While researching my recently updated article, Best Sites for Blended Learning, I came upon CK-12, a remarkable, new-to-me teaching platform that provides a varied and robust set of digital textbooks, AI-powered digital tools, teacher agents, simulations, and more.

CK-12 is the brainchild of the nonprofit CK-12 foundation, whose mission is to provide free access to high-quality, customizable educational content in multiple modalities, suited to multiple student learning styles, levels, and resources. Even better, all tools and features of CK-12 are fully free to educators, students, and families.

What is CK-12?

CK-12 is a K12 online education platform designed for teachers, schools, and families that serves as a customizable digital platform for teaching and learning.

Its flagship offering, Flexbooks, are standards-aligned digital textbooks for K12 math, science, English, social studies, and other topics, including college-level and adult education. Flexbooks are available in English, Spanish, Korean, German, Chinese, Greek, and Polish. A small selection of Flexbooks include built-in interactives.

In addition to Flexbooks, CK-12 offers a wide range of AI tools for teachers, AI teacher agents, learning analytics, study guides and adaptive practice for students, interactive simulations, and PLIX (Play Learn Interact eXplore) interactives.

How Does CK-12 Work?

Users can easily sign up for CK-12 via their Google, Microsoft, Apple, or email accounts. Once signed in, the teacher’s homepage highlights the newer AI-powered tools highlighted at the top, while the older flagship Flexbooks are lower down.

While the AI-powered tools and agents are intriguing and potentially time-saving for educators, the core of CK-12 is really the digital textbooks known as Flexbooks.

(Note that the continual right-to-left and left-to-right animation of the AI Teacher Tools boxes is an unfortunate choice for an organization that aims to be sensitive to learners of all types. Fortunately the student version of the site doesn’t include such distracting animations.)

FLEXBOOKS

Flexbooks carry a number of advantages over traditional textbooks. First, these are fully free, which offers an opportunity for substantial savings—perhaps as much as $1.5-2 million dollars for a district. And in contrast to paper textbooks, Flexbooks can be updated as needed, which of course represents yet another financial saving.

Additionally, Flexbooks are designed to be compatible with all external screen reading apps and tools, allowing for all content to be read aloud. This is especially useful for students who struggle to read at grade level. You can search Flexbooks by grade, language, and subjects. Additionally, one can browse the list of all Flexbooks, arranged by topic and grade.

For six selected math topics, Flexbooks are also available in an interactive as well as conventional version.

Educators can create classes directly in their CK-12 account, or via an existing LMS class, such as Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, and others. Then add students through email, roster upload, or direct entry. Assignments can be made quickly through links on every content page.

AI TEACHER TOOLS AND AGENTS

CK-12’s AI-powered Teaching Assistant comprises a large library of tools to speed teaching preparation, assessments and assignments, specialized learning, communications, and much more. Teacher Agent goes further, allowing users to quickly set up their own AI-powered agent, capable of interactive with students while adapting to their responses and learning styles.

What Are The Best CK-12 Features?

In addition to its flagship product Flexbooks, CK-12 offers several key customizable features ideal for the classroom setting.

ADAPTIVE PRACTICE

Adaptive practice exercises in selected topics are available for students in grades 1-5. Each topic includes dozens of subcategory skills that can be assigned to students.

For example, the Measurement topic is divided into money, time, systems, conversions, capacity, and mass. Within each subcategory skills include comparing, identifying, converting, and many others.

FLEXBOOK TEACHER TOOLS

CK-12’s Teacher Tools are built into every Flexbook page and include a quiz creator, lesson planner, and lesson “hook” generator. Simply click the desired link in the lower left-hand box in order to create a quiz, standards-aligned lesson plan, or lesson hook for the content on the current page.

As with most CK-12 features, users are free to adapt the pre-filled templates according to their own preferences.

LEARNING ANALYTICS

Comprising “foresights” and “insights,” Learning Analytics provide granular data on student and class performance, as well as overall performance for each question. While Foresights predicts a student’s future proficiency in the selected topic, Insights displays skill levels that students have already demonstrated, from "beginning" through “mastery.”

Using graphs and lists, the platform also shares performance data from the class, makes recommendations about how to address performance gaps, and highlights students who are performing exceptionally well.

INTERACTIVE SIMS

Sims are a great way to combine text- and graphic-based learning with interactivity, engaging students more deeply than static lessons. Available for physics and chemistry topics, CK-12’s interactive sims are concept-driven, standards-aligned, and offer downloadable PDF worksheets.

Each assignable simulation begins with a brief animation representing the target concept and includes a video tutorial, challenge questions, and easy sharing options.

How Much Does CK-12 Cost?

Remarkably, CK-12 is completely free for all users -- educators, students, families or anyone wishing to study and learn. The nonprofit CK-12 Foundation’s core mission is to provide content and technology tools that support customizable teaching in multiple modalities, for all types of learners, therefore all its tech tools are 100% free.

Reading difficulties don't disappear when students reach middle or high school, but the resources available to help them often lag behind. Many literacy intervention programs are designed for early elementary learners, leaving older students to practice reading with books that feel childish or disconnected from their interests. That mismatch can make reluctant readers even less willing to engage, creating another barrier to improving literacy skills.

Storyshares' LIFT offers structured, evidence-based instruction that supports decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, with materials that respect students' age and encourage them to keep reading.

The Literacy Intervention For Teens (LIFT) program was developed for students in grades 6-12 who are reading below grade level. LIFT combines structured literacy instruction with age-appropriate decodable books and highly interesting texts written for adolescent readers.

The program seeks to build foundational reading skills using content designed to feel relevant and engaging.

The result is a comprehensive literacy intervention package that includes curriculum materials, classroom resources, and teacher support, making it suitable for intervention specialists, special educators, tutors, and classroom teachers alike.

Here's what educators need to know about LIFT, how it works, and whether it could be the right fit for supporting struggling secondary readers.

What is LIFT?

Storyshares Literacy Intervention for Teens (LIFT) is a structured literacy program designed specifically for middle and high school students in grades 6-12 who continue to struggle with reading.

LIFT combines evidence-based literacy instruction with books and activities that are perfectly appropriate for teenagers.

This focuses on high-interest, age-appropriate content that allows students to develop foundational reading skills without feeling like they're reading "baby books" aimed at younger years learners – as often that's all that is available.

LIFT uses structured literacy principles and the Science of Reading. The curriculum was developed alongside literacy experts, including HILL for Literacy, and is intended for Tier 2 intervention, making it suitable for small-group instruction, special education, English language learners, tutoring, and classroom support.

This doesn't concentrate solely on phonics, but instead the program also develops fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing through a connected sequence of lessons.

Designed to help teachers manage the wide range of reading abilities often found in secondary classrooms, LIFT provides a complete intervention package rather than simply a collection of books.

How does LIFT work?

The program is built around a structured sequence of decoding and fluency instruction that gradually develops students' reading confidence.

Students work through decodable chapter books written specifically for adolescent readers, alongside high-low (high-interest, lower reading level) books that allow them to engage with more mature themes while practicing core literacy skills.

Throughout the curriculum, learners revisit decoding strategies, build vocabulary, and improve reading fluency before applying those skills to increasingly challenging texts.

Teachers receive scripted and adaptable lesson plans, helping both literacy specialists and general classroom teachers deliver consistent instruction. The package also includes professional development, implementation support, and classroom resources that minimize preparation time.

Hands-on learning is another major component. Dry erase boards, sound-keyword cards, vocabulary cards, decoding workbooks, and fluency activities encourage students to actively practice multisyllabic word recognition rather than simply reading passively.

What are the best LIFT features?

One of the biggest strengths of LIFT is that it recognizes adolescent literacy requires different resources than early years reading.

Instead of relying on childish illustrations and simplistic stories, students get engaging chapter books featuring characters and situations more relevant to teenagers. This can help reduce the embarrassment some older struggling readers experience during intervention sessions.

The curriculum is also unusually comprehensive. Schools receive educator manuals, multiple book sets, student workbooks, vocabulary and decoding resources, classroom materials, and implementation training. This is all part of one coordinated package rather than assembling separate intervention resources themselves.

Another useful feature is its flexibility. LIFT is designed for special educators, literacy interventionists, tutors, multilingual learner support, and even general classroom teachers without specialist literacy training, making it easier to implement across different school settings.

How much does LIFT cost?

Storyshares lists the complete LIFT Intervention Program for Grades 6-12 at $2,399.

The package includes multiple classroom sets of decodable chapter books and high-low readers, educator manuals, student workbooks, classroom materials such as dry erase boards, and vocabulary cards, plus a 45-minute live implementation session to help schools get started.

Additional consumable student materials and professional development options can also be purchased separately.

Schools interested in district-wide implementation or customized solutions can contact Storyshares directly for quotes and partnership options.

Best LIFT tips and tricks

Use small groups
LIFT is designed primarily as a Tier 2 intervention, allowing targeted instruction for students with similar literacy needs.

Focus on confidence as well as accuracy
Age-appropriate texts can help reluctant readers stay engaged while developing core skills.

Take advantage of the scripted lessons
Even teachers without specialist literacy training can deliver structured intervention consistently using the provided manuals.

Build decoding into every session
Regular practice with multisyllabic words and fluency activities reinforces long-term reading development.

Use the implementation training
The included onboarding session helps staff establish consistent teaching routines and get maximum value from the curriculum resources.

Adobe is really known for professional creative software such as Photoshop and Illustrator, but its latest education-focused app goes in a new direction. Adobe Aqua is a free drawing and creativity app designed for children aged five to 12, to give younger learners a safe place to experiment with art, storytelling, and design.

Aqua focuses on building confidence through play. Students can draw, color, create comics, design fashion, explore simple 3D creations, and even digitize artwork they've produced on paper. The aim is to make creativity feel approachable while helping children develop artistic and visual communication skills.

For teachers, that means an easy way to introduce creative activities across multiple subjects without the need for previous art experience.

The app can support literacy, science, social studies, math, STEM, and social-emotional learning through drawing-based projects that encourage students to think visually as well as verbally. Adobe also provides classroom-ready lesson ideas that connect Aqua activities to curriculum topics.

Aqua is completely free, contains no advertising or in-app purchases, and has been designed with child safety in mind. That makes it an attractive option for classrooms looking to encourage creativity without introducing unnecessary distractions. Here's all you need to know about Aqua from Adobe.

What is Adobe Aqua?

Adobe Aqua is a free creativity app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices aimed at children between the ages of five and 12. Developed by Adobe Labs, it combines drawing, painting, coloring, simple design tools, and creative games. This single platform is intended to make artistic expression feel fun rather than intimidating.

Students can work with traditional digital drawing tools, complete guided tutorials from children's illustrators, color thousands of templates, create comic strips, design clothing collections, and experiment with simple 3D artwork.

One popular feature allows children to photograph artwork they've created, on paper, and store it alongside their digital creations inside a personal virtual museum. This helps bridge traditional and digital art.

Aqua also includes collaborative activities such as "1-2-3 Pass," in which students take turns adding to the same drawing, encouraging teamwork and creative thinking. Other activities introduce design concepts such as color, composition, and pattern through playful challenges rather than formal lessons.

Adobe positions the app as a creativity platform rather than simply a drawing program. Alongside artistic skills, the company says Aqua is intended to help develop confidence, imagination, problem-solving, and communication through regular creative practice.

While these broader benefits depend on how the app is used, its emphasis on open-ended creation makes it great for a wide variety of classroom activities.

How does Adobe Aqua work?

Students begin by selecting from a range of creative experiences instead of opening a blank canvas. They might start with coloring pages, follow a guided drawing lesson, create a comic scene, build a fashion collection, or explore a collaborative game. Each activity gradually introduces creative techniques without overwhelming younger users.

The interface is intentionally simple, with large icons and clear navigation suited to younger children. Aqua concentrates on features that encourage experimentation and creativity while remaining easy to understand.

Teachers can use Aqua as an individual creativity tool or as part of wider classroom projects. Adobe's education resources suggest activities including illustrating vocabulary, designing historical costumes, creating diagrams for science topics, drawing story characters, and producing visual reflections for social-emotional learning.

Because the emphasis is on drawing ideas, rather than creating polished artwork, students with different artistic abilities can participate comfortably.

Some features make use of Adobe's Firefly AI technology to apply creative effects or help transform artwork into different visual styles. These AI features are presented as optional enhancements rather than replacing the student's own work. This allows learners to explore different artistic possibilities while keeping creativity at the center of the process.

Completed artwork can be saved inside each student's virtual gallery, creating a digital portfolio that can be revisited throughout the school year and shared with families when appropriate. Since Aqua also works offline for many activities, it can be useful in classrooms where internet access is limited.

What are the best Adobe Aqua features?

One of Aqua's biggest strengths is that it feels playful rather than instructional. Students are encouraged to explore ideas freely while still developing useful artistic and creative thinking skills.

The ability to combine physical artwork with digital creations is ideal for elementary classrooms. This allows traditional drawing lessons to continue while gradually introducing digital creativity.

Cross-curricular lesson ideas also make Aqua more useful than a standalone art app. Teachers can integrate drawing into literacy, science, history, or emotional wellbeing activities without needing specialist art knowledge.

Perhaps most importantly, Aqua removes many of the barriers associated with children's apps by remaining free, ad-free, and designed specifically for younger learners, making it easier to introduce safely in school environments.

How much does Adobe Aqua cost?

Adobe Aqua is completely free to download and use on supported iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

It has no advertisements, no in-app purchases, and no subscription required. Adobe has designed the app specifically for families and schools, with child privacy and safety forming a core part of the platform.

Best Adobe Aqua tips and tricks

Illustrate vocabulary
Ask students to draw new vocabulary words instead of simply writing definitions.

Support science learning
Create labelled life cycles, habitats, or diagrams using drawing tools rather than worksheets.

Retell stories visually
Have students recreate scenes or characters from class reading to demonstrate comprehension.

Teachers have no shortage of AI tools that promise to save time, but most still rely on writing prompts and refining the results. TeacherForge offers a structured approach to help build classroom resources through dedicated lesson generators.

This is designed specifically for English language teachers and creates grammar worksheets, vocabulary exercises, reading comprehension tasks, writing prompts, listening activities, and complete exams. Teachers choose a CEFR level, select the type of activity they want, and let the AI generate ready-to-use materials.

Unlike general AI chatbots, TeacherForge keeps everything focused on ESL and EFL teaching. Resources can be regenerated to produce fresh versions, downloaded as editable Word documents or PDFs, and include answer keys automatically. Listening activities also come with audio and transcripts.

For language teachers looking to reduce planning time without sacrificing quality, TeacherForge offers a streamlined way to produce classroom resources in minutes. This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about how it could work for your class.

What is TeacherForge?

TeacherForge is an AI-powered lesson creation platform built specifically for teachers of English as a second or foreign language. It focuses entirely on producing language-learning resources, giving teachers a set of purpose-built tools instead of a general chatbot interface.

The platform is organized around six resource generators covering grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, and exams. Each one is tailored to the type of activity being created, so teachers choose options from guided menus rather than relying on carefully worded prompts. That makes it easier to produce consistent resources while reducing the amount of editing needed afterward.

Everything is designed around the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), allowing teachers to generate materials suitable for learners from beginner through to advanced.

Activities can focus on specific grammar points, vocabulary themes, or language skills, while reading exercises can either use AI-generated passages or text supplied by the teacher.

Once a resource has been created, it can be downloaded as an editable Word document or as a PDF for printing or sharing digitally. Listening activities also include generated audio and transcripts, while worksheets automatically include answer keys.

TeacherForge also stores the settings used to create each activity, allowing teachers to return later and generate fresh versions without starting again.

The result is a platform that feels less like chatting with AI and more like using a specialist lesson planning tool that happens to be powered by AI behind the scenes.

How does TeacherForge work?

Using TeacherForge follows a straightforward workflow that should feel familiar to most teachers. After signing in, you select the type of classroom resource to create before choosing the appropriate CEFR level for the learners. From there, each generator presents different options depending on the activity being built.

A grammar worksheet, for example, allows teachers to select the language point they want students to practice before choosing the exercise format. Reading activities can generate an original passage or build questions around text uploaded by the teacher. Vocabulary exercises can be based on custom word lists or predefined themes, while writing activities include prompts, guidance, and model responses. Listening exercises combine generated audio with accompanying classroom tasks.

After reviewing the generated material, teachers can download it as a Word document for further editing or as a PDF ready for printing. Because the documents remain editable, it is easy to adjust wording, replace examples, or tailor activities to a particular class before using any.

One of the platform's more useful features is its ability to regenerate resources. Instead of producing exactly the same worksheet every time, TeacherForge can create fresh versions using the same structure and level of difficulty. That makes it useful for parallel classes, revision activities, or assessment retakes in which teachers want similar exercises without repeating identical questions.

By guiding teachers through structured lesson builders instead of relying on free-form prompting, TeacherForge reduces the amount of trial and error needed to produce classroom-ready materials.

What are the best TeacherForge features?

TeacherForge's big appeal is its specialist focus. Every part of the platform has been designed around English language teaching rather than general classroom use, making the generated resources feel far more targeted than those produced by a standard AI chatbot.

The ability to regenerate worksheets is another standout feature, allowing teachers to produce multiple versions of the same activity for different classes without rebuilding the lesson from scratch.

Editable Word downloads also make it easy to personalize resources before reaching students. Automatic answer keys and listening transcripts remove several additional preparation steps.

Combined with CEFR alignment throughout the platform and these make TeacherForge really useful for teachers who regularly create their own language-learning materials.

How much does TeacherForge cost?

TeacherForge offers a free plan with a limited number of credits, allowing teachers to try each of its lesson generators before subscribing.

Paid plans start at around $5.75 per month when billed annually, with a higher-tier subscription offering unlimited generation and batch creation tools. School licences are also available for departments and institutions.

Best TeacherForge tips and tricks

Build differentiated lessons
Generate the same activity at different CEFR levels to support mixed-ability classes.

Upload your own texts
Turn class readers, articles, or curriculum materials into comprehension exercises instead of relying on AI-generated passages.

Create resit papers
Regenerate saved activities to produce fresh assessments that match the original level of difficulty.

PlayKids Learning is an educational platform designed for children aged roughly 2 to 12. It combines videos, games, activities, stories, and original shows in a single app, with a focus on safety and age-appropriate content.

The company says this can help children develop academic and life skills while maintaining a healthy relationship with screen time. Something that could make this a parent's favorite educational app pretty fast.

PlayKids Learning lets children move between educational games, videos, creative activities, and interactive content covering areas including literacy, mathematics, arts, music, science, and social-emotional learning.

The platform is available across devices, including smart TV and interactive whiteboard platforms, making it accessible both at home and in school. This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about PlayKids Learning.

What is PlayKids Learning?

PlayKids Learning is an educational entertainment platform developed by Sandbox Group. It offers a large library of children's content that includes educational games, videos, cartoons, podcasts, and interactive learning activities. It is designed to provide a safe, ad-free environment in which children can learn through play and exploration.

The company says the platform is used by millions of families across more than 180 countries and supports multiple languages. Content includes both PlayKids original productions and licensed children's programming featuring familiar characters.

A key focus is helping children build skills beyond traditional academics. PlayKids highlights areas such as creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning alongside literacy and numeracy development.

How does PlayKids Learning work?

PlayKids Learning works as a subscription service that gives teachers and families access to a large library of child-friendly educational content through a single app. Once an account is created, parents or teachers can set up profiles for individual children and begin accessing games, videos, stories, podcasts, and interactive activities tailored to different age groups.

The platform is available on smartphones, tablets, web browsers, and many smart TVs, allowing children to switch between devices while keeping their progress and preferences. Content can also be downloaded for offline use, making it useful for travel or situations where internet access is limited.

PlayKids Learning combines entertainment and educational activities in one place. Children can move between watching shows, playing learning games, listening to audio content, and completing creative activities, while parents can use built-in controls to manage screen time and monitor usage.

The service is designed for independent use by younger children, with a simple interface and large visual navigation elements that make it easy to explore without constant adult supervision.

What are the best PlayKids Learning features?

One of PlayKids Learning's appealing aspects s is the variety of content available in a single subscription. Children can watch educational videos, play games, complete activities, listen to podcasts, and engage with interactive learning experiences without needing multiple apps.

The service is also designed with parental oversight in mind. Parents can set screen-time limits, manage profiles, and download content for offline use. Multiple devices can access the same subscription, which can be useful for families with more than one child.

Safety is another major selling point. PlayKids Learning is ad-free and promotes its kidSAFE certification and curated content approach. This can help parents avoid advertising and recommendation algorithms.

The platform also encourages activities beyond passive viewing. Alongside videos and games, children can access drawing activities, creative projects, music content, and hands-on exercises designed to extend learning away from the screen.

How much does PlayKids Learning cost?

PlayKids Learning offers two main subscription options through its website. The monthly plan costs $7.99 per month, while the annual plan costs $79.80 per year, effectively reducing the monthly cost by around half compared to paying monthly. A free trial is also available for new users.

Subscriptions include unlimited access to the platform's content library, support for multiple devices, offline downloads, parental controls, and access across supported mobile, web, and TV platforms.

