’re teaching in the classroom.
- Supportive Environment: It fosters a community where students support and motivate each other.
- Leadership Skills: Students can even become peer tutors, which helps them reinforce their own knowledge while developing leadership skills and empathy.
Plus, with its global reach and commitment to free education, Schoolhouse.world is empowering both students and educators. It’s more than just a supplement to traditional learning—it’s a way to make education more engaging and inclusive.
Schoolhouse.world is a digital learning platform that empowers educators to leverage the power of peer tutoring experiences, foster collaboration, and drive success.
Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle is a creative digital tool for educators to transform any video into an interactive lesson with ease.
Edpuzzle’s interactive learning platform allows teachers to select a video from its vast library or upload their own and customize it by adding questions, voice notes, and comments at specific time points. Students interact with the content by answering these embedded questions throughout the video. 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, making it a great tool for teachers seeking to enhance learning experiences with animated video content. The platform benefits students who prefer an interactive and visual approach to learning.
Edpuzzle is accessible on its website through any desktop or mobile browser and offers apps for iOS and Android devices. While Edpuzzle offers a free version with limited storage capacity, premium plans provide additional features such as 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.
Blooket
Blooket boasts a new approach to trivia and review games tailored for modern classrooms. As a teacher, you can select or design question sets covering any subject matter, and pair them with unique game modes to suit your classroom’s needs. Once the game is set up, students join using a code on their own devices, and the adventure begins. Each game mode is crafted to keep students actively involved, turning learning into a captivating experience.
With Blooket, the fun truly begins when the game starts. Students will tackle questions related to the lesson material, competing to achieve the highest scores. Question sets can be seamlessly imported or created easily with the Set Builder function. Educators can also explore the incredible collection of sets built by other users on the Discover page.
Blooket’s platform allows a teacher or host to select a question set and game mode, generate a code for players to join on their devices, and engage students with a variety of fun, interactive games that keep them excited and eager to win.
Best digital learning tools for student success
The following digital tools for teaching are ideal for boosting student engagement and can make learning more fun for students of all ages.
Amira
Amira leverages cutting-edge technology to revolutionize literacy instruction in classrooms. By integrating speech recognition and artificial intelligence with the Science of Reading, Amira delivers in-the-moment, personalized tutoring tailored to each student’s unique needs.
As students practice reading, Amira provides immediate feedback and targeted interventions, adapting to their progress and challenges. This real-time support helps struggling readers and English Language Learners (ELLs) make significant strides in their reading proficiency.
Teachers can seamlessly incorporate Amira into their daily classroom routines to maximize its benefits. Evidence shows that just 10 minutes of daily practice with Amira can double students’ reading growth compared to the national average. This can be done through structured reading sessions or as a supplementary tool during independent study periods.
By strategically implementing Amira, teachers can enhance their instructional approach, boost student engagement, and ultimately elevate reading outcomes across their classrooms.
Amira allows students to choose and read through different texts with varying degrees of difficulty. As students read out loud Amira listens, assesses, and when they struggle, Amira provides feedback and support.
Magicschool AI
MagicSchool AI is the world’s leading AI platform for educators and students, designed to enhance teaching and learning through advanced artificial intelligence. The feature-rich platform empowers instructors to create dynamic, interactive content by drawing, writing, adding images and videos, and annotating materials effortlessly.
Key Features:
- Interactive Content Creation: Develop and customize engaging lessons using AI-driven tools.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Share lessons and collaborate live with students, both in person and online.
- Dynamic Presentations: Convert traditional materials into interactive presentations, and easily import your existing PowerPoint files and PDFs.
- Instructional Videos: Record and narrate lessons to create shareable instructional videos accessible anytime, anywhere.
- Student Engagement: Foster teamwork and collaboration through group projects.
Magicschool’s platform helps teachers save time, reduce burnout, promote sustainability by digitizing materials, and build AI competencies for efficient resource management and valuable skill development. This puts time back in teachers’ schedules for what matters most—their students.
Users can start with Magicschool AI for free. They can then upgrade to the advanced bundle for just $99.96 per year. Custom licenses for schools or districts are also available with their enterprise option.
Magicschool AI is a digital tool to help educators save time while creating lesson plans.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a free platform created by Sal Khan, a leader in digital learning, providing practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that enables learners to study at their own pace, both in and outside the classroom.
The platform covers a wide range of subjects, including math, science, computing, history, art history, and economics, as well as K–14 education and test preparation for exams like the SAT, Praxis, and LSAT. With emphasis on skill mastery to help learners build strong foundations, Khan Academy ensures there are no limits to what students can learn next.
Pear Deck
Pear Deck Learning is a powerful ecosystem of education collaboration tools to assess progress, offer real-time feedback, and provide the differentiated instruction and gamified practice to keep students engaged and excelling.
Pear Deck’s innovative tools are designed in collaboration with educators and rooted in the science of learning, so they’re proven to help students and schools succeed.
There are four main tools in the platform:
- Pear Deck increases student participation and creates more classroom connections with tailor-made presentations and real-time feedback.
- Pear Assessment allows teachers and administrators to visualize progress, identify gaps, and drive outcomes, all in one easy system.
- Pear Practice is a gamified learning experience that facilitates differentiated practice through standards-aligned content.
- Pear Deck Tutor connects students with highly qualified tutors for one-on-one learning support, whenever and wherever they need it the most.
All four tools are priced separately. Pear Deck has a teacher free version and a teacher premium version for $149 per year. A custom option is available for schools and districts with additional features available.
Pear Assessment also has a teacher free version. The teacher premium version is $125 per year and a custom option is also available for schools and districts.
Pear Practice has a teacher free version and schools and districts can request a quote for the premium version.
Pear Deck Tutor is a licensed product for which schools and districts can request a quote.
Pear Deck is not just a presentation platform; it’s a powerful interactive tool that transforms passive lectures into engaging, two-way conversations.
Conclusion
Technology has the power to transform education and the variety of digital teaching tools and apps available today have the ability to enhance the experience for both students and teachers in a virtual environment.
Student learning is enhanced when students feel more connected to their peers and instructors, and our selection of recommended distance learning tools and apps will certainly help you boost engagement as well as student performance whether teaching in person or online.
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 expert 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 researching digital tools and apps 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. For more than a decade, we’ve partnered 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 distance learning tools to maximize student success FAQs
What are the benefits of distance learning?
Some advantages of distance learning include greater flexibility in scheduling, self-paced learning opportunities, reduced costs compared to traditional education, improved accessibility to educational materials, and the ability to learn from anywhere without being limited by location.
How can teachers stay organized when participating in distance learning?
To stay organized while engaging in distance learning, teachers can utilize digital tools such as Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, or platforms like ClassDojo to manage assignments, communicate with students and parents, track progress, and provide feedback efficiently.
Are there any communication tools that can enhance my distance learning experience?
Communication tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet can enhance the distance learning experience by facilitating real-time interactions, virtual meetings, group discussions, and collaborative projects among students and teachers, fostering engagement and maintaining a sense of community in the virtual classroom.
How can I support my students in a distance learning environment?
To support students effectively in a distance learning environment, educators can offer personalized feedback, create interactive content using tools like Pear Deck or Explain Everything, encourage peer collaboration through platforms like Flip, provide clear instructions and resources, establish regular communication channels for assistance, and promote a positive and inclusive online learning atmosphere to ensure student success and well-being.