TOP PICKS | 20 TOOLS
Best EdTech of 2018
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Khan Academy Kids
Creative, smart mix of pre-K to K activities is a breath of fresh air
Bottom line: It's tough to stand out in the crowded early learning space, but this collection does just that, offering a one-stop shop for creative learning of foundational skills.
Grades: Pre-K–K
Price: Free
Makers Empire
Stellar 3D design hub promotes innovation, collaboration, and creation
Bottom line: This is a great design and creation tool that teachers and students can use to be innovative and share ideas with a vibrant community of makers.
Grades: K–8
Price: Paid The 3D Learning program at $2,499 per year (and $1,999 for renewal) allows access for unlimited teachers and students. The Learning By Design program at $4,999 per year includes all features of the 3D Learning program plus additional support and professional development. Custom packages are available upon request.
Magnus Kingdom of Chess
Gentle chess puzzle game ideal for young newbies
Bottom line: For kids who are new to chess but want to learn how to play, this fun intro to the game provides a well-done tutorial combined with a light overarching storyline.
Grades: 1–8
Price: Paid $7.99
Evo by Ozobot
Versatile mini robot tailor-made for teaching coding
Bottom line: Evo encourages students to be creative, emphasizing that coding is a tool in your pocket, not the end game.
Grades: 2–8
Price: Free, Paid The app is free; requires Evo robot. Available individually for $89 or as classroom kit.
Cozmo
A little robot with big personality brings code to life
Bottom line: From Cozmo's engaging personality to endless programming possibilities, this little robot will capture your heart and spark imagination.
Grades: 2–12
Price: Free, Paid Requires Cozmo robot, sold separately for $179.99.
Discovery Tour by Assassin's Creed: Ancient Egypt
Popular game's education mode offers stunning view of ancient world
Bottom line: This game is an absorbing experience that offers students a unique, living and breathing view of ancient Egyptian art, life, and culture.
Grades: 3–12
Price: $19.99 on its own, or free with base game Discovery Tour is included with a purchase of Assassin's Creed Origins, or can be bought separately for $19.99.
Loom
Create, present, and assess with free, effortless screencasting
Bottom line: This intuitive tool is excellent for recording and responding to screencasts of any length.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free
Writable
Smart writing platform places focus on feedback and revision
Bottom line: While there's some room for improvement, this tool is rock-solid pedagogically and can be the engine of your classroom's writing process.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free to try 30-day free trial. Classroom subscriptions start at $5 per student per year. School price available upon request.
ZoteroBib
Fewer clicks and less clutter equal a new go-to site for citing sources
Bottom line: An intuitive site that takes the stress out of citing sources, but students will still need instruction to tweak auto-generated citations.
Grades: 5–12
Price: Free
UL Xplorlabs
Safety engineering site blends in-class experiments with online sims
Bottom line: Middle school students get to design and test solutions to actual safety problems.
Grades: 6–8
Price: Free
Bear
Write, edit, and sync content on the go with flexible note-taking tool
Bottom line: For an app that doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, it's surprisingly versatile and useful for many types of writing and note-taking.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free, Paid The app is free to use. The Pro version is $1.49 per month or $14.99 per year and includes syncing capability across devices, more themes, and more export options, such as exporting a note as a PDF.
CanFigureIt Geometry
Flex your deductive reasoning muscles with geometric proofs
Bottom line: A really good way for math students to learn about proofs and explore them from a number of angles.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Construct 3
Ideal 2D game builder supports students to create, innovate
Bottom line: Limitless game options, reasonable cost, and extensive support make this programming environment perfect for an educational setting.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free to try, Paid There's a free edition to try. Educational licenses are $12.99 per month or $39.99 per year.
Grasshopper: Learn to Code
First-class free app for learning to code with JavaScript
Bottom line: This app will no doubt help individual, motivated learners see how coding works using real code.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Digital Civics Toolkit
Superb, timely civics lessons focus on social media and student voice
Bottom line: For teachers looking to make civics relevant to students, there's nothing else out there as extensive or relevant.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Google Applied Digital Skills
Practical PBL lessons teach critical computer skills
Bottom line: Thorough digital literacy curriculum offers mix-and-match options to fit any classroom.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
HoloLAB Champions
Immerse students in a fantastic VR chemistry lab
Bottom line: Students can safely experiment, play, fail, succeed, and learn in this engrossing virtual chemistry lab.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free, Paid $9.99; free for educators by filling out a form on the site.
Please Knock on My Door
Effective and affecting game about dealing with depression
Bottom line: A slow-paced SEL game for helping students understand the nuances of managing mental health.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Paid $12.99
Snapseed
Extremely powerful photo editor will equally delight pros, amateurs
Bottom line: It successfully walks the fine line of photo-editing features, offering satisfying experiences for those making quick edits and those crafting perfect images.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free
Florence
Incredibly relatable story about navigating adult love and life
Bottom line: This heartwarming game helps kids empathize with the highs and lows of romantic relationships.
Grades: 10–12
Price: Paid $2.99