It's worth noting that pricing can vary slightly depending on whether families subscribe directly through the PlayKids website, Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or a partner platform.

Best PlayKids Learning tips and tricks

Start with age-appropriate profiles
Take time to set up profiles that match each child's age and developmental stage. This helps ensure the recommended content remains relevant and engaging.

Use offline downloads for travel
Download videos and activities before trips or long journeys. This allows children to access content without requiring an internet connection.

Balance screen time with hands-on activities
Look for the platform's creative projects, crafts, music activities, and offline exercises. These can help turn screen-based learning into wider real-world experiences.

Smore aims to solve the problem of poor school-to-home communication by turning school newsletters into visually engaging, mobile-friendly web pages that are easy to create and share.

Newsletters traditionally were blocks of text and a few images. Smore lets teachers and schools build interactive updates that can include videos, calendars, forms, links, images, documents, and more.

The platform is designed as a communication tool rather than a classroom teaching platform. Teachers can use Smore to keep parents informed about class activities, share resources with students, celebrate achievements, publish project work, or create information hubs for events and school projects.

Because everything is web-based, newsletters can be viewed on phones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers without requiring parents to download a separate app.

So what exactly is Smore and how can teachers make the most of it?

What is Smore?

Smore is an online newsletter and family engagement platform designed specifically for schools and educators. It allows teachers and admins to create visually rich digital newsletters -- using drag-and-drop tools rather than needing web design experience, as some platforms demand.

Teachers can build newsletters from templates or start from scratch, adding text, images, videos, buttons, calendars, documents, forms, polls, and event information. Completed newsletters can then be shared through email, links, QR codes, social media, or embedded into school websites.

Lots of communication tools focus on one-way messaging. Smore is designed to encourage engagement. Features such as polls, event RSVPs, embedded content, and analytics help schools understand whether information is actually reaching families.

The platform is used by individual teachers, entire schools, and districts that want a more modern method of family communication.

How does Smore work?

Smore works through a browser and requires very little setup. After creating an account, teachers can choose from a range of newsletter templates and customize one using a drag-and-drop editor.

Content is added in blocks, making it easy to insert announcements, photos, videos, links, classroom updates, homework information, event details, and downloadable files. Teachers can rearrange sections as needed without having to touch any code.

Once a newsletter is published, it receives a unique web address. That newsletter can be emailed directly through Smore, shared as a link, embedded into another website, or distributed using a QR code.

One very useful feature for schools with diverse communities is automatic translation support, allowing families to read newsletters in their preferred language on supported plans.

Teachers and administrators can also track readership through built-in analytics, helping them see how many people opened a newsletter and which links attracted the most attention.

What are the best Smore features?

One of Smore's best features is its ease of use. Teachers can create professional-looking newsletters in minutes without needing graphic design skills.

The multimedia support is another highlight. Rather than attaching files to an email, teachers can embed videos, include image galleries, add links to resources, and create a more engaging experience for families.

The event RSVP tools can also be useful for school activities. These help teachers collect responses for trips, performances, parent evenings, and classroom events.

For schools focused on accessibility, Smore includes support for accessibility standards and offers translation options that can help improve communication with multilingual families.

Analytics provide another advantage, allowing educators to see whether important communications are actually being read rather than simply assuming an email reached its destination.

How much does Smore cost?

Smore offers a free version that allows you to create up to three newsletters, send up to 200 emails per month, and access basic designs and limited analytics. For teachers who want to use the platform regularly, paid plans are likely to be the more practical option.

The Basic plan costs $99 per year and includes unlimited newsletters, advanced analytics, customizable designs, PDF exports, file attachments, event RSVPs, polls, and up to 5,000 email sends per month.

The Pro plan costs $179 per year and adds automatic translation into more than 130 languages, Canva integration, custom headers, a table of contents feature, logo branding, and a higher monthly email allowance of 15,000 sends.

For larger schools or educators with extensive communication needs, the Premium plan costs $299 per year and raises the monthly email limit to 30,000 while adding priority support.

Schools and districts can also opt for Smore for Teams, which adds multi-user access, shared folders, collaboration tools, branded templates, enhanced analytics, and administrative controls. Pricing is available on request.

Best Smore tips and tricks

Create a weekly class hub
Use a single newsletter format each week so parents know exactly where to find homework, key dates, and classroom updates.

Showcase student work
Embed photos, videos, and project examples to give families a window into classroom learning.

Use analytics to refine communication
Monitor which sections receive the most engagement and adapt future newsletters accordingly.

Blended learning is a teaching approach that combines both traditional in-class instruction with digital technologies for lessons, assessments, feedback and more. In other words, face-to-face teaching is supplemented and supported by online lessons and content.

The advantages of blended learning include flexibility, student engagement, and the ability to personalize lessons.

The following blended learning sites, many of which are fully free, provide a variety of features through which educators can implement their blended learning approach.

Best Sites for Blended Learning

FREEMIUM

Newsela
A multiple award-winning platform, Newsela includes ELA, social studies, and STEM topics, and is particularly strong for differentiated reading and current events. A 45-day free trial of premium Newsela is provided to educators with no credit card required. The free version, Newsela Lite, provides a new leveled article each week, standards-aligned skill-building activities, and access to the Binder to review student work.

Pear Deck Learning
From its beginning as a Google Slides add-on, Pear Deck has expanded to now offer three additional services: Pear Start, Pear Practice, and Pear Assessment. Pear Start offers more than 40 AI tools to save teachers time, while Pear Practice allows teachers to build, share, and assign practice sets for individuals or groups, and Pear Assessment enables formative and summative assessments and automatic grading. The original Pear Deck’s free educator plan offers generous features such as lesson creation, differentiated learning, Immersive Reader, and student participation controls. Each program provides a free account for educators and premium accounts for schools and districts. Well worth checking out.

Parlay
Parlay, a powerful platform for discussion and debate in classrooms, makes it easy for educators to sign up and explore its features. Create a new discussion (written or verbal), browse more than 7,000 discussion prompts, and select grades. Topics can be entered directly as text, or though a link or PDF. The output will feature everything needed for a productive classroom discussion, including learning goals, questions, and peer feedback instructions. Students can be invited via code, roster, link, or Google Classroom. Basic Parley Free for teachers includes up to six roundtables with 50 students per roundtable.

Kahoot
One of the oldest and best-known quiz game platforms, Kahoot offers millions of ready-made gamified quizzes as well as the ability to create your own. Kahoot offers four paid plans ranging from $36 to $228 per year. Kahoot’s free basic account for educators and others allows creating and hosting a limited number of games, as well as joining games and exploring public kahoots.

PREMIUM

Canvas LMS
A complete learning management system providing tools for course creation, grading, collaboration, and mobile learning. Canvas integrates with multiple other platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Nearpod, Google Assignments, Discovery Education, Skyward SIS, and Slate. Unfortunately, the popular Free-for-Teacher accounts are currently unavailable, as Canvas rebuilds the backend, aiming for a fall 2026 launch.

Starfall
Starfall’s easy-to-navigate site and modest membership cost makes it ideal for both home and education, while its gamified interface will engage young users. Aimed at preK-5 students, Starfall’s games are research-based, standards-aligned, and cover reading and math topics from rhyming to factor pairs. While they don’t offer a free trial, each topic provides one or two free games for interested users to try. Education accounts are modestly priced at $70-$355 annually for individual teacher, classroom, or school accounts, and include student access on campus and at home.

IXL
Offering a comprehensive, skills-based K-12 curriculum, the award-winning IXL platform also includes diagnostic, assessment, and analytics tools for language arts, math, science, and social studies. Unlike many other such sites, IXL permits generous exploration of skills and lessons without joining. A full, free 30-day trial is offered for educators.

WeVideo Classroom
Designed for education, the video-editing platform WeVideo Classroom includes a wide range of built-in tools for video editing and export, and the ability to upload and integrate text, audio, image, and other files. Teachers can create classes, add multimedia assignments and projects, and provide feedback. Webcam, screen recording, templates, interactive videos, storyboarding and podcasts, and more are all part of the WeVideo ecosystem. Free seven-day trial with no credit card required.

FREE

Khan Academy Kids
This educational app for kids aged 2-8 has earned a five-star rating from the independent nonprofit Common Sense Media. Friendly animal characters and the gamified interface create a welcoming and engaging atmosphere for kids to learn early literacy and math skills, as well as to explore the natural world. Teachers can assign lessons and track progress in the app, which is 100% cost- and ad-free.

CK-12
A robust education nonprofit that started by providing open source digital textbooks in 2008, CK-12 has steadily added digital teaching resources for the past 10 years. Their products include new AI teaching tools and agents, customizable, interactive digital textbooks and science simulations, PLIX (Play-Learn-Interact-Explore) interactives, and much more. A wide range of subjects and grades are covered, from K-5 science to college algebra to adult education. Integrates with Google Classroom, Canvas, and Schoology.

OpenStax
From Rice University, OpenStax claims to be the world's largest publisher of free, peer-reviewed digital textbooks. Although I can’t confirm that claim, I can attest to the diversity of K-12 subjects for which digital textbooks are provided. OpenStax’s textbooks are written by experts in their fields, peer-reviewed, and standards-aligned. Digital books can be viewed online or downloaded as PDFs. A free educator account with your school email is required for full access. Available in English, Spanish, and Polish.

TEDEd
Not only does TedEd offer a wide range of educational videos, it also offers lessons built around these videos. Even better, educators can customize video lessons according to their teaching goals or upload their own video as a lesson foundation. Each lesson includes questions as well as a discussion forum.

Nowcomment
A free collaboration platform that allows for the discussion and annotation of online documents, Nowcomment offers an easy signup process and a fairly intuitive site. Teachers can upload documents, create private groups of students, and invite them to add comments. Files accepted for upload include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, image, video, copy-and-paste from HTML, and text entry. For security and privacy, only invited users can comment on documents and private groups are not searchable by search engines.

iCivics Education
Top-notch collection of K-12 civic and social studies games, lesson plans, simulations, mystery-themed curriculum units, and more, iCivics Education allows educators to assign games, monitor student progress, and manage classes in one place. Integrates with Google, Clever, and other single sign-on solutions.

Khan Academy
A free learning platform that allows teachers to create and manage classes, assign courses, and monitor student progress, Khan Academy now also features Khanmigo Tools, free AI-powered tools for education. Courses include math, test prep, ELA, science, social studies, computing, professional learning, and more.

Prodigy
Fully free for teachers, schools, and districts, the game-based Prodigy platform gives educators the ability to create classes, assign lessons, monitor student progress, and identify learning gaps. Students play math and English learning games as individuals or in teams. Integrates with Google, Classlink, and Clever.

zSpace takes a different approach to VR, offering immersive 3D learning experiences without asking students to strap a device to their faces.

Designed specifically for education, zSpace combines hardware and software to create interactive lessons that allow students to explore complex concepts in a more hands-on way.

From dissecting a virtual heart, to examining the inner workings of an engine, or investigating scientific phenomena that would be impossible to recreate safely in a classroom -- the aim is to move learning beyond textbooks and flat screens.

STEM subjects, career and technical education (CTE), and workforce readiness all get a focus. zSpace has found a place in schools looking for ways to make learning more engaging while helping students develop practical skills.

Here's everything you need to know about zSpace and how it can be used for teaching.

What is zSpace?

zSpace is an immersive learning platform that combines dedicated hardware with a library of educational software designed for schools, colleges, and training environments.

The company focuses on what it calls experiential learning. This aims to give students the opportunity to interact directly with digital objects and simulations -- rather than simply reading about processes or watching videos.

zSpace does not rely on traditional VR headsets. Instead, students use specially designed laptops or workstations that display 3D content that can be manipulated using a stylus. This creates the feeling of interacting with physical objects and dodges lots of the practical challenges associated with headset-based VR.

The platform is popular for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), but it also supports health sciences, manufacturing, skilled trades, and career-focused learning programs. The idea here is to help students better understand difficult concepts through direct interaction and exploration.

How does zSpace work?

zSpace is designed to make digital learning feel more physical. Students can pick up, rotate, enlarge, shrink, and examine virtual objects from every angle.

Rather than viewing a diagram of the human body, for example, they can pull virtual organs apart, explore anatomical systems layer by layer, and investigate structures that would be difficult to visualize using more standard teaching methods.

The same approach applies across other subjects. Engineering students can inspect machine components, science students can investigate molecular structures, and technical education learners can practice procedures in simulated environments before working with real-world equipment.

For teachers, the platform functions as another instructional tool rather than a replacement for existing teaching methods. Lessons can be integrated into classroom activities, used as part of blended learning programs, or offered in small groups.

Because students are actively interacting with the content rather than passively consuming it, the technology is designed to encourage curiosity, exploration, and discussion.

One of the biggest advantages is the ability to provide experiences that would otherwise be too costly, dangerous, impractical, or simply impossible in a normal classroom setting.

What are the best zSpace features?

One of the most standout features is the headset-free approach. zSpace removes the need to wear VR goggles, as many other immersive tech platforms require, making classroom use simpler and potentially more comfortable for learners.

The platform's interactive 3D models are another major strength. Being able to manipulate objects directly can help students grasp concepts that are often difficult to understand through static images alone. This is helpful for subjects such as anatomy, engineering, physics, and technical training.

zSpace also stands out because of its focus on CTE and career readiness. Much of the content is designed to teach academic concepts and to help students with skills and scenarios they may encounter in future professions.

The company also provides curriculum resources, implementation support, and professional development for educators, to help schools integrate the technology into existing teaching practices rather than treating it as standalone.

How much does zSpace cost?

zSpace does not publicly list pricing. Costs vary depending on the hardware selected, the software packages required, and the level of support and training a school needs.

As a result, schools interested in adopting the platform will need to contact zSpace directly for a customized quote.

Best zSpace tips and tricks

Use it for concepts students struggle to visualize
The biggest gains are likely to come when teaching topics that are difficult to understand through diagrams, photographs, or written explanations alone.

Build discussion around the experience
Rather than treating zSpace as a solo activity, use it as a starting point for questions, predictions, and classroom conversations that help students process what they have explored.

Focus on experiences you cannot easily recreate
The technology is at its strongest when it enables students to do something that would otherwise be impossible, unsafe, prohibitively expensive, or unavailable in a typical classroom.

ispring Free is a specific version of the larger ispring ecosystem that's designed to help make courses, and lesson creation, a simple process. Crucially, this offers a way to help teachers make digital interactive lessons using their own skills.

The idea here is to work as an add-in with Microsoft PowerPoint so that educators can build slides into lessons easily. This means using a platform that may already be familiar, only now with the option to add questions and more before outputting to an LMS for use.

The powerful free version lets you get going with lesson making right away, but you also have some other paid features including AI-driven tools to enhance the offering even further.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about ispring Free, primarily, with those extra paid tools mentioned later on so you know what else is available too.

What is ispring?

ispring is an elearning creation tool that works directly within Microsoft PowerPoint. This adds extra teaching and publishing features right there within a tool that many educators already know how to use.

Teachers can create lessons using standard slides, then enhance those with quizzes, embedded video, audio, YouTube clips, web objects, and interactive elements. Once finished, the presentation can be exported as HTML5 content or packaged as a SCORM course for use within an LMS.

You can also use PowerPoint animations, transitions, triggers, and layouts as these are preserved during conversion. Consequently, existing classroom presentations can often be repurposed rather than rebuilt from scratch.

The free version includes three quiz types: multiple choice, multiple response, and short answer. These are enough for many classroom assessments and knowledge checks, plus you can pay for the more premium features if needed.

How does ispring work?

ispring Free appears as an additional tab inside PowerPoint. Teachers build lessons as they normally would, then use ispring’s tools to add interactive and assessment elements.

To publish, educators can export lessons as SCORM 1.2 or SCORM 2004 packages for upload into LMS platforms, or simply create HTML5 lessons that can be shared via links or websites.

Courses are responsive, so these automatically adapt for phones, tablets, and desktop devices without extra work. That's very useful for homework, remote learning, or flipped classroom teaching so students can then access content on different devices.

Teachers can track learner progress when using an LMS. Quiz scores, completion rates, and learner participation data can all be monitored through these systems.

This is built to be quick and easy to pick-up and use. So while there are limitations in terms of complexity, for a lesson building tool that works with ease, this does the job well.

What are the best ispring features?

ispring is integrated into PowerPoint, which is one of the main appeals here for ease of uptake and simplicity of creation. No training is going to be needed here in most cases.

SCORM publishing is another major appeal. Lots of other free tools struggle with LMS compatibility, but ispring Free supports SCORM 1.2 and 2004 output, allowing courses to work with platforms such as Moodle and Blackboard.

Courses automatically resize for different screens, which helps students access lessons on phones or tablets -- something that's rare to find in free tools such as this.

Quiz creation is simple but effective, with built-in knowledge checks that can include timers, shuffled answers, and feedback. In addition, there's support for embedding web objects and multimedia directly into lessons, helping otherwise less engaging slide decks feel more interactive and enthralling.

The biggest limitation is depth. The paid ispring Suite adds far more advanced interactions, branching scenarios, drag-and-drop tasks, AI tools, narration features, and richer quiz options.

How much does ispring cost?

ispring Free is just that, without any cost to use. It has no limits on time or slides, and does not include forced branding.

It's worth noting that the free version is very much intended as a gateway into the paid ecosystem. Those who want advanced quiz types, video creation tools, AI features, role-play simulations, or content libraries will need to upgrade to ispring Suite.

Individual accounts for the full suite start in the hundreds but for education institutions there are bespoke prices available on request.

ispring best tips and tricks

Reuse old presentations
Convert existing PowerPoint lessons into interactive online resources rather than rebuilding content from scratch.

Add quick knowledge checks
Use the built-in quizzes after key slides to reinforce understanding and keep learners engaged.

Publish for mobile learning
Export lessons as responsive HTML5 content so students can revise on phones and tablets.

As a journalist who writes about education tech, my kids' favorite education apps are those that have been tested and stand out above the rest. Over the many years of doing this there are some that really jump out, are loved by my kids, and get used continually over longer periods of time. Crucially, these also have a noticeable effect on their schooling and progress.

The apps I've written about have largely fallen across a few categories, some feeling too like homework, others repetitive when the novelty wears off, and some which strike the balance between playful and instructional while staying engaging. That last category is from where these app recommendations are coming.

So these are the apps that my kids genuinely returned to, out of choice, over the last year as I've been trying them out in our home.

Best of My Kids' Favorite Education Apps

Best overall

Wayground

Wayground is one of our favorite apps, bar none. This manages to combine the best of quiz-style platforms in a way that plays to the needs of the child.

So, in my house for example, one child was drawn to using it in a competitive way while the other was a lot more exploratory. It supports both, allowing them to enjoy it their way while still getting the learning from being on here.

While a lot of apps can feel built for the classroom and teacher-first, this is also good as an at-home app. It's easy enough to setup and use for parents and children, but that it can also be a bridge between class and home use.

Since this works across devices, using a browser, I could have one child on the laptop and another on my phone so they get their own experience, at their level. The pre-built quizzes make it as easy as handing over the device and letting them explore.

That said, the addition of AI now makes adapting to each child far more accessible as an option that's easy. Crucially, for me as a parent and for teachers, this isn't time consuming so you actually use it and -- as a result -- so do the kids.

To be clear, this is designed for teachers to setup and use, and works best that way. So if this is something your child's school is offering, or considering, I'd very much encourage you to take advantage of this and have your littles ones give it a go.

Best for literacy

IXL

IXL is a literacy app that's far less repetitive than many similar platforms by breaking learning into smaller, achievable chunks that build confidence steadily over time. Covering everything from spelling and vocabulary to grammar and reading comprehension, it offers a huge amount of structured practice while still feeling approachable for younger learners.

What worked well with my kids was the sense of progression. They could complete shorter activities, earn rewards, and immediately see improvement. The adaptive system also helped keep frustration levels lower by adjusting difficulty as they worked, which made it easier to maintain engagement.

The platform’s clean layout and focused exercises keep distractions to a minimum. While it still feels academically solid underneath, IXL avoids becoming overly classroom-heavy, which helped it slot naturally into home use. It became very useful for quick daily practice sessions that never felt too demanding.

Best for math

Buzzmath

Buzzmath feels much closer to puzzle-solving over traditional drills, which immediately made it more appealing in our house than many worksheet-style alternatives. Designed for middle school learners, the platform combines interactive challenges with visual learning tools that encourage experimentation and problem-solving -- rather than memorization alone.

One of the strongest features is how it handles mistakes. Instead of simply marking answers wrong, Buzzmath encourages students to retry, rethink, and work through problems independently. That helped reduce frustration levels, particularly with more difficult topics.

The game-inspired structure also works well without overwhelming the educational side of the experience. Progression feels rewarding, but the learning remains central throughout. Visual explanations and interactive feedback helped make more abstract concepts easier to grasp, especially for anyone that struggles with text-based instruction.

For kids who normally disengage quickly from math practice -- my daughter -- Buzzmath offers a far more approachable and confidence-building alternative that still delivers strong educational depth underneath the playful presentation.

