TOP PICKS | 21 TOOLS
Tools for Project-Based Learning
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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.
Defined STEM
Stellar collection of STEM resources supports project-based learning
Bottom line: Excellent, well-thought-out resources for developing problem-solving skills in the classroom.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free to try, Paid Free trial; unlimited access ranges from $2,950 per year (elementary and middle school) to $3,500 per year (high school).
Dreamdo Schools
Sleek project-based learning platform encourages global connections
Bottom line: An excellent tool for project-based learning; plan, create, and share learning around the world.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
Seesaw: The Learning Journal
Versatile digital portfolio appeals to teachers, students, and parents
Bottom line: A powerful multimedia learning and communication tool that demonstrates student progress over time.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free, Paid Seesaw Plus is $120 per year, and gives teachers more privacy options and other features. Seesaw for Schools, which includes school-wide reporting, is priced per student.
Workbench
Find and assign STEAM tasks with dynamic project-based learning hub
Bottom line: Dynamic resource for finding, creating, and rating lessons that support STEAM and PBL.
Grades: 1–12
Price: Free
PenPal Schools
Give students global perspective with pen pal projects in any subject
Bottom line: A thoughtful, ready-to-go platform that facilitates authentic, cross-cultural collaboration.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free Free for teachers; however, school- and district-wide plans are available and add integration with learning management systems and student information systems, advanced reporting, and access to premium projects.
Metaverse
Ambitious augmented-reality tool engages users, promotes coding skills
Bottom line: This dynamic tool allows users to create and experience augmented-reality activities while learning 21st-century skills.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free
Mathalicious
Toughest palates can't resist appetizing look at real-world math
Bottom line: Easy-to-deliver lessons use real-world topics tweens like.
Grades: 6–12
Price: $320 annual subscription per teacher Sliding scale: $10, $15, or $20 per month -- pay what you can.
eBackpack
Easy system to submit, review, and store digital assignments
Bottom line: This is a great way to create a paperless classroom, but its potential for enhancing learning depends completely on how teachers use it.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free, Paid
Evernote
Impressive organizational tool has limitless uses
Bottom line: This free information-management tool can help kids become tech-savvy and learn to better organize their digital lives.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free, Paid Basic, Plus, and Premium plans available. Basic plans are free, and come with 60MB of uploads per month and access on two devices. The Plus plan is $34.99 per year and comes with more features, plus 1GB of uploads per month and access to an unlimited number of devices. The Premium plan is $69.99 per year, and adds even more features, including a presentation mode and the ability to annotate PDFs.
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.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free, Paid Microsoft Teams is included with Office 365 subscriptions, which range from free to $6 per month per student and $8 per month per teacher.
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.
Grades: 6–12
Price: $9.99
Pathbrite
Create, organize, assess sleek digital portfolios
Bottom line: A simple PBL tool that promotes digital literacy and lets kids create flexible, accessible digital portfolios.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Project Foundry
Helpful, yet complex, management tool for project-based learning
Bottom line: A powerful, though sometimes complex, tool for providing inquiry-based, student-centered learning.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Paid Quotes available upon request.
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.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free, Paid The basic version is free. For $9 per user per year, teachers can get more space and added features. Schools can contact the developer for district pricing.
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
Meridian Stories
Unique challenges for great learning; site could offer more support
Bottom line: As a fun opportunity for students to showcase their learning in creative ways, the site could offer more direction and incentives to participate.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free, Paid Registration runs between $150-$950, depending on the number of students participating.
Wikispaces
Powerful tool for creating collaborative websites
Bottom line: Wikispaces.com is a rare, collaborative Web tool that's both powerful and accessible.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free, Paid Educators receive free accounts including one wiki, unlimited users, and 2 GB of storage. Upgraded school versions start at $1000 per year for an unlimited amount of wikis, 100 users, 1000 GB of storage, and more robust management features.
Educurious (with LMS)
Spark deep curiosity with PBL courses that connect life and learning
Bottom line: Get kids involved in learning that really matters to them with these interactive, inquiry-based units.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Paid Pricing starts at $55 per student for any five units, including access to the Expert Network (for 100 or fewer students). Prices are reduced for greater numbers of students. Custom pricing is also available for single units or site licenses. Professional development is available for roughly $1500/year, per teacher.
Google Drive
Nifty tool for collaboratively editing and syncing files across devices
Bottom line: Google Drive is a smart choice for budget-conscious schools, with its free productivity tools and file syncing.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free, Paid Free (up to 15GB); $1.99 per month for 100GB and $9.99 per month for 1TB (discounts for annual prepayment).
WordPress.com
Solid blogging tool and content management system offers DIY blogs
Bottom line: This is a great tool to get kids blogging and creating online content.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free, Paid Basic accounts are free, Premium sites are $99 per year, and Business sites are $299 per year.
