TOP PICKS | 43 TOOLS
Best Tools for Back-to-School 2021
Top Picks
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Curriculum and Lesson Planning
Common Curriculum
Sleek lesson planner replaces bulky binders, promotes collaboration
Bottom line: Flexible and collaborative lesson planning, calendar design, and classroom site creator save teachers precious time.
Goalbook Toolkit
Set tailored targets with pricey but worth-it kit of tools, strategies
Bottom line: You pay for quality with Goalbook Toolkit, including access to clear, well-crafted learning goals and strategies that allow for far easier differentiation.
OER Commons
Free, easy access to a wealth of resources
Bottom line: Impressive resource opens access to quality materials for all educators.
Planboard
Handy one-stop digital lesson planner saves time
Bottom line: Simplifies lesson planning with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface.
Wizer
Digital worksheet builder lets students show learning in multiple ways
Bottom line: Students will appreciate this 21st-century take on worksheets, and teachers will love all the different options for creation and assessment.
Feedback, Assessment, and Portfolios
Classkick
Assign, assist, and assess with real-time, interactive classroom
Bottom line: It's a great option for teachers who want to go paperless, provide specific feedback, and encourage collaboration among students in virtual or 1-to-1 classrooms.
Mentimeter
Call on everybody at once with flexible, interactive presentation tool
Bottom line: You can use this tool to create dynamic presentations that strike a balance between information and interaction.
Seesaw
Versatile digital portfolio appeals to teachers, students, and parents
Bottom line: A powerful multimedia learning and communication tool that demonstrates student progress over time.
FreshGrade Connect
Multimedia digital portfolios connect students, teachers, and parents
Bottom line: It's designed with student learning in mind, and teachers can encourage students to submit quality content and engage in reflective feedback.
Flipgrid
Pose questions, spark thoughtful video responses with stellar tool
Bottom line: This accessible, approachable tool offers connection, multiple means of expression, and creativity to apply to almost any topic.
Formative
Superb real-time assessment tool a fit for 1-to-1, BYOD classrooms
Bottom line: This is a cleverly designed tool that can gather a variety of student response types and help teachers offer individualized feedback.
Kahoot!
Game-like student-response tool can spark competitive fun
Bottom line: This is an effortlessly fun and flexible platform, but it shines best with creative implementation that tests its boundaries.
Kaizena
Nifty add-on enables audio and text feedback in Google Docs
Bottom line: If your classroom relies a lot on Google Docs, this might just be the feedback tool you're looking for.
Bulb
Slick portfolio tool has cool features, limited feedback options
Bottom line: A neat tool for publishing online, possibly better suited to teacher content creation than student publishing.
Organization and Productivity
Google Classroom
Exceptional, simple communication, collaboration, and document sharing
Bottom line: Though it doesn't have it all, it's an incredible tool for managing and organizing learning.
Turnitin
Encourage original work and give feedback with this valuable tool
Bottom line: Beyond the convenience factor, it's almost a necessity for the teaching of writing in today's digital world.
Kami
Versatile annotation tool helps users critically connect with content
Bottom line: Kami is an effective way to promote student interaction with texts, authentic documents, and pictures.
Evernote
Organize digital content with full-featured web clipper and notebook
Bottom line: Students and teachers can learn to better manage their digital lives via this comprehensive organizational tool.
Microsoft Teams
Collaborative platform helps manage multiple groups and projects
Bottom line: It offers a ton of options for integrating learning; the lack of some typical LMS features may make it a better fit for small groups or nontraditional group configurations.
Notability
Flexible note-taking tool empowers learners of all abilities
Bottom line: An excellent tool that lets students make their notes thorough and useful in the way that best suits their learning styles and abilities.
Diigo
Social bookmarking encourages discovery, collaboration, and sharing
Bottom line: With a Diigo educator account, teachers and students have a safe space to organize, customize, and share Web content while learning about a variety of subjects.
Parent and Student Communication
TalkingPoints
Multilingual texting tool enhances school-to-home communication
Bottom line: Easy-to-use tool for supporting communication and engagement with families in 100+ languages.
ClassDojo
Exemplar bridge between home and school also aids learning
Bottom line: When used thoughtfully, ClassDojo can help teachers and families support students' growth through goal-setting, reflection, and celebration.
Bloomz
Full-featured school-to-home communication platform delivers with style
Bottom line: This multifunctional platform connects families, teachers, and students with a ton of features.
Remind
Messaging platform offers tight focus on school-to-home connection
Bottom line: Well-designed, highly effective messaging tool delivers on its promise to connect home and school.
Skype
Live video communication has potential to open lots of doors
Bottom line: With a bit of work and a measure of patience, Skype can be an excellent classroom tool to expand students' horizons.
Edmodo
Manage classes, content, and communication with social LMS platform
Bottom line: This free platform allows for teacher-monitored classroom communication with basic tools.
Google Hangouts
Communication, learning, and fun converge nicely in Google's slick platform
Bottom line: It runs like a dream, works on all devices, and can be used in so many ways to enhance interactive learning.
Backchannel Chat
Real-time, moderated online discussions can engage and encourage
Bottom line: This tools offers a fun, simple, and safe way to hold real-time online discussions that might just increase engagement, interest, and even learning.
Presentation and Video
Boclips
Safe-for-classroom videos curated by teachers for teachers
Bottom line: It's a pressure-free place to start looking for high-quality videos to supplement existing lessons in traditional, one-to-one, or flipped classroom models.
Nearpod
Engage and assess students with media, videos, and interactive slides
Bottom line: This is a great tool with a vast content library, and the teacher- or student-paced learning can unlock the potential of 1-to-1 environments.
Screencast-O-Matic
Create and edit sophisticated screencasts without breaking the bank
Bottom line: This is the most flexible screencasting tool, but it requires patience -- and perhaps a subscription -- to unlock all of its possibilities.
Edpuzzle
Crop, customize, and remix online video content with interactive tool
Bottom line: This is a valuable tool that teachers can use to flip classrooms or support student-led creation.
Explain Everything Whiteboard
Powerhouse tool for creating stellar multimedia presentations
Bottom line: Teachers and students can make dynamic presentations that involve different types of media in this innovative, fun app.
Pear Deck
Interactive slideshows offer a variety of ways to engage and assess
Bottom line: This is an appealing platform that can really ramp up engagement around formative assessment.
Spiral
Provide instant feedback with collaborative, multimedia assessment tool
Bottom line: Engaging, easy-to-use tool that supports both formative and summative assessment while allowing for student collaboration.
ClassFlow
Robust lesson creation and delivery tool helps with assessment
Bottom line: In the hands of a determined teacher, this platform's useful suite of tools can support learning experiences that move from instruction to assessment and back.
Professional Growth
BetterLesson
Exemplary lessons, strategies, and coaching from master teachers
Bottom line: Take advantage of the offerings of this professional community to improve the quality of your classroom instruction.
KQED Teach
Super PD resource for making media in the classroom
Bottom line: Stay on top of the trends and take the fear out of media-making in the classroom.
Teacherly
Collaborative lesson planning software supports live and asynchronous instruction
Bottom line: This teacher-centric platform may win over some educators, but students might not be as impressed.
Teaching Channel
Quality videos challenge educators to grow within a PD environment
Bottom line: Professional educators can watch, share, and learn in a continually updated environment.
The Current
Engaging space for tech-forward instruction and teacher collaboration
Bottom line: A great resource to share and gather ideas on teaching with technology and media, but there are some bugs that need fixing.
Smart classroom tool if used with care; priceless for PLNs
Bottom line: Twitter offers something for everyone: information, resources, and an easy way to connect with just about anyone.