Best for STEM

NASA Space Place

NASA Space Place stands out because it captures the sense of curiosity that great STEM learning should inspire. The platform introduces complex ideas through playful activities, bright visuals, games, videos, and short articles that make science feel approachable and exciting.

Space is naturally engaging for my and most other kids, and this platform uses that brilliantly to pull learners into wider STEM topics, including engineering, climate science, physics, robotics, and astronomy. One minute my kids were exploring planets, the next they were learning about satellites or weather systems without really noticing the educational shift.

The platform also feels refreshingly straightforward. Plus, no subscriptions, pop-ups, or overly gamified distractions competing for attention. Instead, the focus remains firmly on exploration and discovery.

For younger learners especially, NASA Space Place strikes an excellent balance between education and accessibility. It offers great STEM learning while still maintaining the excitement and imagination that often gets lost in more formal educational platforms.

Best for gamification

Roblox

Roblox may not look like a traditional education platform at first glance, but the creative side of the experience offers far more learning potential than many parents initially realize. Beyond simply playing games, children can build environments, experiment with coding concepts, design interactive experiences, and collaborate creatively with others.

What stands out most, watching my kids use Roblox, is how naturally problem-solving becomes part of the experience. Whether adjusting game mechanics, building worlds, or figuring out systems together, there is a constant layer of experimentation underneath the entertainment. It encourages creativity in a way that feels self-directed rather than instructional.

That said, Roblox still benefits from active parental involvement and sensible controls, particularly given the scale of the platform. The educational value depends heavily on how children engage with it.

Used thoughtfully, though, Roblox can become a surprisingly effective gateway into coding, digital creativity, collaboration, and design thinking. For children already interested in gaming culture, it offers opportunities to shift from passive consumption into active creation, which is where its strongest learning potential can emerge.

Best for AI

aiEDU

aiEDU offers one of the most accessible introductions to artificial intelligence I’ve seen for younger learners, managing to explain a fast-moving and often intimidating subject in a way that feels clear, balanced, and genuinely useful. As AI tools increasingly become part of everyday life, helping children understand the technology behind it all feels more important than ever.

Rather than focusing purely on flashy demonstrations, aiEDU places a strong emphasis on digital literacy and critical thinking. Lessons explore how AI systems work, where biases can appear, and why understanding the technology matters, all without becoming overly technical or difficult for younger people.

The platform also offers a clean design that keeps the focus firmly on learning rather than distractions. My kids engage particularly well with the real-world examples and discussion-led style of the content, which encourages curiosity rather than passive consumption.

Considering the quality of the material available completely free, aiEDU feels really valuable for families and schools looking to introduce AI concepts without adding yet another expensive subscription service into the mix.

Best for video

ClickView

ClickView takes the strengths of video-based learning and packages it all into a far more focused educational experience than the open-ended chaos of general video platforms. With curated educational content, interactive quizzes, and classroom-ready resources, it creates an environment in which children can stay engaged without constantly being pulled toward unrelated distractions.

What works particularly well with my kids is how effectively video helps unlock topics they might normally avoid in text-heavy formats. Complex ideas often becomes easier to understand once presented visually, especially through shorter clips and structured explanations designed specifically for learning.

The platform also feels thoughtfully designed for both school and home use. Teachers can integrate lessons easily while parents benefit from knowing the content has been curated with education in mind.

Importantly, ClickView avoids making video learning feel passive. Interactive elements throughout encourage participation and reflection rather than endless watching. The result is a platform that manages to feel engaging and educational in equal measure, which is surprisingly difficult to achieve consistently.

Edcafe AI is a rare tool in the world of AI as it, unlike many others out there, is specifically designed to support classes through the entire teaching cycle.

Built for educators, this AI tool works to offer support across the full teaching process, from lesson planning to assessments -- all in one easy-to-access platform.

The idea here is to offer a more time-efficient way to work, without jumping around between tools. From building a lesson from scratch -- differentiating for mixed abilities -- to tracking student progress, this tool should streamline that process for ease.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about Edcafe AI for use in your class.

What is Edcafe AI?

Edcafe AI is a digital AI-powered assistant for teachers to help across planning, teaching, and assessing lessons. By combining multiple tools, this offers a single platform for teachers to create, organize, deliver, and evaluate learning.

This allows teachers to plan curriculum-aligned lessons and then create classroom-ready learning materials. Assigning these to students, and assessing as well as tracking progress, is also built into the platform.

That all should mean teachers only need to open this one tool to get everything done, saving on time and effort -- so they can focus on more valuable teacher-student time.

How does Edcafe AI work?

Edcafe AI combines the power of artificial intelligence with the materials already being used by teachers. Current and sourced materials can be uploaded for use, all being enhanced to work with the AI ecosystem.

What that actually looks like is a teacher uploads a document, slides, or curriculum content. The AI then generates lessons, quizzes, or activities that can be shared using links or QR codes. Students can then work with these materials as teachers track engagement and performance in real time.

Usefully, there are feedback loops that allow teachers to see how students are responding, so as to refine future lessons based on student ability.

Since students don't need accounts, this is all super simple to setup and share so students can begin working with the materials right away.

What are the best Edcafe AI features?

Edcafe AI uses artificial intelligence to make the creation of materials fast and easy from full lesson plans, slides, and quizzes to reading activities.

Chatbots can also be created, with custom inputs, which are then able to assist students as they work through topics. They then can get personalized feedback and help as they work, without it costing teachers on time.

Those quizzes that can be generated are also able to be auto-graded, saving even more teacher time. This can be a quick way to assess student ability with any learning gaps easy to identify and work on improving.

Since Google Drive can be used with this system, it makes for an easy way not only to access and enhance current materials, but to generate and share more across the school.

Everything is end-to-end here, so teachers can work in one platform to get everything done. This is not only helpful for saving on time, but can also be far less mentally straining.

How much does Edcafe AI cost?

Edcafe AI offers a tiered pricing model, including a free option. The plans break down like this:

Free plan: Limited AI generations and core tools.

Pro plan: From around $7.99/month (annual billing) with expanded features.

Premium plan: From around $14.99/month with unlimited usage and school-level tools.

Custom options are also available for schools and districts, including onboarding and integration support.

Edcafe AI best tips and tricks

Start with your own materials
Upload existing lesson content to get more accurate, curriculum-aligned outputs.

Use chatbots for differentiation
Set up different chatbots for varying ability levels or topics to personalize support.

Generate then refine
Treat AI outputs as a starting point and tweak for tone, accuracy, and class context.

ClassPoint is one of those tools designed to perfectly blend other software that teachers, until now, have been using separately. The idea being that this can save time and effort with one do-it-all solution.

The combination here is of the ever-helpful slides-based tools, such as PowerPoint, with quiz-style apps that allow for more measurable engagement.

This does plenty more though, thanks to AI and the ability to gamify learning, all while offering real-time feedback to educators.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about ClassPoint to see if it could save you time and enhance your instruction.

What is ClassPoint?

ClassPoint is a digital tool that combines slide-based teaching with interactive assessment options to offer a more dynamic class experience.

This integrates directly with Microsoft PowerPoint so teachers can use current tools and slides to make it all more interactive.

The app offers quizzes and polls that allow educators to measure student answers, live. This also helps teachers to turn slides into interactive whiteboards, with slide annotation live as the class works through materials.

To be clear, this works within PowerPoint, so existing class materials can be reused rather than doing everything from scratch.

How does ClassPoint work?

ClassPoint works as a PowerPoint add-on, so you can get this installed and then work on your slide decks directly.

Teachers can work with the interactive elements right there from within the slides. Students are sent a join code that allows them to interact using their own devices. Everyone can be working on the main whiteboard screen, with interactions sent live from their devices.

So while teachers are presenting as normal, students are able to respond with answers to quizzes, annotation drawing, or even uploads from their devices. The results of all this can be shown immediately on screen at the front of class.

Also integrated is an AI quiz generator. This scans the slides you're using and automatically offers questions that will work with that presentation. That can mean a huge saving on preparation time for teachers as well as the ability to get into a quiz on any slide section, even if previously unplanned.

What are the best ClassPoint features?

ClassPoint is all real-time so feedback from students is live, allowing teachers to adapt their teaching -- stopping longer on a topic or moving on -- as the lesson progresses.

That AI quiz generator is a really big value as saves time, offering more spontaneity and the ability to adjust these to suit different ability levels.

Teachers can gamify everything as there is the option to award stars, track progress, and even display leaderboards to help with motivation and participation.

Thanks for the ability to annotate directly, this allows any PowerPoint slide to become an interactive whiteboard canvas. This is for teachers, live, but also for students that want to add text, images, audio, video, drawings and more.

Usefully, for teachers, this can help with tracking of participation, with built-in reporting tools.

How much does ClassPoint cost?

ClassPoint offers a tiered pricing model that includes a free plan. The levels break down into:

Free (Basic): Limited features, small class sizes, and capped quizzes.

Pro: Around $8/month (billed annually), unlocks larger classes, unlimited questions, and more advanced tools.

Premium: Custom pricing for schools, with features such as unlimited AI credits and deeper analytics.

The free tier is functional enough for trying it out, but most of the more powerful features, especially AI and analytics, sit behind the paid plans.

ClassPoint best tips and tricks

Turn slides into instant quizzes
Add interactive questions directly into your PowerPoint to check understanding without switching tools.

Use live responses to guide teaching
Adjust your lesson in real time based on how students answer polls and quizzes.

Gamify participation with points
Reward correct answers and engagement to motivate quieter students to get involved.

ClickView is a video-learning platform that's been designed specifically to work in education class scenarios. That means this is a safe, classroom-appropriate resource that's loaded up with educators in mind.

Unlike the mine-field that can be YouTube, this is filled with curriculum-aligned content that is well-organized so teachers can find and use what they need with ease -- saving on time and effort.

Thanks to the vetted and curated content, along with interactive tools, this can be used as a powerful way to deepen or introduce learning in class and beyond.

This guide aims to lay out all you could need to know about ClickView as a potential tool for your class.

What is ClickView?

ClickView is all about video, specifically school-based video viewing. This education-focused video platform offers access to thousands of curriculum-aligned, curated videos that cover a range of subjects and topics.

Since this is built for education specifically, the content is all age-appropriate, curriculum-linked, and vetted for classroom use.

Usefully, it's all well-organized too. Teachers can browse by subject, topic, or learning level to get to video content that relevant and high-quality -- ultimately saving on search time. Plus, it's possible to add interactive, assessment elements to make this even more engaging.

Students can access this via a single sign-on, class code, or school credentials -- all meaning access through a secure and school-friendly system.

How does ClickView work?

ClickView is made to work as a tool that teachers can use to make their planning easier, more rich, and ultimately, faster -- while still giving students the most engaging experience.

Teachers start by logging in to their school account. They can then immediately search by topic, subject, or keyword as needed. Filters help to narrow results with results focused on level, content type, and topic.

When the video has been picked, it can be played in class, shared with students directly, embedded into lesson plans, or assigned for independent study at another time.

Teachers can give student access via a class code, or students can get in using their own login, depending on how the school is setup. This can mean in-class use but also at-home learning, if a hybrid model is being used with this setup.

Usefully, teachers can also add interactive layers to follow after the video has been watched. These include questions, annotations, and interactive timeline elements. All that should make for a more active learning experience that sticks.

What are the best ClickView features?

ClickView has thousands of videos that are all curriculum-aligned, so teachers can search by specific topic to quickly find ideal materials without the need to vet it themselves.

The interactivity of videos is a big draw here as it allows teachers to tailor the follow-up experience. That can lead to a more engaged viewer, knowing they need to answer questions after.

The search functionality is a big draw here as it allows for direct keyword searches but also a browse function. This can help stimulate lesson planning by browsing what's available, or offer direct results to save on time.

Since students can access these videos via a shared code, or school login, it makes for easy access across devices. Sharing these for in-class or at-home use is just as easy either way.

Analytics tools allow teachers to see how students have engaged with the videos and interactive elements. This should be useful in guiding help for students, adapting lesson plans, and generally tailoring support.

Teachers can even upload their own videos and resources to help build the customized library available across the school or class.

How much does ClickView cost?

ClickView pricing is not publicly listed and is typically offered via a school or district subscription model.

Costs vary depending on school size, region, feature access, and licensing requirements.

Schools usually need to request a quote or demo to get specific pricing details.

ClickView best tips and tricks

Use clips instead of full videos
Short segments keep attention high and allow for more targeted discussion.

Add questions directly into videos
Embedding quizzes help check understanding in real time without extra worksheets.

Flip the classroom
Assign videos as homework so lesson time can focus on discussion and application.

Dotstorming is a digital point of centralization for a class to help get everyone contributing as a team.

While real-world voting and brainstorming can leave out the quiet voices, this tool works to help everyone have a say. It's equal parts digital sticky notes and voting system, all working live in the room.

This is a simple tool at its heart, offering voting to the class, but in a way that's powerful in its potential output. With the option to span in class use and hybrid learning models, this is a helpful way to keep the class focused as a group.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about how Dotstorming could work for your class.

What is Dotstorming?

Dotstorming is a digital tool that is browser-based for easy access across the class and devices available. This works as a brainstorming and decision-making system that lets the group share ideas and vote in real time.

Use text, images, videos, and PDFs, as the virtual board system allows for a range of materials to be shared in the class for discussion purposes.

This, used in conjunction with the "dot voting" system, allows the students to participate in group decisions instantly. Teachers can then cut the debate and noise when trying to get directly to a group consensus, or gauge of class opinions on a matter.

Easy organization of these "boards," by popularity, allow for further streamlining of this process for use in class with minimal teacher effort.

How does Dotstorming work?

Dotstorming offers teachers a space to create boards that can then be shared with students via a link. Since there is no login needed, or special devices thanks to browser access, this can be used across student devices easily.

Students are then able to add their own ideas in a post-style system using text, images, and videos. They can see the contributions of others and vote on preferred ideas using their limited number of votes to pick and choose.

For teachers, there is the chance to manage the number of votes each student has before letting them take part. Control over chat and commenting is also available, with the option to disable. Finally, teachers can also lock submissions ready to move onto voting as the only option, for simplicity.

Once voting is all done, the results can be stored and used as part of future discussions or lesson planning. All that helps this become a useful formative assessment tool as well as prioritization pointer.

What are the best Dotstorming features?

Dotstorming works in real-time so group collaboration, at speed, is possible without getting lost in debate or counting of votes. That can result in high-energy and inclusive lessons while keeping everyone involved in voting.

The rich media support makes this a powerful tool to use across a range of subjects. That means using images, videos, text, and PDFs to help teachers bring in ideas but also to allow students a way to freely express themselves.

The sticky note-style layout on the board makes for a very visually engaging way to share information. It strikes the balance between digital and analogue that feels easy to use while still staying efficient and organized.

The fact students can join in with a simple link and their name, without account creation being necessary, is a hugely powerful part of how easy and effective Dotstorming is for use in classes, even for the first time. It also supports student data privacy.

How much does Dotstorming cost?

Dotstorming works on a freemium model. That means you have two levels:

Free: Limited boards and topics, but fully functional for basic classroom use.

Paid plans: Offer expanded usage and additional features (pricing varies).

For many teachers, the free tier is enough to run effective sessions, especially if boards are reused.

Dotstorming best tips and tricks

Start with a focused prompt
Clear, specific questions lead to better quality ideas and more meaningful voting.

Limit the number of votes
Restricting votes forces students to prioritize rather than select everything.

Use it for checks
Have students post what they don’t understand, then vote to surface key gaps.

Flint is an AI tool designed to offer personalized learning, and teaching, to students and educators in a very effective way.

Unlike many of the ever-appearing new AI tools out there, this is designed from the ground up as a way to make learning better. That's where this stands out. Rather than acting as a generic chatbot, it is designed specifically for classroom use, with guardrails, analytics, and structured activities that aim to keep teachers in control.

This is about extending teaching by giving each student something closer to one-to-one support, while still aligning with curriculum goals. Offering AI tutoring, assignment creation, and classroom analytics, this is built to make life easier all round.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about how Flint could work in your class.

What is Flint?

Flint is an AI-powered learning platform built specifically for K–12 schools, designed to support personalized instruction across subjects including math, science, English, and languages.

Two key parts are available here: one in the AI teaching assistant, to help create lessons, activities, and feedback. But there is also the AI tutor part, called Sparky, which helps students by adapting explanations and supporting individual needs.

Centered around class workflows, these tools help teachers make AI-driven assignments, upload curriculum materials, and define how much help the AI is allowed to give, ranging from gentle guidance to more direct support.

Usefully, this can be deployed across schools, with admin oversight and LMS integrations, as well as helpful analytics and engagement tracking, all as part of the package.

How does Flint work?

Flint lets teachers create or upload content using items such as worksheets, rubrics, lessons, or external resources as needed. Using that as a foundation, the AI is then able to generate interactive learning activities to be completed.

Students can then interact through the sessions, asking questions, working through problems, or getting writing feedback as they go. This is great for projects, in which structured support can help them work at scale without the need for lots of teacher-based scaffolding along the way -- potentially helping build confidence, too.

The system uses large language models with tools such as web search, code-based calculations, and translation to improve accuracy and flexibility.

Teachers keep control throughout, since they can design and implement guardrails. This includes preventing the AI from giving direct answers or requiring it to guide students through reasoning instead, for example.

Admins and teachers can also view interaction histories, allowing for transparency and safeguarding, with automatic flagging of inappropriate content.

What are the best Flint features?

Flint is all about that AI tutoring for students to feel supported and engaged with at their level -- helping high achievers progress at their pace while anyone struggling can be supported to grow comfortably.

The ability to implement guardrails is a huge positive for educators. They can define how the AI behaves, ensuring it supports learning without simply giving answers.

The use of content already available, such as teacher materials currently in use, is a really powerful way that this extends teaching and learning without going from scratch. It can also help sticking to current lesson plans and standards easily.

Feedback is powerful here with real-time looks at student performance and engagement. This is individual but also with a general overview across the class.

When it comes to assignments, this AI can help with deadlines, time limits, and follow-up activities. At the same time it supports multimodal learning tools with text-to-speech, speech-to-text, image processing, and even graphing and code support for STEM subjects.

All that, plus it integrates with LMS and SIS, such as Google Classroom, to make integration and deployment an easy part of the process also.

How much does Flint cost?

Flint offers a free tier for up to 80 users, making it accessible for individual teachers or small pilots.

Paid plans are structured by school size, starting at around: $3,000/year for smaller deployments. This scales to custom pricing for larger institutions.

Paid tiers add features including LMS/SIS integration, advanced analytics, and dedicated support.

Flint best tips and tricks

Start with one class
Pilot the platform with a single group to refine how you want the AI to behave before scaling.

Set clear guardrails early
Define whether the AI should guide, hint, or explain, to shape student learning habits from the start.

Upload your own materials
Ground the AI in your curriculum to improve relevance and reduces generic responses.

Repetitio est mater studiorum.

Or to say it another way, repetition is the mother of learning.

And while repetition sometimes gets a bad rap (as in “drill and kill”), properly utilized, repetition can help cement foundational concepts and allow students to advance to more deeper and nuanced forms of learning.

The learning platform I Know It provides a wide range of activities and exercises for K-5 math and English language arts practice, as well as progress reports for educators and parents and gamified feedback for students.

What is I Know It?

I Know It is a math and English language arts practice site that provides extensive, individualized exercises for students in grades K-5.

The platform includes some of the most engaging features of gamification, such as congratulatory graphics and animations, sound effects, awards, and badges. I think it strikes an excellent balance between fully gamified interactives on one hand and dry data-driven instruction on the other.

I Know It goes beyond simple practice modules by aligning the majority of its exercises with Common Core Standards or selected state standards. Plus, its student-friendly features will encourage timely assignment completion as well as exploration of additional, unassigned problem sets.

How Does I Know It Work?

I Know It makes it easy for educators to sign up for its generous free trial. Simply provide your name, school name, phone number, and email and you’re ready to explore the site. Once signed in, teachers can set options for the following parameters:

• Standards (Common Core, Texas or Florida)
• Hints (none, three or unlimited)
• Animations (on/off)
• Students may explore on their own (yes/no)
• Questions may be read aloud (on/off)
• Progress report to parents via email (yes/no)

Given the level of control and optimization provided, I Know It has a remarkably clean interface with intuitive navigation. It’s also very easy to edit any of these parameters at any time later.

CREATING A CLASS

Create and name your class from the My Students tab. The easiest way to populate your online classes is to use the Rapid Roster feature, which accepts text input, or copy-and-pasted names from a text file, spreadsheet, or email. The system will then create the user names and passwords for you. These can be edited later if you wish. You can also print out a PDF with all student names and passwords.

GETTING TO KNOW THE EXERCISES

I Know It offers two categories of practice: math and English language arts. To start exploring practice sets, select a category and grade from the top menu or from the teacher dashboard. Now you’ll see the entire range of problems for that grade, with large bold print headings so you can easily find your preferred activities.

To get a quick view of a problem type, mouse over the description and an example will pop up. To try it yourself, click to open the problem. Your view will be identical to the student’s view, so you can see what happens following a correct answer or an incorrect answer.

Note the animation option toggle in the lower right corner. Students who prefer not to have graphic or animated feedback can adjust their own settings.

