So much of what students have to navigate in life takes skills that aren't always taught in the classroom. Technology can teach them about their health and wellness and help them develop skills such as conflict resolution, safe social networking, and getting along with others. Students can also learn essential technical skills -- from keyboarding to resume writing to word processing -- that they'll need to succeed in school and careers. In the list below, you'll see tools that offer a variety of learning experiences tailored to the specific life skills students will be learning, from reading stories to playing interactive games to creating digital media to analyzing their own personality profiles. There are also handy lesson resources teachers can use to build engaging units.
Bolster essential skills for modern life and career success
Bottom Line: From workplace skills to personal interests, this site is full of hard-to-find tutorials for core skills, but don't expect ultra-engaging learning design.
Bottom Line: This program is worth checking out: It's free and comprehensive and, while it's not pushing any boundaries, it gets the basics right and can be plugged into any classroom.
Beginner financial literacy modules can lay a solid foundation
Bottom Line: For elementary classrooms looking to introduce students to money management and financial planning, this is a good package worth considering.
From crypto to Venmo, up-to-date lessons teach key financial skills
Bottom Line: One of the best sources for relevant and useful materials for in-depth units or just grab-and-go discussions and activities about financial literacy.
Interactive modules teach students early financial planning strategies
Bottom Line: These lessons break free from the one-size-fits-all expectations of other financial literacy tools, and offer a good starting point to get students planning for their future.
Quirky game helps kids recognize and regulate anger in self and others
Bottom Line: If they can get through the confusing bits, students will be able to identify, label, and perhaps manage strong feelings of anger or frustration.
Bottom Line: Detailed social and emotional learning lessons provide teachers with almost everything they'll need to spark positive character development and reflection in their students.
Thought-provoking structured program simplifies SEL skills
Bottom Line: If teachers take advantage of the extension activities, students can get great in-depth instruction and practice in SEL skills needed for life.
Adorable social innovation app spurs discussion, collective action
Bottom Line: This free app, when used with the extension materials, will help students understand their role in the environment and the economy, and empower them to make change for the better.
Unique platform acts as social media training wheels for students
Bottom Line: If students take to it and teachers can support it, DiGii Social can level up digital citizenship awareness in a safe yet authentic context.
Expert feedback and tools designed for individual learner profiles
Bottom Line: This impressive tool uses normed digital assessments to create a specific learning profile and provide authentic tools for individual learners.
Interactive story explores diabetes health issues, lacks depth
Bottom Line: A kid-friendly way to teach an important message about healthy living, but a missed opportunity to fully engage kids with assessment or gameplay.
Quirky, fact-filled videos help adults answer tweens' sex-ed questions
Bottom Line: This approachable and contemporary content can help teachers and caregivers field tough questions, but the firmly progressive approach could prevent use.