If you’d like to experience and test the platform exactly as a student would, sign in as a student in a separate browser. First add a student; e.g.; Test Student. Open a new browser (for example, use Edge if your teacher account is open in Chrome) and sign in as Test Student, logging in with user name, the class code and the password. A separate student email is not required.

ASSIGNING EXERCISES

To assign activities from the teacher dashboard, select grade and subject (math or ELA), then select the desired exercise. The Assign Lesson window gives you multiple options for the assignment, including number of questions (1-80), which students to assign, display options, auto reassign, and several others.

What Are the Best I Know It Features?

LESSON DIFFERENTIATION

One of most useful features built into the I Know It platform is the ease with which teachers can differentiate lessons. This can be accomplished in two ways:

1. Assigning a lesson of a lower or higher grade level to individual students.
   Instead of assigning fourth grade math sets to Jane Doe, you can assign second grade problem sets, since she's currently working at that level. You can then quickly assign grade-level work to the rest of the students if desired. Importantly, there will not be a grade level displayed on assignments.
   
2. Setting the "ability level" to a lower or higher grade.
   The "ability level" is an optional feature that, if set, will guide the level of exploration exercises offered to a student. These are the optional activities displayed underneath the student's assigned work.

PROGRESS TRACKING AND REPORTING

Student progress tracking allows teachers to see overviews of a class or student, or drill down into details if desired. "Recent Activity" lists students, lessons worked on, and scores, with a link to a detailed view for each student. Here teachers can view all of a student's questions and answers as well as time spent on tasks.

Teachers may also export a printable PDF progress report for selected intervals, or view awards won by students for completing lessons. Weekly progress reports will be emailed to parents if enabled in Settings.

BUILT-IN ACCESSIBILITY TOOLS

Each activity window sports a sound icon in the top left corner, allowing questions to be read aloud. Incorrect answers yield explanations clarifying the correct answer and offering the chance to view the question and answer again.

Does The Robot Have A Name And Why Is It So Much Fun?

Maybe it's just the fifth grader in me, but I love the animated robot character that responds to answers (if animations are permitted in settings). The variety of playful animations for correct answers—all with apt and amusing sound effects—include: blowing bubbles; barking dogs; flying birds; rain; rainbows; rocket ship taking off, circling the moon, parachuting back to Earth; juggling; a flower garden springing from the head; eating an apple that turns into a pie; and more.

My guess is that most kids will enjoy these animated rewards and hopefully, be more motivated to complete their work. Sadly, the riveting (and no doubt, riveted) robot is nameless.

How Much Does I Know It Cost?

I Know It offers three account types: Family, Single Teacher and School/District, with varying pricing and features. A 30-day free trial, with no credit card required, makes it straightforward to discover if the platform is right for your class.

The Family membership allows one parent and up to four children, using a single login, for $45 annually.

The Single Teacher account includes one teacher and 25 students (each of whom has an individual login) for $150 annually and the option to add additional student licenses at $7.50 each.

The District/School account provides additional benefits, such as a unlimited teacher accounts, a dedicated account manager, teacher training, phone tech support and others. The cost is per student and varies depending on the size of the school or district.

Buzzmath is, as the name suggests, creating a real buzz around the subject of math for young students. The idea is to bridge that gap between students who thrive on problem-solving, naturally, and those that struggle to grasp the sometimes abstract ideas.

By offering live feedback and gamified math interactions, Buzzmath works to help bring all students into a fun and engaging digital environment for learning.

Aimed at students from ages 6 to 16, this inclusive learning platform offers curriculum-aligned content that's made fun through the gamified process. They are allowed to explore at their pace, crucially, so they can feel in control while also giving teachers useful insights into their learning.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about how Buzzmath could work for your class.

What is Buzzmath?

Buzzmath is a digital math practice platform that offers gamified tasks as a way to help students gain mastery in math.

The platform offers more than 14,000 math-based questions for students to tackle. This is very much useful as a tool to complement teaching, rather than to teach directly. Educators can assign activities, for example, as a way to reinforce learning after something new has been taught.

While teachers can tailor learning to individuals or groups, in either case there is storytelling and gamification involved with missions, rewards, and challenges to keep students motivated.

Teachers can use this to have students practice curriculum-aligned skills and see progress to then better tailor future sessions as needed.

Since Buzzmath is web-based, it should be easy to access across devices and internet connections -- both in school and at home.

How does Buzzmath work?

Buzzmath can be used freely, by students exploring the activities at their own pace. Or it can be utilized to assign tasks to students or groups specifically.

Students answer questions and are immediately given feedback with answers marked as correct or incorrect. In the latter case, guidance can be triggered to help them grow through productive failure.

Students can retry questions as needed and access hints or examples to help them progress. Teachers are then able to monitor progress using a detailed reporting dashboard. This can help to spot learning gaps from data such as time spent on task, attempts made, and overall accuracy.

Accessibility features include audio narration and visual glossaries to help students with varied learning needs get the most out of this service.

What are the best Buzzmath features?

While there are a huge selection of questions on the platform, thanks to dynamic variables, students are able to practice without the problem of repetition fatigue holding them back.

The real-time feedback and ability to retry allows students to feel supported while working at their own pace. This also equates to direct support that allows for independent working without teacher time being required. That should also lead to deeper levels of learning rather than surface-level answering.

Since teachers are able to personalize learning to suit individuals or groups, this can work as a very specific tailored learning support system.

Educators have access to a powerful dashboard that allows them to monitor student progress. Data such as time spent on tasks, attempts made, completion rates, and concept-level performance, can all help teachers define future learning requirements.

The gamification of everything -- with stars, badges, and missions -- can really help to keep students engaged and come back for more practice, naturally.

How much does Buzzmath cost?

Buzzmath varies in pricing based on usage. A limited 30-day free trial is available for teachers who want to give this a go before committing to any particular plan. The plans break down like this:

Schools and districts: Typically licensed per student, with pricing starting around $1 per student annually (minimum spend applies).

Families: Around $20 per month or $120 per year for home use.

Custom quotes are often required for institutional use, particularly outside the US.

Buzzmath best tips and tricks

Start with diagnostic assignments
Use early tasks to identify gaps before tailoring future work.

Use retries as learning moments
Encourage students to reflect on mistakes rather than rush through answers.

Assign differentiated pathways
Target individuals or groups with specific activities to support mixed-ability classes.

NASA Space Place is a digital resource that's built to help educators bring space and earth science into the classroom in an exciting way.

Also, crucially, it combines the rich resources of NASA is a way that offers depth but simple access for teachers. The fact this has been up and running since 1998 is clearly reflected in how well it has been refined and tailored to suit children over the years. The result: a powerful tool for the upper-elementary-aged students.

This free resource blends scientific accuracy with playful, engaging layouts, making complex concepts feel intuitive rather than intimidating.

The curriculum-friendly resources cover science topics from climate and the solar system to space tech and more. For a STEM-focused offering that comes from a credible source, this is a really wonderful option to have.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about how NASA Space Place could work for your class.

What is NASA Space Place?

NASA Space Place is an education platform that offers a free way to teach upper-elementary students through inspiration and engagement -- all provided by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Science-specific areas covered include the solar system, Earth sciences, the Sun, and the universe, plus broader science and technology topics. Topics vary in depth and complexity to suit different student abilities, going from black holes to climate change.

Usefully, this is all set up as an engaging exploratory environment, rather than just a static set of tools. That means there is reading, there is watching, but there is also doing. Students can read about a topic, then play a game on what's been learned, followed by a hands-on activity in class or at home.

Educators have a dedicated section with materials such as printables, resources, and guidance across English and Spanish.

How does NASA Space Place work?

NASA Space Place is browser-based, so it can be accessed from most devices and internet connections. Everything is arranged into helpful categories that allow teachers and students to navigate by topic or activity type, for example.

So a student might browse a subject such as Earth then filter into articles, games, and hands-on activities -- ideal as it can be suited to how that particular student prefers to learn.

Articles break down scientific concepts into simple, digestible explanations, often supported by visuals or animations. Games reinforce learning through interaction. While DIY activities encourage practical application, such as building simple models or conducting experiments at home or in class.

Teachers have a few ways to take advantage of the platform. They can use it as a lesson starter, a supplementary resource, or even a flipped learning tool through which students explore topics independently before class discussion.

The material is aligned with real NASA missions and scientific research, so it also offers a level of authenticity that can deepen student engagement.

Plus, it can all be scaled. It's aimed at younger learners but the clarity can be helpful to older students who need to work on foundations.

What are the best NASA Space Place features?

NASA Space Place takes often complex scientific ideas and makes each one easily accessible and digestible -- but, crucially, without oversimplifying anything. This is thanks to those different formats available that can suit varying learner styles.

The games, which offer an interactive way to learn, are a powerful feature. Students can explore satellite tracking or planetary motion in a hands-on way, turning abstract ideas into something tangible. Then, the short videos and animations help visual learners grasp topics such as eclipses or space weather.

For teachers, the hands-on activities can be very useful with crafts and experiments offering experiential learning that can reinforce theoretical knowledge.

A wide range of subjects are covered here, from climate change and Earth systems to deep space exploration. The platform connects classroom learning to real-world science and ongoing NASA missions.

Educators can access the resources, such as printables and guidance, as a way to enhance teaching and make using this platform even more valuable and time-rich.

It's also worth mentioning that the bright visuals, simple language, and general sense of curiosity-driven exploration can all help to maintain student engagement.

How much does NASA Space Place cost?

NASA Space Place is completely free to use. No subscriptions, paywalls, or premium tiers to navigate. Everything on the platform is openly accessible to students, teachers, and parents.

In addition, there are no hidden requirements in terms of hardware or software. Because the platform runs in a web browser, it works across most devices, including desktops, laptops, and tablets. This flexibility makes it suitable for classroom use, remote learning, and homework alike.

NASA Space Place best tips and tricks

Hook with play
Start lessons with a quick game or animation to spark curiosity and ease students into complex space concepts.

Guide exploration
Set focused tasks that have students navigate specific sections of the site to build independent research skills.

Make it hands-on
Use the DIY activities as the core of lessons to turn abstract science into practical, memorable learning experiences.

The most affordable printers for schools means giving printable resource access to all, while keeping down costs.

Sure, that refers to the upfront cost of these print machines, but it also includes ongoing running expenses, ranging from ink and paper right through to parts replacements and regular maintenance.

This is mentioned right upfront here, as sometimes what can look like a good deal on the surface can hold some hidden costs down the line. In fact, printers that are cheaper to buy up front can often have higher ink costs ongoing, for example.

Printers in schools need to be simple enough to be used by teachers, admins, and students alike. But they also need to have enough complexity to work across wired and wireless networks and for a variety of tasks.

From laser to inkjet, auto feed to copying and scanning, printer speeds and features should be taken into account before embarking on buying a single printer, let alone for an entire school or district. Finding the best printers is a task worth taking time over.

This guide aims to lay out the most affordable printers for schools right now, to help you make the right choice.

Most Affordable Printers For Schools

1. HP Smart Tank 7001: Best overall for low running costs

The HP Smart Tank 7001 is a standout for schools that print frequently and need to keep ongoing costs under control. Unlike traditional cartridge printers, this uses refillable ink tanks, dramatically lowering cost per page -- critical for classrooms producing worksheets daily.

It also includes automatic duplex printing and strong wireless connectivity, making it easy for multiple teachers or students to use from different devices. Importantly, it ships with a large amount of ink in the box, enough to last potentially years in a moderate-use classroom.

Standout:
High print volumes, minimal ink costs, long-term savings.

2. Epson EcoTank ET-2850: Best for reliability and ease of use

Epson’s EcoTank line is widely regarded as one of the most cost-efficient printer ecosystems available. The ET-2850 is a particularly strong entry-level option for schools, offering cartridge-free printing, solid reliability, and simple operation.

It includes auto-duplex printing and wireless support, making it well-suited to shared environments such as staff rooms or small departments. Its refillable ink system keeps per-page costs extremely low compared to traditional inkjets.

Standout:
Low maintenance, predictable costs, and easy setup.

3. Brother HL-L2400DW: Best for high-volume black-and-white printing

For many schools, most printing is still text-based with worksheets, exams, handouts, and so forth. That’s where a monochrome laser printer such as the Brother HL-L2400DW excels.

Laser printers use toner instead of ink, resulting in far higher page yields and faster print speeds. This model also includes automatic duplex printing and wireless connectivity, ideal for busy departments or admin offices.

User feedback consistently highlights laser printers such as Brother’s as the most cost-effective option for heavy document printing.

Standout:
Fast, durable, and extremely economical for text-heavy workloads.

4. Canon PIXMA G3270: Best for affordable color printing

If your school needs vibrant color printing for posters, displays, or learning materials, the Canon PIXMA G3270 offers a strong balance of affordability and performance.

It uses a MegaTank system, delivering very low cost per page while maintaining good color quality. It also includes wireless connectivity and mobile app support, making it easy for teachers to print from laptops or tablets.

Standout:
Budget-friendly color output without high ink costs.

5. HP DeskJet 2922: Best for ultra-low upfront cost

For schools that need a simple, low-cost entry point -- perhaps for a single classroom or occasional use -- the HP DeskJet 2922 is one of the cheapest all-in-one options available.

It offers print, scan, and copy functionality, along with wireless connectivity, making it suitable for light-duty use. While ink costs are higher than tank systems, the low initial price makes it accessible for tight budgets or temporary setups.

Standout:
Minimal upfront spend for basic classroom needs.

6. HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e: Best affordable printer with ADF for schools

If your school needs to scan multiple pages regularly -- for student work, admin forms, or safeguarding documents -- this is where stepping up to an automatic document feeder (ADF) becomes essential.

The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e is one of the most affordable all-in-one printers that includes a proper ADF plus fast performance, ideal for busy school offices or staff rooms.

It also adds duplex scanning, strong wireless features, and app-based workflows, so teachers can digitize and distribute materials quickly without manual handling.

Standout:
Massively improves workflow when scanning and copying are frequent.

Pathwright was created as a modern learning management system, LMS, that could work in education on all levels.

Spawned from an idea back in 2010, this was what co-creators Paul and Mark came up with as a far more usable solution. The space then was cluttered, wordy, and chaotic. Their design-focused solution birthed the far more user-friendly Pathwright.

Built over a decade alongside creative educators, the goal was to offer a personal learning experience for others. At time of publishing, this system has helped more than 2 million learners who have completed 80+ million steps on these learning paths.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about how Pathwright could work for your class.

What is Pathwright?

Pathwright is an online learning platform that's design-led -- it offers a way to make instruction easy for teachers and engaging for students.

This course-building platform lets educators create what the company calls learning paths, which guide students through lessons, activities, and discussions.

Teachers can design courses as needed with details such as deadlines, milestones, peer interaction, mentorship, and more, all included.

As such, this can work for schools delivering courses as well as individual educators selling online courses, for example. Not only can educators create courses but this also allows them to take advantage of student management features, monetization options, and more.

This digital classroom, professional development hub, and school learning platform is a versatile tool built for a wide array of uses.

How does Pathwright work?

Pathwright is primarily an online course creation and learning management platform. Teachers can be guided through the process of creating their own pathways, using video content, written lessons, assignments or projects, discussion prompts, plus quizzes and assessments.

This works with self-paced learning but also with cohort based programs. The latter sees students move as groups though the courses, which can be run with defined start and end dates, releasing lessons over time and encouraging students to progress together.

This model allows teachers to lead discussions, provide feedback, and create a more classroom-like experience online. Teachers can then track progress to see completion rates, areas of struggle, and discussion activity.

What are the best Pathwright features?

Pathwright offers a broad selection of tools that can be tailored to work across subject and topic ranges, inside and outside of school.

The way this works is that by using paths, it allows students to stay focused with a clarity from seeing what's coming next across the sequence of the course ahead.

The cohort-based learning is a helpful way to release lessons over time, allowing students to work through the tasks together, interacting with one another along the way.

That interaction moves into the community with an ability to post comments on lessons, join in discussions, and ask questions -- much like being in a physical world lesson.

The system allows for mentors. This can work with teaching assistants or other students, as a way to oversee groups of learners with support throughout.

For those selling in courses, this also offers a built-in payment system and the ability to integrate other apps, such as Stripe, as needed.

How much does Pathwright cost?

Pathwright uses a tiered pricing model designed for educators, small teams, and larger organizations. A free trial or free account option is available that allows educators to start building courses before committing to a paid plan.

Starter Plan: Around $99 per month for up to 1,000 members and one administrator.

Essentials Plan: Around $199 per month with more staff accounts, custom domains, and additional course features.

Complete Plan: Around $499 per month with unlimited cohorts and advanced capabilities.

Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing starting around $1,499 per month for large organizations requiring integrations, APIs, and advanced management tools.

Pathwright best tips and tricks

Start with a clear learning path
Outline the sequence of lessons and learning objectives so students move logically through the material.

Use cohorts for engagement
Run courses with start and end dates rather than leaving it fully self-paced. Cohorts encourage discussion, accountability, and higher completion rates.

Mix content types
Combine videos, text, and assignments to keep lessons engaging. Short interactive activities can help reinforce learning better than long lectures.

Knoword is a gamified platform that's built to help students progress in building vocabulary. The idea here is to make things so fun that students want to come back for more.

This learning-while-playing setup is designed to work across age and ability levels so that it's widely accessible to help all students, and educators, when it comes to vocabulary building.

The platform is already widely used and can be applied across subjects to allow for an uptake, which works school-wide, rather than specifically for English learning, for example.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about Knoword to see how this could work for your class.

What is Knoword?

Knoword is a web-based game so it's easily accessible across a wide range of devices and internet connections. It uses game-based learning to help develop vocabulary expansion. This is done with immersive word games and customizable activities.

The most basic offering here is vocabulary practice being turned into interactive challenges. This blends learning with gameplay to keep students engaged, and even eager for more.

Thousands of community-made packs to pick from are available. These range from academic-specific vocabulary to trivia packs. You also have the option to build custom packs, or edit pre-existing ones, to get the perfectly tuned result for a certain subject or unit, for example.

That all makes this useful both for self-guided learning as well as in-classroom use and even remote assignments.

How does Knoword work?

Knoword comprises thousands of word packs that are interactive sets of definitions and answers. These are broken down into several play modes to allow students and educators to pick the format, which includes multiple choice, typing mode, or pairs/recognition matching.

Educators can pick from a selection of pre-created packs in subject-specific areas, make their own from scratch, or duplicate and edit packs as needed. Helpful parameters are available, including setting time limits, answer strictness and more, to help teachers build ideally suited sessions. Then, once completed, educators can track student progress using detailed analytics.

The system also uses AI as a way to help generate text clues from lists to help automate pack creations -- saving time for teachers.

Students can get playing right away without the need to create individual accounts, making it an easy option to introduce into the class.

What are the best Knoword features?

Knoword offers a great selection of packs that can be aligned to subjects or topics. Crucially, these are adaptive and allow students to go at their pace so as to grow but at a rate that feels fun, comfortable, and engaging.

The immediate feedback and multiple play modes make this a stand-alone tool for students to work with on their time, but also with teacher assistance and interaction as wanted.

The AI-powered Magic Import feature is a helpful way to generate clues with ease. This allows educators to convert lists of terms into engaging gameplay in minutes.

Assignments offer a way to provide structured options to guide learners through material, while giving educators insights such as trends in accuracy and areas needing reinforcement.

Offline materials are also available, including printable worksheets. Any pack can be turned into customizable worksheets or physical flashcards, ideal for off-screen practice or differentiated learning.

The various game modes help to make this varied and fun while staying engaging over longer period of use. The different gameplay formats -- typing, multiple choice, match pairs -- appeal to varied learning styles, from visual to recall practice.

How much does Knoword cost?

Knoword operates on a freemium model. But there are tiers for more.

Basic (Free): Create up to five packs, generate content with AI, assign activities, track basic student progress, integrate with Google Classroom, and download worksheets.

Pro ($9.99/month): Allows unlimited packs and assignments, creates image and audio clues, and removes branded watermarks on cards.

Team Plan (~$80/year): Designed for schools or departments to manage multiple educator accounts.

Knoword best tips and tricks

Kick off with curated packs
Before creating your own, explore the community library. Thousands of packs across subjects are already available -- and bookmarking makes future reuse easy.

Use assignments strategically
Assignments let you control the learning environment: time limits, modes, and even answer strictness (capitalization, punctuation). Tailor these to your learners’ proficiency.

Blend digital and printable exercises
Export packs as worksheets for class use or homework -- great for reinforcing vocabulary with written practice.

Groovelit is a classroom platform created to help encourage writing through gamified guidance that works alongside teachers.

The idea here is to tap into the creativity in every student that might otherwise go underused in the face of literacy challenges. By gamifying the writing experience, and adding direct feedback, this can help to draw every student into the world of writing.

Creative prompts are used to help get started while a scoring system can work to progress students along toward mastery. This can be used to improve writing skills and fluency in a way that allows this to benefit students across a range of subjects, from ELA and social studies to science.

This guide aims to explain all you need to know about how Groovelit could work in your class.

What is Groovelit?

Groovelit is a gamified creative writing platform aimed at use by students from fourth to tenth grade. Through guidance and gamification, this works to ignite the creative spark in all students while empowering them by helping to learn how to use that effectively as a writer.

Groovelit prompts a student to produce written response -- be it narrative, persuasive, or vocabulary-rich -- within a short, structured time frame.

The system uses AI to evaluate submissions against criteria such as grammar, relevance, vocabulary usage, and adherence to the prompt. Points are awarded in ways that feel immediate and game-like rather than punitive.

This idea should help writing to feel less like work and more like play. Competition and natural reinforcement also help to shift student perspectives toward writing to be sought more readily, by choice.

How does Groovelit work?

Groovelit works a little like a quiz game, yet students don't select answers, instead they write answers. A teacher can pick a genre such as narrative or argumentative, for example, before setting prompts and aligning to curricular goals. Then they can send a link to students to begin.

Students work with a countdown timer, responding directly from within a browser window. They are assessed, live, by the AI, which uses criteria such as vocabulary, grammar, and engagement levels to provide feedback to students as they go.

Once the timed round is complete, the results are shown right away with scores. Teachers can later assess aggregated data, or spotlight certain areas to celebrate success.

This cycle continues with quick writing, instant feedback, and visible achievement, motivating students to progress further and faster toward mastery.

What are the best Groovelit features?

Groovelit gamifies learning but in a way that stays fresh thanks to a selection of game modes. These include narrative storytelling, argumentative responses, vocabulary connections, and root-based word games.

Teachers can also tailor the experience to suit needs, including adapting pacing, content focus, and student readiness.

The AI scoring works well as a way to offer immediate feedback and guidance that's tailored to suit the student where they are in their learning. This can help sustain focus and reinforce teaching moments.

For teachers, the formative data analysis options help offer actionable insights. The system offers growth areas, word-choice creativity, and standout sentences that exemplify strong writing.

The platform supports English language learners (ELLs), with customizable prompts and difficulty adjustment that should make this helpful for a wide range of language abilities.

How much does Groovelit cost?

Groovelit is free to sign up for and to use. Teachers can sign up from a school account, or it's possible to sign in with third-parties such as Google, for example.

This has no ads or tracking, and remains free to use for as long as needed.

Groovelit best tips and tricks

Alignment
Align prompts directly to your current unit of study so students see the activity as meaningful reinforcement rather than a standalone game.

Learnings
Review the formative data after each session to identify patterns in grammar, vocabulary, or comprehension that may need reteaching.

Wins
Spotlight strong student responses (anonymously if preferred) to model effective writing and build classroom confidence.

I recently wrote an article about the gamified STEM teaching and learning platform Brilliant. While Brilliant is indeed a top performer, it's not the only math "game" in town. I decided to round up a selection of similar online math platforms to help teachers find the perfect match for their students.

For this review, I focused on math or STEM platforms that provide a robust set of online practice tools and manipulatives. Platforms that relied primarily on printed materials were excluded, as I wanted to focus on the learning and engagement benefits of digital manipulatives.

These exceptional math learning tools are fully free or modestly priced, and aimed at engaging learners of all levels with their interactive tools, gamified features, graphics and sound effects. Simply put, they make learning and doing math fun. And because teachers have the ability to individually assign lessons, each platform serves as a personalized learning tool for every student.

Best Online Math Platforms for Education

BEST FOR K-8 MATH CURRICULA

ZEARN

Zearn, a nonprofit platform designed by teachers, provides more than 1,000 research-backed K-8 digital math lessons, and has earned the highest designation (Strong) rating from Evidence for ESSA. Individual teachers can sign up for a full suite of content at no charge, while schools and districts can pay for premium features. A teacher's account includes all Zearn math instructional materials, for up to 35 students and one teacher.

Unique among the platforms featured, Zearn provides brief video introductions that demonstrate how to solve problems in upcoming lessons. In addition to the interactive video lessons, it also provides fluency practice activities and mastery-based quizzes.

Zearn is also distinguished by its level of reporting. Using the four types of reports— Pace, Progress, Tower Alerts, and Sprint Alerts—teachers can easily monitor student progress and pace of lesson completion. Importantly, the two "Alerts" allow teachers to identify students who are struggling with content and fluency.

BEST FOR TARGETED SKILLS PRACTICE

Struggly

Struggly is a preK-8 gamified math supplement that emphasizes the value of persisting through mistakes. Instead of a sad buzzer sound with an error message, kids are congratulated for their mistakes. By acknowledging that mistakes are foundational to learning and brain growth, Struggly takes some of the pressure off both high-achieving and low-achieving students.

Consistent with Struggly's teaching philosophy, no instructions are provided for its engaging exercises. Instead, high-quality animations, pop-ups, and sound effects guide students on where to click on each page. Users can click on "hints" to get help if needed.

Struggly makes it easy for teachers to try its interactive tasks before assigning any. Currently, there are 68 separate tasks available, searchable by Common Core State Standards or topic. Although 68 is relatively few, each task includes a number of levels, so a single task can serve as deep practice across multiple grades. Struggly aims to release one to three new tasks per month.

Although Struggly is a modestly-priced paid platform, it offers a generous 60-day free trial—with no credit card required—to determine if it will be a fit for your classroom.

I Know It

I Know It shines as an easy-to-use K-5 interactive math practice site. Its clean, uncluttered interface offers intuitive navigation for teachers and students alike.

To find lessons, simply select Math from the top menu, then click on your desired grade from K-5, also on the top menu. Teachers can easily try each lesson simply by clicking on it, and also directly assign any lesson from within it. Creating classes and adding students is similarly frictionless.

While it's a fully interactive platform, I Know It's lessons aren't gamified at the same level as other platforms featured here. However, its amusing robot mascot does provide encouragement via sound effects and comic reactions to answers, right or wrong. Hints and encouragement are offered along the way as kids work through their problem sets.

Annual memberships, costing a modest $150, include up to 25 students, while the 30-day free trial (no credit cared required) will allow educators to fully experience the platform's tools and benefits.

BEST DYNAMIC TOOLS AND VIRTUAL MANIPULATIVES

GeoGebra

A fully free interactive math platform for grades 4-12, GeoGebra focuses on dynamic tools that help students visualize and understand concepts in algebra, geometry, numeracy, statistics, and more.

GeoGebra boasts an impressive library of more than one million math learning resources, including lessons, exercises, digital books, and interactives, contributed by the GeoGebra Content Team, as well as GeoGebra’s global community. Users can create and upload their own resources incorporating applets, text, video, images, PDFs, notes, questions, and more.

GeoGebra's intuitive website is easy to navigate and use. It's ideal for exploration, demonstration and formative assessments. Given the platform's extensive scope, educators should familiarize themselves with the interactives and curate relevant resources prior to classroom implementation. Fortunately, GeoGebra offers strong guidance via its Help pages and YouTube channel.

Although an account is not required for either students or teachers, teachers will need to create one in order to fully utilize this versatile and engaging platform.

Polypad

The fully free award-winning Polypad is a digital math playground that uses multimedia interactive tools, sound, and music to teach geometry, algebra, probability, and statistics to middle and high school students. Requiring no login or installation, Polypad runs on all devices and browsers, and provides an extensive set of pre-designed puzzles, activities, and lesson plans.

Available in English and Spanish, Polypad allows users to add co-teachers to their classes and offers detailed student progress reports. The recently added Snapshot Tool makes it easy for educators to select and sequence student work for class discussion.

Polypad also distinguishes itself with logic-based games, such as chess and dominoes, as well as interactive music tools that let users explore and compose music digitally. Open to teachers and students, the Polypad Art and Music Contest is an excellent opportunity to showcase creativity and skill in using the Polypad tools. These unique features of Polypad qualify it as not only a top-notch STEM tool, but also a first-rate STEAM tool.

BEST FOR ENRICHMENT

Brilliant

Brilliant features super snappy graphics and sound effects that mimic those of your students' favorite video games.

But Brilliant is much more than amusing characters, badges, points, and sound effects. In fact, it offers a huge variety of grade 3-12 STEM lessons in math, computer science, science, and data. Each lesson contains multiple levels, progressing from simpler to more complex, allowing students to build mastery and confidence as they work.

Ideal for highly motivated and advanced students, Brilliant allows users to jump ahead in lessons, preventing boredom for quick learners and encouraging them to explore STEM topics on their own.

Premium Brilliant is 100% free for qualified educators and their students.

Although women make up more than 50% of humanity, only since the 20th century have they achieved full legal rights and privileges in the U.S.—and in some countries, they are still second-class citizens. Consequently, women’s role in history and contributions to culture have been woefully overlooked.

Designated as Women’s History Month, March is a great time to dive deeply into women’s struggle for equal rights and triumphs in every arena. The lessons, activities and resources here are an excellent way to investigate and understand women as changemakers, activists, and heroines—worthy of becoming an integral part of the curriculum all year long.

Best Women's History Month Lessons and Activities

Bill of Rights Institute Women’s History Playlist: 1844-1860
Eight outstanding standards-aligned multimedia lessons explore the lives of notable mid-19th century women, both famous (Sojourner Truth, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman) and little-known ( Louise Smith Clappe). Each downloadable lesson includes a detailed narrative, primary sources, review questions, and suggestions for pairing with other lessons. Bonus: Download a single interactive PDF with all eight lessons included. Free account required to download.

American Experience: She Resisted
A highly creative, interactive audio/visual experience that delves into the wide range of strategies employed by suffragists in their quest for the right to vote. The opening sequence, featuring thrilling music and compelling film, will draw students into investigating the nine featured strategies. A riveting production that brings history and historical characters to life.

National Women’s Hall of Fame
A showcase for women’s achievement in every arena. Discover the Women of the Hall, then check out the online solitaire game, which combines the fun of solitaire with cards featuring fascinating women of achievement.

National Women’s History Alliance: This Month in Women’s History
Learn all about important dates of women's history throughout the year with this easy-to-use calendar, featuring birthdays of female trailblazers and important historical events from civil rights, politics, and culture.

Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote
Seven online exhibitions from the National Archives investigate topics such as “Who decides who votes?” and “What voting rights struggles persist?” Digitized original documents and photos featured.

Singing for Women’s Suffrage: A New Digital Collection from the Library of Congress
Add a musical note to your history lessons through the women’s suffrage songbook. Included are prompts and ideas for classroom and elearning lessons.

Women athletes who changed sports history
With female athletes starring in tennis, track and field, basketball, soccer, golf and other sports, students today may not realize how women of the past struggled to compete in the athletic realm. This round-up of notable female athletes includes many famous ones, like Serena Williams—and some little-known, like Toni Stone, the "female Jackie Robinson."

iCivics Women’s History Month Resources
A wealth of resources for teaching women’s history, including downloadable planners, videos spotlighting pioneering women, and standards-aligned lessons.

PBS Teaching Women's Suffrage
Women’s right to vote, and the struggle to achieve it, form the foundation for all successive rights. This extensive collection of multimedia lessons and activities is grouped according to topics such as the 19th Amendment, advocates and organizers, primary sources, and modern-day legacies. Each standards-based lesson includes downloadable support materials for teachers.

Unsung Women Who Changed America
26 short films and a one-hour documentary examine the lives of trailblazing women from the turn of the 20th century. Although most of these women are not widely known, their accomplishments call for recognition. Available in Spanish.

HMH: 10 National Women's History Month Activities for Students
A diverse collection of activities using research, writing, critical thinking, and art to analyze women’s history and the changing social mores about women’s role in society.

65 Famous Women in History Everyone Should Know
From astronauts to politicians to athletes to writers, these 65 women—some famous, others less so— have made their mark on the world. Read the brief biographies, then explore the links provided to learn more about Sally Ride, Shirley Chisholm, Soraya Jiménez, Empress Dowager Cixi, and many more.

Clio Visualizing History: Click! in the Classroom Lesson Plans
Organized by grade level, these lesson plans examine women's history through the lens of feminism, politics, careers, sports, and civil rights.

Scholastic Action: From Out of This World. . . To Under the Sea
What do the depths of Earth’s oceans have in common with outer space? Both are otherworldly realms, inhospitable to human life while captivating our imaginations. Meet a woman who has traveled to each place and find out why. A video and quiz round out the article. Integrated with Google drive.

Women's History Month: Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote
An online version of the Library of Congress exhibition "Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote" looks at the history of the struggle for suffrage via handwritten letters, speeches, photographs, and scrapbooks created by American suffragists.

National Women's History Museum Digital Classroom Resources
A wealth of digital resources for women's history featuring lesson plans, quizzes, primary source documents, videos, and more. Searchable by type, topic, and grade.

Alice Ball and 7 Female Scientists Whose Discoveries Were Credited to Men
Learn about women who broke barriers in science but who were, until recently, not credited properly for their achievements. Compare this to the list of women recognized with the Nobel Prize.

DocsTeach: Primary sources and Teaching Activities for Women's Rights
Explore a wealth of primary sources covering topics ranging across women's suffrage, political cartoons, the Equal Rights Amendment, and many others. Teaching activities include online interactives investigating all aspects of the fight for women's suffrage and the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Learning for Justice: Women's Suffrage Lesson
This Common Core-aligned lesson guides students in learning how women achieved voting rights and in evaluating the role of the federal government in the fight for suffrage.

National Museum of Women in the Arts Curriculum & Resources
On the website of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, find free resources to support teaching about women artists, including a complete curriculum, "Art, Books, and Creativity," and pre-K12 educator guides. Be sure to explore the extensive online exhibitions.

National Women's History Alliance: Women's History Quizzes
Seven quizzes on women's history cover topics including women in STEM, peace activists, Black women's history, and more.

Nobel Prizes Awarded to Women
Note how the rate of female Nobel laureates has changed dramatically in the 21st century.

Smithsonian Learning Lab Women's History
Sixty-three collections of digitized objects related to women's history add a rich context to the written word. The Learning Lab is a free, interactive platform allowing educators and other users to find digital resources and create content with online tools.

In 1870, Henrietta Wood Sued for Reparations—and Won
Ever heard of Henrietta Wood? Formerly enslaved, Wood successfully sued her enslaver for reparations in 1870. This Smithsonian magazine article details her amazing story, forgotten until very recently.

The best tools to teach storytelling can also be some of the most ideal ways to engage students, both creatively and more generally with education. From sparking their imaginations to helping structure a creative toolset, these digital assistants can be powerful in the classroom and beyond.

Giving a student the ability to structure and tell a compelling story can help to empower them in terms of literacy, empathy, and critical thinking.

Students can be given the opportunity to explore historical perspectives, dive into personal narratives, build fictional worlds, and present research in a story form. All of which helps strengthen communication skills while learning at the same time.

This guide aims to lay out some of the best tools to teach storytelling in the class and beyond.

Best tools to teach storytelling

Best to teach storytelling overall

Story Xperiential

Story Xperiential is a structured storytelling platform designed to teach narrative creation from the very start. Developed with input from professional storytellers, it focuses on helping students understand how to write a story and why stories work. Rather than functioning as a simple writing app, it delivers a curriculum-driven approach that breaks storytelling into clear, teachable components.

Students can move through the guided stages from idea development and character creation to plot structure, visual storytelling, drafting, and revision. Teachers can assign projects, monitor progress, and facilitate critique sessions -- essential in developing narrative strength. The emphasis on feedback and editing makes it especially strong for longer term development rather than one-off assignments.

Stand-out features include structured storytelling frameworks, scaffolded learning pathways, and cross-curricular flexibility.

This can be well used as part of a longer storytelling system while building in peer critiques to deepen understanding of structure and character development.

Best for interactive stories

SceneCraft

SceneCraft is an AI-powered storytelling tool that allows educators to create interactive, branching narratives through which students make decisions that shape outcomes. This is designed for classroom use by blending writing with decision-based learning, making it ideal for exploring cause and effect, character motivation, and ethical dilemmas.

Teachers can build or edit scenarios while students navigate storylines by selecting different paths. The interactive format often increases engagement, particularly for students who respond well to game-like experiences.

Standout features include AI-assisted scenario generation, branching pathways, and opportunities for social-emotional learning discussions.

Educators can pair digital storytelling with pre-writing story maps -- plus post-activity discussions -- to analyze how different narrative choices alter outcomes.

Best for visual inspiration

Storybird

Storybird is a visual storytelling platform that combines student writing with curated professional artwork. Students select images and build stories or poems around these, using visuals as prompts to inspire story ideas. This makes it effective for younger learners and reluctant writers, who can benefit from visual scaffolding.

The interface uses a book-style layout, encouraging students to construct stories page by page. This format reinforces pacing, sequencing, and concise writing.

Teachers can create assignments, review student drafts, and provide feedback directly within the platform.

Strong artwork libraries, support for both poetry and short fiction, and accessible publishing tools are key features.

Teachers can find it effective to use artwork for character development exercises or to set word limits per page to strengthen clarity and narrative precision.

Best for collaborative storytelling

BoomWriter

BoomWriter turns storytelling into a collaborative classroom experience. Students contribute chapters to a shared story, and classmates vote anonymously on submissions to determine which version becomes part of the final narrative. The completed work can then be published as a professionally printed book.

Teachers begin by setting a prompt and writing the opening chapter. Students submit their versions of the next installment, and peer voting selects the continuation. This structured cycle repeats until the story is complete, reinforcing narrative continuity, audience awareness, and revision skills.

The anonymous voting system promotes thoughtful critique while maintaining engagement.

Teachers can use this to establish clear evaluation criteria focused on storytelling craft rather than popularity. This can lead to discussions about why certain chapters effectively advanced the narrative and others did not.

Best for gamification

Imagine Forest

Imagine Forest combines creative writing tools with gamified elements to encourage ongoing storytelling skills. Students can respond to prompts, draft original stories, and publish their work. Badges and achievements help motivate consistent participation.

The structured editor supports story creation while offering built-in prompts to spark ideas. This makes it very useful for daily warm-ups, creative writing clubs, or independent literacy work. Students can develop stories over time, building confidence and fluency.

Pair prompt-based writing with mini-lessons focused on dialogue, pacing, or descriptive language. Also, encourage revision before publication to reinforce storytelling basics.

Artsonia is the solution to the problem of storing and showcasing artwork in a digital age. This free do-it-all platform was created as a place for students to store and display their artwork in a digital portfolio.

This is one of the world's largest online galleries for student artwork, built to operate as part of the school ecosystem. At time of publishing, this is used by tens of thousands of students with more than 100 million pieces of artwork being hosted.

So while this allows students to collate their work, it's also a place for teachers to manage and showcase class work with easy uploading and sharing options. They can even make money from it to fund future art classes, too.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about Artsonia and how it could work for your class.

What is Artsonia?

Artsonia is a digital art storage and sharing space that is designed specifically for K-12 environments with a focus on safety, privacy and compliance -- with support for both COPPA and FERPA requirements.

This free online-based platform is a permanent and searchable archive of student work. Students can choose to share with approved viewers and are able to collate their efforts right through their school lives.

While this is primarily created for use by students and teachers, it's also possible for parents and family members to create accounts and follow students' progress -- as well as leave supportive comments.

A class portal makes submitting work for teachers to moderate a simple process that should help reduce administrative workload. Many more features are available, including social and lesson supportive, but more on those below.

How does Artsonia work?

Artsonia is easy to setup for a teacher account, which can be done by registering the school. Class rosters are then established and artwork can be published immediately using the website or dedicated apps.

Students or teachers can use a smartphone camera to photograph the artwork for direct upload to the platform. Students are then able to submit their work using a class portal. Teachers can then moderate before publishing.

Approved work appears in the student personal online gallery, which family can access through secured logins. Parents get notifications when new artwork is published so they can comment and encourage student progress.

Artsonia is COPPA and FERPA compliant, includes moderation tools, and allows teachers to manage permissions and visibility, so it's suitable for a wide range of school contexts and age groups.

What are the best Artsonia features?

Artsonia is for teachers, students, and family. Features such as the ability for families to order keepsakes of the work -- mugs, prints, magnets, jewelry, etc. -- help add to the richness of this platform. Schools can even earn 20% on the sales of these offerings.

But on a more class-practical level, this is a really helpful way for students to collate all their work, across the years, for future self-reflection and assessments.

The class portal lets students submit artwork independently, significantly reducing teacher workload while encouraging learner autonomy and reflective thinking.

Teachers approve all submissions before publishing, maintaining quality and safeguarding standards. Parents can then view the gallery, strengthening school-home relationships and student motivation.

COPPA and FERPA compliance, along with moderation workflows, mean that student data and imagery are handled responsibly. This makes Artsonia suitable for large-scale use in schools.

How much does Artsonia cost?

Artsonia is free for teachers, students, and families to use. No subscription fees are required to create student portfolios, upload artwork, manage classrooms, or invite parents to engage.

Revenue is generated through the optional sale of custom keepsake products featuring student artwork. When families buy items such as mugs, prints, magnets, or jewelry, Artsonia returns 20% of the purchase price directly to the school’s art program.

Artsonia best tips and tricks

Use student uploading early
Introduce the class portal from the outset to empower students to take ownership of documenting their work and reduce teacher admin time.

Create consistent photography stations
A simple backdrop or light box setup can significantly improve image quality and presentation, making digital galleries more visually impactful.

Encourage reflective writing
Ask students to add titles and short artist statements to help develop metacognition, creative thinking, and literacy skills alongside visual art.

Most Likely Machine is the teaching solution to a very real and modern gap in learning, around how algorithms work and the ethical ramifications.

As algorithms become more prevalent in more areas of our lives, it becomes ever more important to understand these key decision-making automations.

Critical to the learning here is how these systems can lead to bias and the importance of ethical design when writing algorithms. This is especially so in the age of AI when the complexities coming from a single coding decision can reach very far indeed.

Artefact, the design firm behind Most Likely Machine, has built this free multi award-winning learning service as a fun and gamified way to help 10-14-year-olds understand just how algorithms work. This should help them see more clearly in an age of automated feeds and decision-making search results.

This guide aims to explain all you need to know about Most Likely Machine in your class.

What is Most Likely Machine?

Most Likely Machine is a free teaching tool designed to help educate 10-14 year-olds about algorithms. This is not only about how these are made and used, but also the effects that these can have in our daily lives. That should help empower young people to make more balanced decisions in the future.

Using a game-style environment, students are able to build their own algorithms to observe consequences and reflect on the social impact of automated decision-making.

So while some tools focus on algorithm-writing specifically, this is more about conceptual understanding -- how data is weighted, how choices shape outcomes, and why no algorithm is ever truly neutral.

The Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Award and the Core77 Interaction Award have both been given to this tool. The project has been piloted in real classrooms with strong engagement from both teachers and students.

How does Most Likely Machine work?

Most Likely Machine is browser-based, so it's super easy to access from nearly any device -- allowing you to work on this as a class or individually.

Initially, you're introduced to the idea of a class designing awards using algorithms, what these are, and why these exist. Then it's down to the students to work on creating algorithm-based choices and seeing how outcomes are affected.

Students meet a host of characters based on famous historical figures, including Albert Einstein and Rosa Parks. These are presented as classmates competing for awards such as “Most Likely to Go to a Top University,” “Most Likely to Go Viral,” and “Biggest Troublemaker.” By choosing which traits matter most and weighting those characteristics, students construct algorithms that automatically select winners.

Students select traits such as intelligence, popularity, creativity, or leadership, and assign weightings that determine how much influence each factor holds.

As a result, students can see directly how personal assumptions, social stereotypes, and data selection choices influence outcomes.

The setup aligns well with computing, digital citizenship, and PSHE curricula, while also linking naturally to discussions around ethics, media literacy, and social responsibility.

What are the best Most Likely Machine features?

Most Likely Machine is very fun and friendly in its story-led design. That makes it engaging for students while still teaching how algorithms are built, tested, and refined. Only in the context of a reality, which helps them understand outcomes.

Otherwise abstract computational ideas suddenly become a tangible and fun experience.

The bias reflection section is particularly helpful as this focuses on social assumptions influencing technical decisions.

Real-world case studies are also used as a way to offer examples that students can critique, covering areas they may feel passionate about, including unfair grading systems, harmful social media, and racial bias in law enforcement tech.

How much does Most Likely Machine cost?

Most Likely Machine is totally free to use and is widely accessible via a browser. As such, this can be used across schools, subjects, and by teachers of varying technical abilities, with ease.

No subscriptions, licensing fees, or premium upgrades are required for classroom use.

Most Likely Machine best tips and tricks

Use it as a discussion starter
Run the activity first, then allocate dedicated time for group discussion. The richest learning often emerges from debating why certain results appeared and what that reveals about bias.

Connect it to real-world technologies
Link student reflections to everyday systems they encounter, TikTok recommendations, YouTube feeds, Spotify playlists, or school assessment software, to deepen relevance.

Pair it with ethics-based writing tasks
Ask students to write short reflections or debates on whether algorithms should be trusted in sensitive decisions like policing, hiring, or university admissions.

KQED Teach is a free media literacy platform that's designed to help empower students, via teacher training, in an age of media overload.

The idea is to help prepare young people for a world of misinformation, generative AI, and student voices. While students can learn on the fly, this tool aims to help educators guide students to be more confident in the media world.

This is a free professional development platform from KQED, the public media organization behind PBS and NPR. The idea is to teach educators by doing -- creating their own media -- before using those skills to help teach students similarly.

Thanks to a blend of pedagogical frameworks and applied creativity, this is a really unique and powerful offering to help bring media literacy into classrooms more effectively.

What is KQED Teach?

KQED Teach is primarily a free professional development platform, aimed at teachers. The idea is that by teaching them how to be more media literate, they will pass on that learning, understanding, and mastery to students.

KQED Teach works across K-12 subjects and grade levels. The point is to help teachers to integrate digital media creation, analysis, and civic dialogue into classroom learning. This is done using a library of ever-growing self-paced online courses and live workshops. The courses include topics such as video storytelling, audio production, fact-checking, misinformation, infographic design, and the ethical use of generative AI.

A focus is on both reading and writing media across the courses. Thus, educators can learn critical analysis including examining bias, credibility, and persuasive techniques. They can also develop media creation skills across the likes of podcasts, graphics, and interactive content, too.

Teachers can attain certificates for professional recognition having completed these courses. Many courses allow participants to earn graduate-level credits through university partnerships.

How does KQED Teach work?

KQED Teach is a very practical platform built on creating, sharing, reflecting, and applying. All that should mean teachers are creating in a way that allows them to experience the challenges that their students could be facing.

The courses themselves usually offer a combination of short instructional videos, guided activities, peer discussion, and classroom-ready planning tasks. The courses should leave teachers with tangible skills, not just knowledge.

Teachers might analyze real-world news examples, design media-based lesson plans, produce short videos or podcasts, or experiment with AI-powered tools under structured guidance.

KQED Teach also uses collaborative learning via community sharing. Participants can exchange ideas, showcase their projects, and discuss classroom strategies with other educators, fostering professional dialogue around best practices.

This peer-based approach is highly valuable in emerging areas such as generative AI literacy, in which classroom norms and ethical frameworks are quickly evolving.

KQED provides structured district and school-wide training programs.

What are the best KQED Teach features?

KQED Teach comprises several tools that include hands-on media creation, misinformation and media literacy, generative AI professional development, youth media challenges, and certification.

For media creation, teachers are guided through producing videos, podcasts, infographics, and interactive graphics, allowing teachers to build genuine creative confidence before implementing similar projects with students.

For misinformation and media literacy, courses explore how students can evaluate sources, detect misinformation, and understand algorithmic influence. All of which are deal right now as generative AI tools increase the scale and sophistication of synthetic content online.

On that subject, there is a section focused on AI bias, ethical AI use, and teaching students how to critically analyze AI-generated media.

Plenty of classroom ready content is also available, including lesson plans, student media challenges, and youth publishing platforms that allow learners to share work with authentic audiences.

Finally, there are those certificates, through which educators can gain graduate-level credits, supporting both career development and institutional professional learning requirements.

How much does KQED Teach cost?

KQED Teach is totally free. That makes this ideal for schools and districts looking to expand in this area while keeping budgets safe.

That also applies to educators who want to earn credits and certifications without spending money for the privilege.

KQED Teach best tips and tricks

Start with a single media project
Begin with a short, contained media task such as a short video explanation or podcast reflection to build confidence and classroom routines.

Integrate media across subjects
Science teachers can use infographics for data storytelling, while humanities teachers can explore audio documentaries or student journalism.

Use AI modules as discussion starters
Generative AI courses are especially effective when framed as ethical and critical thinking discussions, helping students understand bias, reliability, and responsible use.

DocsTeach goes beyond teaching history and helps students to learn how to become discerning scholars with genuinely useful analytical skills.

The idea here is to offer a host of primary sources so that students can learn how to search and analyze that material in real-time. In that process students get to become historians, carrying out research to feel immersed in the excitement of uncovering the past.

This online platform is hosted by the National Archives Foundation to give educators these original materials. It is backed by tools to help get the most out of that, including a slew of learning activities.

This guides aims to lay out all you need to know about how DocsTeach could work for your class.

What is DocsTeach?

DocsTeach is an online primary sources teaching platform developed by the U.S. National Archives to bring archival documents into classrooms in interactive ways.

The original materials consist of letters, speeches, photographs, maps, posters, and videos. A suite of tools and activities are also available, designed to help teachers guide students to get the most out of all those sources.

The platform offers more than 13,000 primary source documents and hundreds of activities ready to use, plus a host of customizable teaching tools. From George Washington's draft of the Constitution to Richard Nixon's resignation letter, this is crammed full of excitingly powerful documents.

Everything is freely and globally accessible to help teachers explore as well as create and customize document-based activities for student needs.

How does DocsTeach work?

DocsTeach is both a resource library with original documents as well as a teaching creation suite with pre-made and customizable tools.

Teachers can create a free account to log in so that it's possible to explore, save, and organize documents and activities.

Start out by browsing the archives to find primary sources that are relevant to what's being taught. Helpfully, search is filtered by era, skill, or topic, as needed.

Then you can use the interactive tools to create personalized lessons comprising selected documents, activities, and instructions.

Finally, teachers can assign or share these activities with students using common tools such as Google Classroom or dedicated LMS systems.

Students can access everything directly using the website so it can be worked on using a mobile device, tablet, or laptop, as is available.

What are the best DocsTeach features?

DocsTeach has some great pre-made activities that can make turning a primary source into a lesson a simple process. These include Compare & Contrast, Mapping History, Weighing the Evidence, and Interpreting Data, to name a few.

Crucially, teachers can customize these to suit their specific needs for a lesson. Or start an entirely new one from scratch and save it for later -- editable if that is needed for another type of subject, for example.

The documents themselves are something to get excited about as there are not only thousands available but some rarely seen originals.

Since everything is free and openly accessible, it all can be easily accessed, reused, modified, and shared without copyright limitations.

The fact everything can be distributed using classroom codes or URLs makes it very easy for teachers to share and for students to complete and submit responses.

How much does DocsTeach cost?

DocsTeach is totally free. It has no ads or tracking. While you can use it without giving any details, by signing up for an account you can access more features.

A login allows teachers to save custom activities, organize primary sources for reuse, and share assignments with students.

DocsTeach best tips and tricks

Start with ready-made activities
Explore the existing library in which hundreds of activities are already aligned with historical thinking skills and curriculum topics.

Customize for context
Take advantage of the creative tools to tailor instructions or groupings to your students’ reading levels and interests.

Sequence activities
Use Finding a Sequence or Making Connections tools to build multi-lesson units that scaffold understanding and deepen inquiry skills.

The best of BETT 2026 is all here. Well, technically it was all laid out at London's ExCel Centre, as it has been every year since it started in 1985. But the best of that show is right here in this article, which has been created after walking the show floor, meeting the exhibitors, and exploring the less well-known brands and tools that give us a glimpse at the future of tech in education.

The event featured appearances from the usual big names such as Google, Microsoft, and Asus, but this year stand-out new names include WhimsyLabs, Routine Roo, and Faheem, among others.

Here are my very best picks from what I saw on the BETT 2026 show floor, featuring the technology to propel education forward in a way that makes teaching better than ever.

While this is our best bits from the show floor, be sure to check out the Bett Awards for the final decisions on the very best to come out of BETT 2026.

Best of BETT 2026: WhimsyLabs

WhimsyLabs stood out at BETT 2026, despite being hidden away, as the passion of its creators, and excitement of anyone giving it a try, made this a show gem. Having been secretly under production for sometime, the VR science teaching software finally made its BETT debut.

This platform scales to fit devices -- so a classroom with ChromeOS could access this on a relatively low-powered computer and will still get a fully interactive VR experience. And that's the point here as this is a near like-for-like physical world experiment platform, only purely digital.

This scales from schools to college with simple pre-made experiments right up to complex original creations. Educators can tweak details to a super fine level, even adding in impurities in the case of chemistry, for example. The end result is a chance for students to carry out experiments, with real hand movements and object interactions, as if in the physical world.

This has been used in universities as a helpful way to teach lab process to students so, when they get access to the physical labs, they're experienced and prepared to get the most out of the time they have. It's like a digital practice space for chemistry, biology, and physics experiments.

Best of BETT 2026: Routine Roo

Routine Roo is a charming and hugely exciting tool designed specifically to help parents, or teachers, and young ones. The idea for this app, due to launch in March, is to help empower young children to perform their routines with more enjoyment and -- for parents and teachers -- with far less resistance.

So, at home that can mean working on bedtimes that otherwise take hours and can be draining, by agreeing with the little ones on the process, so they can be awarded as they complete each stage. From setting up teddies and reading a certain number of stories, to brushing teeth -- it can all be included. This uses a visualized cartoon version of the child to make it even more inclusive and engaging for the children.

Routine Roo is digital, with an app, but also offers physical boards that are magnetized to help children see and lay out their routines as part of the empowering planning process.

Best of BETT 2026: Faheem

Faheem is one of the more interesting AI education tools appearing at BETT 2026 because it moves beyond static AI tutor chatbots into something closer to an agentic learning companion.

Rather than simply responding to prompts, Faheem is designed to proactively guide learners, adapt explanations based on mastery, and shift approach depending on a student’s intent or difficulty level.

Faheem stands out because it learns rather than having the usual novelty AI features. The platform positions itself as inquiry-led, encouraging students to explore concepts through questioning and adaptive pathways rather than linear instruction. For teachers, this suggests potential use as a differentiated support tool rather than a replacement for instruction.

This is Egypt-backed and -based right now but can easily scale internationally, with plans to do just that. Keep your eye on this one.

Best of BETT 2026: Agibot

Agibot was a stand-out at BETT 2026 thanks to its free moving robots that could be spotted wandering the halls of the show -- and getting lots of attention. This should also be the case in a classroom where these robot have huge potential for engaging students.

Agibot offers schools a tactile way to explore AI, automation, and human-machine interaction. Its robots are designed to move, see, and respond in human-like ways, making abstract concepts around robotics and AI far more concrete for students.

The robots can be used to support STEM teaching, coding, problem-solving, and discussion around how AI systems work in the real world. For teachers, this opens up new opportunities for hands-on demonstrations and cross-curricular learning, particularly in computing and engineering.

Best of BETT 2026: Intel AI PCs for Education

Intel AI PCs for Education are being shouted about this year at BETT 2026 as these have really come into the mainstream, bringing real-world AI use to the class.

AI in education often relies on cloud-based tools, but Intel’s presence at BETT 2026 highlights a growing shift toward on-device AI processing. Intel is showcasing AI-capable PCs designed for classroom use, focusing on performance, security, and responsible AI deployment.

For teachers, the key takeaway isn’t raw processing power, but what it enables -- faster AI tools, reduced latency, better data privacy, and offline or limited-connectivity use cases. Intel’s Skills for Innovation program also ties hardware directly into teacher training and curriculum development. From Asus and Lenovo to HP, lots of big brand PC manufacturers are getting on-board in this shift to onboard AI.

The ASUS Chromebook CL14 CL15 series stood out as a way to get that level of AI support while keeping prices reasonable without sacrificing on features.

Best of BETT 2026: BBC Bitesize Learning Hub

BBC Bitesize Learning Hub is the BBC’s classroom-friendly extension of its long-running Bitesize brand, designed to support teachers with high-quality, curriculum-aligned resources. It’s built to make lesson planning easier and learning more engaging, with a focus on accessible content that feels familiar and trustworthy.

The hub brings together videos, interactive activities, and teaching materials across a range of subjects. The idea is to help teachers add depth to lessons without having to build everything from scratch. It’s especially useful for quick explanations, revision support, and reinforcement of key concepts in a way to which students actually respond.

For educators, the real value is the BBC’s editorial rigor with content that is well-produced, clear and classroom-ready.

Best of BETT 2026: Muud

Muud (pronounced "mood") is a wellbeing platform designed for children, but also for schools, as a way to monitor moods. It provides teachers with tools to check in on student mood, track wellbeing trends, and respond with appropriate support.

The platform is built around simple, regular check-ins that help educators spot patterns early, and gives students a safe space to reflect on how they’re feeling.

For teachers, Muud offers a way to build wellbeing into the day without adding extra workload. It is especially suited for schools that want to add a more proactive, whole-school approach to mental health.

Best of BETT 2026: Promethean

Promethean is one of the most recognizable names in classroom technology, best known for its interactive whiteboards and touch displays. Here at BETT it stands out thanks to a focus on teacher-led learning.

That means fewer features than some but to the advantage of educators that get a reliable platform that supports their teaching style.

Teachers can build activities, annotate live, and involve the whole class without needing a tech specialist to run the show. It’s the kind of setup that keeps lessons moving and students engaged -- especially in busy, mixed-ability classrooms.

Best of BETT 2026: FocusSpring

FocusSpring is a South Korean-based software solution that's used in schools widely as a way to help inform educators on student mental and educational wellbeing. Started by a concerned father, due to high suicide rates in the youth of Korea, this is about preventing problems by offering useful data on how students are doing.

Crucially, this gets all that by collecting what students are doing, live, rather than them having to do anything. A combination of eye tracking, keystroke detection, voice sensing, stylus use, and more -- all from current hardware -- allow for key metrics to be monitored by educators and parents.

The outputs include learning behaviors such as attention and emotional engagement, self-regulation, stress, and more. While this is used to monitor students supportively, it's also being used as a way to help teachers train, seeing what works and what doesn't -- live -- using the data to help. Plans to launch this in the U.S. are already underway.

Best of BETT 2026: Pasco

Pasco is a hands-on science and engineering offering that brings real-world experimentation into classrooms. Rather than relying on simulations, Pasco’s equipment, from sensors to lab kits, lets students collect real data, test hypotheses, and see science in action.

What makes it particularly useful for teachers is how easily it fits into existing lessons. The tools are designed to be durable, straightforward, and curriculum-friendly, so teachers can run practical experiments without needing a specialist lab. Data is captured cleanly and instantly, to help students move from observation to analysis simply.

When STEM learning is increasingly becoming digital, Pasco stands out by keeping experiments tactile and authentic. It’s the kind of tech that supports deeper scientific thinking and real investigation. At BETT it’s a reminder that technology can enhance learning just as much through physical, hands-on tools, as through screens.

Check out the full list of USA EdTech tools at BETT 2026 here.

USA EdTech has landed at BETT 2026 where it is showing off all the best education tech that the U.S. has to offer.

I met up with the team's head honcho, Jim McVety, who explained that this group of U.S representatives has grown again. This increasing cohort is here with USA Ed Tech which has come to this event for the last four years. Since the government doesn't back a stand for the U.S., as is the not case for many countries at the event, McVety and his team created USA EdTech to serve that need.

The result is a perfect point for U.S.-based education technology companies to safely explore and make the move into Europe and beyond. And the flip of that is true, for other countries and companies looking to make a connection with U.S.-based edtech professionals. As such this year's selection of providers is more varied and pioneering than ever.

Below are some of the best that the USA EdTech stand has to offer at BETT 2026.

Want to check out more? Head over to the USA EdTech site for full details of everyone involved and your chance to join the community.

Some of the members at BETT this year include: Amplify, Trimble, ClassLink, ImagineLearning, EdLink, Walkabouts, Jupiter and more.

Here is some more on a few that were able to share time with us this year.

Amplify

Amplify is a long-established education technology company with a clear focus on supporting teachers in the classroom. You may know it for its work in literacy, maths and science over the years. Amplify blends research-driven curriculum design with digital tools that are genuinely practical to use day to day.

What stands out is how teacher-led the experience feels. Whether it’s formative assessment, intervention support, or full curriculum delivery, Amplify’s designed to help educators quickly understand where students are, adjust instruction, and keep lessons fresh. Data is laid out clearly, without being too much, which helps to make it easier to turn insight into action.

Amplify is also the home of the well-known math platform Desmos Classroom, bringing interactive, discussion-rich maths into the digital and classroom. Amplify is all about engagement, clarity and evidence-based practice. As such this fits well with schools looking for technology that strengthens teaching without complexity -- a theme that appears to resonate across BETT 2026 this year.

Walkabouts Platform

Walkabouts Platform is a learning system that focuses on bringing movement into the classroom. Built from research that shows movement is directly linked to greater neuronal activity in the brain, and therefore better performance, this is science derived.

The tool links movements, like squats or jumps, to different words that are the answer to questions. In this way students use their bodies to make movements which answer the questions on screen. This leads to a measurable increase in focus as well as academic performance, while also helping to decrease hyperactivity.

From Pre-K to 5th grade, this is tailored to help educators bring more movement into the classroom while keeping students engaged and learning. Lessons are correlated to national and states standards for easy integration across math, ELA, reading, science, social studies, financial literacy, and test preparation.

Jupiter

Jupiter is a learning management system, a gradebook, and a student information system for K-12 and higher education. Jupiter is used in all 50 states across four million students. Crucially, this is a minimal solution designed to make the lives of teachers easier rather than over-complicating it with more tools.

The layout, as such, is super simple and designed for clicks and taps rather than keyboard input. For example, students can be seen laid out on screen as they sit in the class, and all a teacher need do is tap each one to mark them as absent, present and so on. It just works and helps support teachers efficiently.

Trimble SketchUp

Trimble has taken to the show floor to give us a look at its SketchUp platform, acquired by Google in 2006 before Trimble nabbed it in 2012, used by designed professionals and now available as a free education specific tool.

SketchUp is a full 3D modelling system that allows educators to help teach students to work in this environment. It operates through a web browser, making it highly accessible across devices and easy to use for students and teachers alike.

The system works within Google and Microsoft LMS options and is standards aligned to help make integration a simple process for teachers. From creating buildings to modelling a solar system, there is a broad range of possibilities available for use here. And it's all totally free to use.

Imagine Learning

Imagine Learning is an education technology company focused on making learning more accessible, inclusive and effective for every student, particularly those who need extra support. Its tools are designed to fit effortlessly into classes as a way to help teachers differentiate instruction without more workload.

The platform focuses on language development, literacy, and maths, with support for multilingual learners and students working at different paces. Teachers get clear insights into progress, alongside resources that help adapt lessons simply.

Imagine Learning offers flexibility and responsiveness, so that educators can meet learners where they are. It’s a good fit for schools looking for technology that supports equity, personalization and real classroom impact -- some key themes at BETT 2026.

ClassLink

ClassLink is all about making life easier for teachers and students by simplifying access to digital learning tools. Best known for its single sign-on platform, ClassLink lets users get to all their apps and resources through one secure login. The idea is that this cuts down on lost lesson time and login problems.

Rostering, analytics and usage insights help schools understand which tools are being used and where support might be needed. With a strong focus on security, accessibility and ease of use, ClassLink works to remove friction from everyday digital learning.

Edlink

Edlink is a platform built to make school technology ecosystems feel less messy. Its core strength is connecting different apps and tools so they work together smoothly, without teachers having to be tech pros.

For teachers, that means less time wrestling with logins, spreadsheets, and manual rostering, and more time teaching. Edlink also helps school leaders keep systems secure and compliant, via third-party support, while giving a clearer picture of how tools are being used across the school.

Edlink’s focus on integration and simplicity is powerful and can make a big difference in day-to-day school life. This is the kind of offering that matters more than people realize -- until it’s missing.

Boclips is the world's largest library of education-specific video content, according to the company. This is essentially a school-safe version of YouTube, designed specifically for teaching.

At a time when video learning is becoming more powerful, more useful, and more in-demand than ever, Boclips is the natural answer to the question of how to make sure videos are school-friendly.

The result is a single place with a huge range of videos that are made from more than 650 trusted content creators. It features ad-free, safe, and non-distracting video alternatives to YouTube.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about Boclips and how it could serve your class needs.

What is Boclips?

Boclips is a curated, education-specific, video platform. Hosting around 1.8 million educational videos, this aggregated collection is ideal for schools.

The 650+ trusted content providers include SciShow, PBS, CrashCourse, Bloomberg, TED, and others. The key here is that this content is available without the adverts or distracting linked video suggestions that may cause students to go off topic, such as when using other systems.

Teachers can quickly find and share videos that students are able to access and view, distraction free. These are all curated and aligned for class use, making it a safe and risk-free video teaching tool that's ideal for schools.

How does Boclips work?

Boclips is a stand-alone library of video clips that can be accessed by teachers and shared easily.

Crucially, all these videos are organized with educators in mind. Consequently, it's possible to search using categories such as age, subject, pedagogy, and even standards such as Common Core or Next Generation Science Standards.

Using filters and tags, it's possible to find the relevant videos fast that are educationally relevant.

Teachers are then able to share using links, embedding in an LMS such as Google Classroom, or by curating playlists for units or projects.

Students then only see the video that was sent to them by the teacher, so no linking distractions or ads getting in the way.

What are the best Boclips features?

Boclips has around 1.8 million curated videos available to be used and viewed by teachers and students. Since all the content creators are vetted, everything in the library is education appropriate.

The fact everything is ad-free and there are no other linked videos means that students can use videos while staying focused solely on the task at hand. That makes this ideal for a wide range of ages and abilities.

Teachers can filter results not just by topic but by curriculum standards, pedagogical use case, age level, and language proficiency level. All that results in an efficient process for educators and the end result should be the most relevant materials, quickly.

Playlists are a helpful way to build materials around a subject area. These can work collaboratively allowing teachers to work together but also for students to do so, perhaps as part of a group project.

Integrations with tools such as WeVideo and BenQ Boards make this even more accessible, and the company is continuing to expand and integrate in this way, making it easier to access.

How much does Boclips cost?

Boclips offers free trials to educators but then there are fees.

Since this uses institutional licensing, pricing is offered on a bespoke basis to suit use cases.

This generally includes unlimited teacher access, admin dashboards, usage analytics, professional development and support, plus integration assistance and custom solutions.

Boclips best tips and tricks

Start with subject collections
Use Boclips’ curated subject collections when short on planning time. These pre-built collections make it quick to find relevant videos for common topics.

Map videos to curriculum standards
Filter and search by specific curriculum standards so video content aligns directly with learning objectives, rather than just being engaging.

Clip segments for focused learning
Use the segmenting tools to share only the key portions of a video that match your lesson aim. This keeps students focused and saves instructional time.

Flat for Education is a cloud-based solution to music teaching in a digital world. As such, this combines all you could need to teach music in a way that transcends the page and even any one device.

The idea here is to offer a teaching system that works for educators and students across and range of instruments and musical styles, while remaining accessible from any device.

This music theory and composition space serves to let students and teachers create, edit, share feedback, and engage on musical work all in one place.

Designed for classroom use, this makes for easy class management, music assignment generation, progress tracking, and more. This guide lays it all out so you can see how Flat could be of note in your class.

What is Flat for Education?

Flat for Education is beyond your basic notation editor as this goes way further to encompass music education support across a range of systems.

This offers notation, composition, collaboration, and assessment tools all in one place. That allows students and teachers to create, edit, and share musical scores, complete assignments, receive feedback, and engage with classmates in real time.

Beyond that, this also allows for schools and districts to manage classes, generate music assignments, track progress, and integrate with popular learning management systems such as Google Classroom, Canvas, and Microsoft Teams.

So while this is a music theory and composition workspace, it's also a lot more.

How does Flat for Education work?

Flat for Education is web-based so it can be used across devices without the need to install any software. Everything runs within the browser so it can be accessed from a laptop, tablet, or phone with ease.

Students can start working on making music using a notation editor, which supports more than 100 instruments. This offers instant playback, and tools to customize notational symbols and layouts.

Students immediately hear what they write, to deepen their understanding of pitch, rhythm, harmony, and musical structure.

Teachers can set assignments, with auto-grading worksheets and collaborative shared writing project options. After students have worked on an assignment, or co-edited in real-time, it can be easily shared and assessed easily thanks to LMS integration options.

What are the best Flat for Education features?

Flat for Education works across a wide range of users, from beginners to more advanced musicians, from writing melodies to creating full scores. Notes, rests, articulations, and dynamics are all easy to place and edit.

The ability to collaborate is a big part of the appeal here. Student groups can co-compose in real time, with teachers observing live edits and offering feedback. This can help to foster teamwork and mimic real-world creative workflows.

Integration with LMS options allow teachers to sync student rosters and share assignments directly within Google Classroom, Canvas, Microsoft Teams, and more.

Tasks are varied with options that include composition tasks and performance assignments with video and audio uploads, plus auto-graded theory worksheets that are ideal for assessing fundamentals.

Real-time feedback is helpful as teachers can comment on scores and rate submissions, and provide formative feedback live.

How much does Flat for Education cost?

Flat for Education offers a 30-day free trial, after which a paid plan is required.

Quotes are generally on a per institution basis so the price per user per year will vary depending on the needs. But there is a minimum of 50 users required for one of these plans.

Flat for Education best tips and tricks

Embed music theory
Use auto-graded worksheets to reinforce fundamentals such as intervals, key signatures, and rhythms. These can quickly check comprehension and free up class time for deeper discussion.

Use shared writing
Assign students into small groups to co-compose original pieces. Shared writing turns composition into an interactive teamwork experience.

Blend performance and notation
Have students not only compose but also perform their pieces by uploading audio or video recordings of themselves playing the scores.

TeenToks is named similarly to that very famous social media app for a reason -- this is aimed at teens and tweens. Only in this instance, the main focus is on supporting mental health.

This iOS-specific app is designed as a mental wellness app that works in the form of a video platform. Thus, young people can engage socially, using pre-vetted videos, as a way to learn about mental health.

From topics such as anxiety and body image to confidence and friendships, there is lots to learn on this platform. Launched by edtech company GoZen!, this is a purpose-built app with young people's safety and health in mind.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about TeenToks.

What is TeenToks?

TeenToks is an iOS app that uses videos in a social media style to help educate and support teens and tweens with their mental health.

The idea is that peers can be highly influential, which can be especially useful when applied positively. Everything is research-based in mental health science and uses authentic teen-created content.

However, in this case, that content is vetted first, so everything is safe and can be viewed and shared in a healthy and helpful way.

The app is filled with free and premium content, with more than 40 free videos and meditations, plus hundreds of premium videos and challenges.

How does TeenToks work?

TeenToks is a video-sharing and -viewing platform at its core. This works using bite-sized and relatable video content created by and for teens.

These teens, called "Tokkers," are trained and supported by GoZen! to create short lessons that break down research-backed mental health strategies into real-world scenarios and practical tips.

Guided meditations are also available, along with wellness challenges and social features, all baked into the system.

Parents can create multiple profiles under one account, allowing them to apply age filters for shared use across the family.

Teens can search by category, if they want, allowing them to explore a range of topics that include:

• Anxiety and stress
• Body image
• Confidence and self worth
• Friendships and belonging
• Motivation and goal setting
• School and grades
• Sleep
• Social anxiety
• Thoughts and feelings

What are the best TeenToks features?

TeenToks offers only peer-created and teen-focused content, making it not only safe but also highly relevant and engaging.

Each video and challenge is grounded in well-being science, helping teens learn coping strategies for areas ranging from school stress to self-esteem.

Usefully, the inclusion of guided meditations and wellness streaks encourages regular engagement and positive habit formation. This can be a key component for long-term emotional wellness, says the company.

Unlike most social media, TeenToks restricts posts with a focus on curated educational videos. This decreases exposure to harmful content but also limits interactivity.

How much does TeenToks cost?

TeenToks is free to download and use with a selection of free videos, meditations, and introductory content included.

Premium access unlocks the full library of more than 450 videos, extended wellness challenges, and weekly content updates. This requires a paid subscription with a 7-day free trial option.

Monthly subscriptions start at $9.99 per month and go up to $12.99 per month, based on location and plan.

TeenToks best tips and tricks

Supplement SEL
Integrate TeenToks videos into SEL lessons, using specific clips as discussion prompts on challenging issues.

Assign reflective activities
Pair a TeenToks video with reflective journaling or group discussions. Ask students to apply takeaways to their own lives.

Try peer-led projects
Have students create their own TeenToks-style videos as class projects.

As a psychotherapist and technology journalist, specializing in education, I'm often looking at the intersection between app-based solutions and real-world emotional needs for students.

This is a very, very busy space right now as apps, AI, and enhanced attention in this area are all making for a whole host of potential solutions. So where do you start?

I think it's important to focus on what you're trying to do, first. Are you offering tools to send kids away to self-regulate, or are you trying to work with them to offer ways to explore their emotional worlds together? Or perhaps a combination of the two?

A student with enhanced communication skills, empathy, and an ability to know their own needs and limits is automatically going to be more independent. This is good for them and for educators.

So this guide aims to lay out some of the best special ed need (SEN) apps to help foster social and emotional independence for a better mental health experience for students and teachers alike.

TeenToks

TeenToks is a very modern and highly teen-focused solution to a mental health issue that has been enhanced by social media. Only in this case, that social media-style app is used to foster better self-care, enhanced emotional learning, and reduced adult authority pressure to help.

This mirrors how adolescents process emotional information: socially, narratively, and without feeling 'treated.' In this way, the app allows them to explore videos created by peers, normalizing mental health talk, in a short-form that's easy with which to engage.

GoNoodle

GoNoodle is a great choice for anyone who wants to use movement-based work to help with the discharge of energy. For this reason, the tool can be very helpful for learners with ADHD, autism, and sensory-seeking challenges.

This uses movement to help regulate the emotional system and to discharge nervous system arousal, safely and effectively.

While that can look like burning off energy, it's actually co-regulation through movement. This is ideal for any student who may struggle to process or express emotional experiences verbally. A great, body-first somatic path to regulation.

Moshi

Moshi offers a way to help students down-regulate their nervous systems so they can be more available and attentive. This can be a great way to start lessons, setting everyone in the room on a similar level for calm and available attention.

This uses strong evidence-based approaches to reduce anxiety. This includes calming stories, mindfulness, and a focus on sleep. That makes this ideal for transition periods, such as lesson beginnings or endings, as well as refusal points, or to help with sleep when needed.

Smiling Mind

Smiling Mind is a really good tool for working on understanding how to name and communicate feelings.

Thanks to a focus on emotional vocabulary development, this is a really powerful way for students to explore their inner worlds in a meaningful and useful way, both in the moment and for the future.

This uses structured mindfulness programs, nicely adapted to age groups, that allow teachers to help students develop better emotional literacy. The fact it's free, school-friendly, and non-commercial all help to make this a really powerful option for teachers.

Zones of Regulation

Zones of Regulation is an effective option to help students with their emotional self-regulation. This works well to take emotions as they are, without the usual moral connections that can complicate the reality around working with them non-judgmentally.

This uses an emotional self-regulation framework that's visual for ease of understanding, even for younger students. The idea is to take "bad" away from feelings and rather focus on ones that, perhaps, need more support than others.

No matter which you use, these SEN-friendly options make for a powerful way to help students work more openly and effectively with their own emotions in a self-affirming way.

Game-based learning turns potentially tedious study time into an adventurous knowledge quest, complete with catchy soundtracks and digital rewards. It helps keep kids engaged with the subject matter and motivated to pursue greater expertise. Best of all, web- or app-based gameplay integrates easily into both online and in-person classes.

We’ve curated the best K-12 educational game sites and apps, arranged according to cost. Many are free (or offer free basic accounts), while some provide progress tracking and analysis tools for teachers. All are remarkably creative and will help kids enjoy learning.

Best Free K-12 Education Games

LangGuesser
Listen to a brief clip of someone speaking, then click on a country where that language is spoken. It may “sound” easy, but it’s surprising how tricky it is to distinguish unfamiliar spoken languages from one another. No account required, but do create an account in order to track your progress. A great exercise for any language class.

Brilliant
Brilliant employs colorful professional graphics and gamified learning to help kids master STEM topics such as algebra and computer science. Exercises start with the basics and gradually build to more complex problems. Each answer, whether correct or incorrect, has an accompanying explanation to aid in understanding the topic. Best of all, Brilliant provides completely free access to its premium account for educators and administrators with school email addresses.

GeoGuesser Name The Countries - Geography Quiz Game
There are 195 recognized countries in the world. How many can you identify on an unmarked map, and how fast can you do it? Eight different versions add to the possible challenges. A great way to learn and practice geopolitical knowledge. Free, no account required.

Quizzity
A super simple but challenging geography quiz. How close can you place the pin to the city-level location provided? The worldwide map includes nothing but political borders to the province/state level. What I liked about this game is that players earn points for being close, even when incorrect. In this way, users are encouraged to keep trying and learning.

Vocab Scrabble
Can you improve your English vocabulary by playing online Scrabble? Yes, according to AE Studio’s Vocab Scrabble, a simple-yet-challenging digital version of the beloved word game. The rules are elementary. Or shall I say basic? Perhaps fundamental? Click “start playing” and the five-minute countdown begins. Like Scrabble, the player receives a selection of letters with which to compose words. Unlike Scrabble, the selection changes after each word created. No account required.

New York Times Games Subscription | iOS Android
While not strictly speaking educational games, these standout puzzles from The New York Times clearly require users to exercise language, math, and logic skills. Non-subscribers can play the following inventive games for free: Wordle, Sudoku, Connections, Pips, Strands, and the daily Mini Crossword for free. My favorite is Connections, the devilishly tricky word game that asks users to create four sets of related words. Players must carefully consider all possible meanings of each word before making their choices. And be sure to try creating your own Wordle game, which can be shared with friends, colleagues, and students. Games offer difficulty levels, hints post-game analysis. Available via website or app.

Prodigy English
From the makers of the popular Prodigy Math, Prodigy English is a gamified English language learning program that features all the fun bells and whistles of gaming, from creating worlds to boosting energy with correct answers. A suite of teachers’ tools includes assessments and reports. Aligned to Common Core reading and language standards for grades 1 to 6. Best of all, the premium Prodigy English is fully free to educators.

Prodigy Math
An award-winning, standards-aligned online math game designed for grades 1-8, Prodigy is modeled on popular fantasy-style multiplayer games. Students select and customize an avatar, and then prepare to battle math problems. Free basic account includes core gameplay and basic pet features. Prodigy Math is fully free to educators.

Ducksters
This easy-to-navigate site affords a wide range of educational digital games for students or anyone who enjoys gameplay and learning. Included are math, word, geography, and puzzle games as well as classic games such as chess, checkers, backgammon, mahjong, and more. But it’s not just fun and games at Duckster. An extensive collection of illustrated lessons in history, biography, geography, and science are accompanied by quizzes and links to the relevant games. No account required to play or learn.

Khan Academy Kids
An award-winning, free iOs or Android app, Khan Academy Kids offers a comprehensive collection of educational math, literacy, and music games and activities for kids aged 2-8 years. Top-rated by users, this free app includes no ads—and no subscription is needed.

Puzzle Playground
From the publisher of Math Playground, Puzzle Playground is a free game-based learning site that uses puzzles of every kind to engage kids’ imaginations. Don’t think “jigsaw” because these amazingly creative puzzles go far beyond shape-fitting. Instead, these varied digital puzzles will keep kids of any age busy challenging their problem-solving, trial-and-error, spatial reasoning, and perseverance skills. Super fun too.

Best Free Virtual Escape Rooms for Schools
These top free virtual escape rooms combine the best elements of gameplay -- suspense, skill, knowledge, and speed. Arranged according to age suitability.

Moose Math - Duck Duck Moose iOs Android
A multi-level math game that allows kids ages 3-7 to earn rewards and decorate cities by solving math problems disguised as adventures. Common Core-aligned for kindergarten and first grade.

Wordscapes iOs Android
Wordscape combines the best features of crossword puzzles, word connect, and word anagram games, all accompanied by scenery designed to relax and focus the mind.

Mind Games
Don’t worry, this site doesn’t advocate gaslighting or psychological manipulation. Rather it’s a collection of free online number, word and logic games, brain teasers, sudoku, crosswords, and more. Free with (blockable) ads. For a premium ad free gaming, visit adfreegames.com, where users pay only $10 for a full year of access.

Solving the Rubik's Cube!
From educator Ryan Chadwick comes this top-notch digital tutorial for one of the most challenging hands-on puzzles ever. Includes images and advice to boost your speed solving Rubik’s cube. Free, no account required.

Annenberg Classroom That's Your Right
Kids play alone or in multiplayer mode to learn and practice their Bill of Rights expertise. With high-quality graphics and music and three levels of difficulty, this free game is an excellent way to support civics education for middle and high school students. Additional resources include a Constitution guide, review of Supreme Court cases, and lesson plans.

Funbrain
Browse K-8 educational games by grade level, popularity, and topics such as math, grammar, and vocabulary. New games include chess, sudoku, and What on Earth?! (geography). Free, no registration required.

iCivics Games
A rich resource for social studies education, the nonprofit iCivics was founded by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in 2009 to educate Americans about our democracy. The site includes an educational portal for learning about civics and standards-based games and curricula.

Little Alchemy 2
Air. Earth. Fire. Water. Simply creative. Simply brilliant. iOs and Android too. For makers and imaginers of any age.

National Geographic Kids
Free quizzes and games in topics ranging from animals and bugs to solving ciphers.

PBS Kids Games
Dozens of free games, from math to social-emotional learning, will delight younger learners. No account required on this user-friendly website. English and Spanish. New games include Nature Sights and Sounds, Puppy Pet Care, Road Repair, and many more.

Play4A
A deceptively simple interface allows users to play surprisingly challenging games for free. In addition, teachers create gamified quizzes, then share the code with their students. A jaunty musical soundtrack adds to the enjoyment.

RoomRecess
Find 140+ free learning games in a wide variety of subjects, including math, language arts, typing and keyboard skills, digital puzzles, and more. Games are grouped by grades as well as topics. Highly popular with teachers and students alike.

Tate Kids
Explore art-based games and quizzes on this super appealing, highly visual site from Great Britain’s Tate Museum. Activities focus on learning and discovery rather than test scores. An exceptional way to get kids thinking about and making art. Free.

HoloLAB Champions (Educators Edition)
Players in this remarkable virtual chemistry lab will measure, weigh, pour, and heat in a series of competitive lab skills games. No safety goggles required—but don’t forget your virtual pair! Free for educators. HoloLAB Champions is available in English on Steam for the Oculus Rift and VIVE VR platforms. Free to educators.

NASA Space Place
NASA invites users to investigate Earth and outer space via games that ask big questions such as, “How does NASA talk to its faraway spacecraft?” and “How does the sun make energy?” Free and fascinating.

Best Freemium K-12 Education Games

Factile
Clue: The best known and loved quiz game show in American history. Response: What is Jeopardy!? Factile, with its sleek, sophisticated interface, allows users to create and share Jeopardy!-like quiz games, in addition to playing publicly available games. Create games manually or allow AI to populate the game board with clues related to your chosen topics. Free account users can create up to three custom games, share and embed games and play public games. Transparent pricing allows for easy comparison among account options, with Home/School Basic at $48 annually and Home/School Plus under $100 annually.

GrooveLit
Groovelit’s COPPA- and FERPA-compliant gamified writing practice helps students in grades 4-10 find their voice. Teachers can create new writing games or make use of ready-made games with adjustable player settings. Customizable to state standards. Groovelit Basic provides unlimited free access to gamified writing practice and unlimited students per game, while Groovelit Go adds individualized feedback/analysis and other premium features.

Education.Com Games
With nearly 1,000 high-quality, engaging educational games covering math, science, social studies, and English, Education has something for every preK-8 student. Basic members can access three free downloads per month, while premium members have unlimited access to all Education.com resources. Premium-only features include Guided Lessons, Collections, and more.

ABCya Free Games of the Week
More than 300 lively educational games and mobile apps for preK-6 students. Games can be searched by Common Core State Standards, as well as Next Generation Science Standards. Six new free games released every week. Free for desktop use, premium plan for mobile devices.

Arcademics
An award-winning, innovative site for K-8 game-based learning in math, language arts, geography, and other subjects, Arcademics includes an educational portal that allows teachers to monitor student progress, generate detailed reports, and assess student learning. Free basic account provides most features and is ad-supported. Free 30-day trial. No credit card required.

Oodlu
An online education gaming platform, Oodlu is perfect for learners of any age with some reading ability. Teachers create their own games using the built-in question bank, and analytics provide progress reports for each student. Free standard account.

Blooket
A wonderful gamified learning/quiz platform with a user-friendly interface, Blooket offers nine different game modes and runs on student devices as well as desktop computers. Free basic account allows for unlimited sets and edits, unique game modes, and question set search for up to 60 players.

Turtle Diary Online Games
An extensive collection of games, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and other digital tools for preK-5 students, searchable by topic, grade, and Common Core standard. Free and premium accounts.

Gimkit
Created by a high school student, Gimkit bills itself as a game show for the classroom. Kids can earn in-game cash with correct answers and invest the money in upgrades and power-ups. Reports for educators are generated after every game played. A second program, Gimkit Ink, allows students to publish and share their schoolwork. $4.99/month, or group pricing for schools. A 30-day free trial of Gimkit Pro can be converted to a free basic account.

Kahoot
One of the most popular sites for gamifying the classroom. Teachers create games and quizzes and students answer them on their mobile devices. You’ll find a plan for every budget: free basic, pro, and premium.

Knoword
A fine, fast-paced vocabulary game. Educators can create their own word packs and track student progress. Free basic accounts allow play of all public word packs, sharing, and exporting, while the moderately priced Pro and Team accounts allow unlimited word pack creation and assignments.

Legends of Learning
A fine collection of standards-aligned science and math games for K-8 students. Free teacher accounts, with premium features for school and district-level accounts. Bonus: Learn about the games before signing up here. Be sure to check out their free upcoming game-based STEM competitions.

Best Premium K12 Education Games

Geoguessr
A unique and visually captivating geography brainteaser that encourages children to decipher locations using hints from Google Street View and Mapillary visuals. Ideal for fostering cognitive abilities and logical reasoning, while providing an entertaining and immersive experience.

Math Playground
Explore this extensive selection of math, logic, skills, and word games for kids in grades K-6. Created by educator Coleen King, Math Playground is kidSAFE/COPPA Certified and includes only COPPA-certified children's ads. Shareable in Google Classroom.

Vocabulary Spelling City
Three dozen free games cover topics including vocabulary, spelling, phonics, and language arts. Each game includes several variations, so the total number of games to play exceeds 100. Just start playing- no account needed. Looking for premium content? Head over to the new site for premium games at VocabularyA-Z.com

Buzzmath
Buzzmath provides more than 14,000 interactive math questions, as well as manipulable objects, audio text reading, math glossary, brain teasers, badges, and digital rewards. Teachers can personalize learning for each student with this standards-aligned supplementary math resource.

Sumdog
Sumdog’s standards-based math and spelling practice platform aims to boost student learning and confidence with adaptive personalized gameplay. A hit with kids and research-validated to boot. Free 30-day trial.

MinecraftEdu
A block-based graphics game, designed for education, that allows students to build and explore virtual worlds. Built-in educator controls support a safe and education-directed experience. The abundant classroom resources include lesson plans, training for educators, challenge building, and more.

Skoolbo
Skoolbo offers educational games for reading, writing, numeracy, languages, science, art, music, and logic. Digital books and step-by-step animated lessons support young learners as well. Various plans for classes and schools, with the first month free.

Equatio is an arguably revolutionary technological tool that brings math and science into the digital age.

For years there has been a lag as the typing of equations has been awkward and graph sharing inconsistent, leaving the jump to digital less well-covered for science over arts.

Equatio changes that by offering a more inclusive and optimal way of working with math and science equations digitally.

Developed by TextHelp, this tool lets users type naturally, handwrite on a touchscreen, or even speak equations aloud, in order to enter these digitally.

For teachers this is a great way to lessen the workload for assessments, worksheets, and more. And it offers consistency across devices.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about how Equatio could work in your class.

What is Equatio?

Equatio is an equation editor that allows math and science work to be created, edited, and shared digitally with ease.

One of the main selling points of this tool is that it offers a level playing field for all students by providing the tools they need to access equations though different methods.

These access points include handwriting math, speaking it, or visualizing it by converting from existing worksheets.

From students with special educational needs to EAL students, this platform aims to give independence to everyone who wants to engage with STEM learning. It even works in exam situations to ensure everyone can get access as they need.

This tools helps students and teachers communicate digitally through the use of formulas, graphs, equations, and visual explanations.

That works across a host of platforms and devices including Windows, macOS, Chrome, iOS, and online environments.

How does Equatio work?

Equatio works both as a stand alone app and a toolbar that can run overlaying other tools such as Google Docs, Word, Chrome browsers, and more.

This allows you to input in various ways that include typing, handwriting, speech, screenshot import, LaTeX input, or selection from symbol palettes.

Usefully, there is a predictive math engine that allows you to type naturally and it will help complete the rest to save time, if possible. For example, typing “sqrt” produces a radical symbol, and typing “2^3” automatically converts into an exponent.

This reduces the need for multistep formatting and allows students to focus on mathematical thinking rather than notation mechanics.

This applies to handwriting and speech inputs as well, as the system does the conversion for the user to make it as easy and quick as possible.

Teachers can setup multi-step problems, interactive tasks, or diagrams within the Mathspace digital STEM workspace environment. This lets students annotate, draw, rearrange, and show working clearly.

What are the best Equatio features?

Equatio features a really helpful Screenshot Reader tool that acts as a way to bridge the physical and digital worlds.

This allows teachers to capture images of printed worksheets, textbook pages, exam questions, or online graphics to have these converted into a digital example. The system will extract the mathematical notation and leave that available in an editable form.

The Mathspace, a virtual whiteboard of sorts, is ideal for problem-solving, modeling, or showing work. Teachers can create interactive worksheets, scaffold steps, or build manipulatives that students can rearrange.

Desmos graphing is fully supported so functions can be plotted, manipulated, and embedded into assignments. Students can quickly test ideas, explore behavior, and analyze relationships.

Equatio goes beyond algebra for math. Chemistry formulas, atomic structures, physics notation, and scientific operators are all supported, making it a full STEM tool.

The tool has a host of accessibility functions. Equatio supports learners with dysgraphia, processing difficulties, motor impairments, and more. It also integrates exam-access features for approved candidates.

How much does Equatio cost?

Equatio is available through a combination of individual subscriptions, institutional licenses, and pilots. While pricing can vary by region and deployment, the broad structure is:

A 30-day free trial for individuals, or a 90-day pilot for schools and districts wanting to test the tool with multiple users, is available.

The Individual license options, starting at $170/year, offer paid annual plans for single users.

The School or district licensing options off site-wide deployments with volume-based pricing, central management tools, and broad access for staff and students.

Pricing for a K-12 Group is $17/student/year, or for a K-12 District is $2.05/student/year.

Equatio best tips and tricks

Use Mathspace for modelling
Build worked examples in which each layer appears gradually. This helps students follow reasoning rather than just seeing final answers.

Create reusable templates
Set up equation frameworks, graphing tasks, unit-conversion grids, or chemistry balancing worksheets once, then duplicate each year.

Combine handwriting and typing
Encourage students to start by handwriting intuitively, then convert to typed notation to check for accuracy. It builds muscle memory and symbolic fluency together.

Wayfinder is a tool that is designed for use in schools but with a focus on the world outside of that space. The idea being to offer some guidance to young people on how to manage themselves and how to live -- preparing them for the future.

The goal here is to give students durable skills that help them thrive well after graduation time. From self-awareness and adaptability to collaboration and empathy, all the skills learned here can be truly valuable.

This is a useful option for teachers looking to go beyond conventional SEL offerings. This is more like a bridge between academic programs and real-world experience. Everything is research-grounded, designed for education, and made to work across grade levels.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about Wayfinder to see if it could work in your class.

What is Wayfinder?

Wayfinder is an offering that aims to build foundational skills for young people, to help them achieve lifelong success.

This is a research-backed and educator-designed curriculum that is made to fit into a teacher's setup already. As such, this offers a selection of tools that can be used from primary school to college, in class or alongside counseling, as needed.

Aimed primarily at K-12, this tries to help build confidence, adaptability, and a sense of purpose -- essentially ensuring students don't lose their way in life.

This means helping kids think about decision-making, interpersonal communication, self-awareness, purposeful leadership, and social-emotional development.

Wayfinder can be used across a range of platforms including advisory classes, electives, academic integration, extracurriculars, and even in support and intervention contexts, such as counseling or multi‑tier support systems (MTSS).

How does Wayfinder work?

Wayfinder is built for flexibility with an ability to slot into a variety of school structures. But it also uses structured assessments, called Waypoints, as a way to measure student growth and monitor core skill competencies over time.

Schools and districts can use this during advisory periods, electives or specialist classes, regular academic classes, or even extracurricular and morning‑meeting time. That should make it a good fit within a wide range of school constraints and approaches.

Wayfinder does offer specific targeted interventions, focusing on areas such as chronic absenteeism, bullying prevention, executive functioning, digital citizenship, and restorative practices.

Specific assessment options are available to track growth in core competencies over time -- skills such as self‑awareness, agency, collaboration, empathy, adaptability, and purpose. All with real-time data analysis to help educators identify strengths and areas that need more support.

Modules extend to career and college focus, plus professional learning and staff support.

What are the best Wayfinder features?

Wayfinder is a dedicated way to focus on learning beyond the academic core content, in a manner that actively helps students prepare not only for the future but specifically their future.

The fact that this is super flexible and embeddable makes for a far easier choice for educators and institutions, when it comes to adding this to the list of tools that can fit into the system as it currently works. The ability to use this across grade levels and class types also helps with uptake ease.

The data-driven focus helps measure progress over time -- something that can be hard to find in traditional SEL programs. This can really help with effective targeted interventions.

By using a focused and measurable approach, Wayfinder can be utilized as a way to help with ongoing issues for schools such as absenteeism, behavior, and disengagement. Something that can be applied on a class, school, or district-wide scale.

For older students, the modules on career preparation, financial skills, and life pathways directly address the gap many schools struggle to fill. This can bridge academic learning with real-world preparedness.

How much does Wayfinder cost?

Wayfinder does not share its pricing publicly. Instead it simply says that pricing follows a "contact us" style approach in which you schedule a demo and work it out from there.

While that's not very transparent, it does also mean there could be a level of adaptability to suit the needs of the buyer. The cost likely depends on a variety of factors including number of students, which grade levels are covered, extent of use, and support or training requirements.

Wayfinder best tips and tricks

Alignment
Use Wayfinder in advisory periods, morning meetings or elective slots to avoid overburdening timetables. Because it's designed to slot into multiple formats you can tailor its deployment to your school schedule.

Tracking
Deliver Waypoints assessments at regular intervals to monitor class‑level or school‑level trends. Use formative assessments in between to catch dips or emerging issues, and adapt your interventions accordingly.

Target
If you have students struggling with attendance, behavior, social or emotional issues or disengagement -- the MTSS or counseling use‑case of Wayfinder may help. Use the platform’s flexibility to tailor interventions rather than applying a one size fits all approach.

What happened to the Hour of Code?

Since 2013, Hour of Code activities have been helping educators worldwide to teach coding and computer science principles to K-12 students during Computer Science Education Week every December (this year December 8-14).

Now, with the rapid penetration of artificial intelligence into technology, communications, industry, and education, it’s time to build on the success of Hour of Code. The Hour of AI is upon us.

The Hour of AI follows the principles of the Hour of Code -- that any educator can teach about artificial intelligence with the right guidance. Students will learn to understand and create with AI instead of simply being passive consumers of it.

Fortunately, it’s not an either-or choice. While the Hour of AI has claimed its place in Computer Science Education Week, there are still many fine Hour of Code lessons and activities to choose from.

Whether Hour of AI or Hour of Code, the purpose is the same: To get kids excited about computer science via brief, enjoyable lessons, typically based on digital games and apps. However, you can also teach AI, coding, STEM, and computer logic with “unplugged” analog lessons, some of which are listed here.

Most of the following free Hour of AI/Hour of Code lessons and activities do not require an account or login. All are easy to access and can enrich your classroom’s computer science curriculum all year round.

Hour of AI Lessons and Activities

CS For All Hour of AI
Everything educators need to know about the Hour of AI, including a wealth of print and digital resources, activities, and a how-to guide for hosting an Hour of AI event.

Digital Schoolhouse Computer Science Workshops
The UK-based non profit Digital Schoolhouse provides a robust set of free workshops for teaching computer science topics from Big Data to Ultimate Games Careers. Each workshop includes a teacher’s guide, PowerPoint class presentation, exercises, and additional digital materials.

Digital Schoolhouse Playful Computer Activities
Computer activities don’t always require a computer. Use this terrific assortment of creative lessons to teach computer-related concepts such as computational thinking, binary language, game design, and more, all packaged with amusing characters, puzzles, and logic problems. The carefully designed materials include everything teachers need to bring the lesson to the classroom—except the Playdough, of course!

Digital Schoolhouse Hour of AI: AI unplugged
How does generative AI work? This excellent unplugged AI lesson answers this question and explains the basics of generative AI -- no digital technology required! Included are a teacher guide, worksheets, and an editable PowerPoint presentation. For students nine years and older.

Raspberry Pi Experience CS Curriculum
A free computer science curriculum that’s designed to be incorporated into core content, such as math, science, social studies, and language arts. Ten standards-aligned units cover subjects including weather, art, music, and ecology, and provide lesson plans, slide decks, assessments, and other teaching resources. Grades 4-8. Free account required.

ISTE Artificial Intelligence Lessons
Available in English, Spanish, and Arabic, these hands-on AI project guides help teachers implement a variety of AI lessons in the classroom, from unplugged to chatbots and video games. Education email required for lesson download.

Mix & Move with AI
From the innovative nonprofit Code.org, this lesson brings dance, music, and AI together to teach kids 8-18 years old how to combine creativity, coding, and AI. Includes educator’s guide, lesson plan, classroom slide deck, and prep video.

Coding with AI
Is it possible to use AI for learning a subject rather than cheating? Code.org says yes. Its Coding With AI program is a five-lesson course exploring how kids can tap into AI as a learning support and resource. Each standards-based lesson includes a teacher’s guide, agenda, activities, and assessments. Integrated with Google and Microsoft for easy login and digital sharing.

Hour of Code Lessons and Activities

Blockly: Educational Games that Teach Programming
Simple and elegant game-based coding site that allows novice users to quickly jump in and start learning to code, first with blocks, then with text. Each of the eight game categories introduces an important coding concept, from loops and conditionals to functions. Shareable links promote collaboration. No account required.

Code with Anna and Elsa
From code.org, this step-by-step guide allows students to code a fun animation featuring the popular characters from Frozen. Explanatory videos and tooltips help users navigate and complete each step, while the “run” command shows them if they got it right. A free account is not required, but creating an account allows teachers to assign and track work.

Tinkercad Codeblocks
Block-based coding is a great start for aspiring coders of any age. First create a free account, then explore tutorials on shapes, 3D movement, templates, and much more. Once students have gained some experience, they can try remixing template code, or even create their own.

Khan Academy: Hour of Code
Khan Academy’s interactive videos, challenges, and projects make it easy to dive into STEM teaching and learning coding. The clean, easy-to-navigate interface provides step-by-step guidance and resources for coding drawings, webpages, databases, and more. Create a free account to save resources and document your progress. Not sure where to begin? Consult the teachers’ guides, which cover programming with JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, and more. Integrates with Google Classroom.

The Tech Interactive: Computational Thinking
Computational thinking is not just for coding. Learn how the four elements of computational thinking—decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms—can be applied not only to coding, but also to problem-solving across the curriculum. Then check out the CT K12 lessons and activities here.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Coding Lessons
Twenty coding lessons of increasing difficulty feature the Grinch and scenes from the beloved book.

Hour of Code: Simple Encryption
Previously the domain of militaries and spies, encryption is now an important part of modern life for anyone who uses a digital device. This simple encryption puzzle starts at the lowest level and builds in complexity. Fun and educational.

Intro to App Lab
Create your own apps with App Lab’s tools and guidance.

Girls Who Code
Free JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Python, Scratch, and other programming lessons that students, parents, and educators can complete at home.

MIT App Inventor
Users create their own mobile app with a blocks-based programming language. Need help? Check out the coding tutorials here.

Microsoft Make Code: Hands-on computing education
Fun projects utilizing both block and text editors for students of all ages. No account needed.

Scratch: Get Creative with Coding
No account needed to start coding new worlds, cartoons, or flying animals.

Scratch Jr
Nine activities introduce kids to coding with the programming language Scratch Jr., which lets children aged 5-7 create interactive stories and games.

The most affordable Chromebooks for schools can help create a digital environment for growth and learning, without a steep cost.

A Chromebook represents a way to provide an array of digital tools to educators and students while remaining accessible and easy to use.

This guide aims to lay out some of the best options from the most affordable Chromebooks out there -- specifically designed to help you find the right model to suit your exact needs.

Since Chromebooks do most of the data crunching and storage in the cloud, the devices are light and can last a full day on a charge. That also means the prices can be kept low without scrimping on performance.

Chromebooks began as a Google push and, as such, are ideal for use with Google Classroom. For a more general overview of everything on the software platform you may want to check out our Google Classroom guide.

Chromebooks run on Chrome OS, so students and teachers can access work from other devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops -- all from any location with an internet connection.

From always-connected LTE Chromebooks to WiFi-powered devices, these can all run the many Google apps out there and offer a lot of bang for you buck. Read on to find the best option to suit your needs.

Most Affordable Chromebooks for Schools

1. Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Best Chromebook Overall

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 has a fantastic balance of features that make it top of this list while staying affordable. The performance, portability, and price are all just right to make this an ideal choice for classes nationwide.

Powered by Intel’s 8-core i3-N305 processor with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 128GB SSD, it handles heavy tab loads, Google Workspace apps, and long video calls with ease.

The 14-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen offers sharp clarity for research, lesson planning, or classroom presentations, while its compact and lightweight form keep it genuinely portable. With around 10 hours of battery life, it comfortably gets through a full school day.

Teachers should enjoy the smooth multitasking and reliable WiFi 6E connection during live lessons, and students could benefit from the extra local storage and Plus-series AI tools for writing and productivity.

Durable, well-priced, and strong across categories, this is the Chromebook that fits almost every need without blowing the budget.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus: Best Budget Convertible

Lenovo’s Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is one of the best-value convertibles available in the U.S. today, giving schools a versatile device for both creative and academic use.

Its 14-inch 2K touchscreen rotates into tablet, tent, or stand modes, making it ideal for note-taking, demonstrating concepts, or running touch-based educational apps. An impressive display resolution and quality for the price.

With an Intel i3-1315U processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB storage, it handles demanding browser-based work smoothly, and its AI-enhanced Plus features help with writing support and media tasks.

It's flexible yet stays robust, weighing in at 3.48 lbs., which suits daily classroom movement. Battery life typically exceeds 10 hours, supporting full-day use without charging.

Teachers may appreciate its adaptability for interactive lessons, while students get a capable, comfortable device for multimedia assignments, reading, or working in creative modes. All that and it still has one of the most attainable prices for a modern 2-in-1.

3. Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE: Best for Power Tasks (and Gaming)

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE offers performance levels rarely seen in the affordable Chromebook space, making it the top pick for power users and cloud-gaming classrooms.

Its standout 16-inch 2560×1600 display with a 120Hz refresh rate is capable of offering exceptionally smooth visuals. That makes this ideal for graphics-heavy tasks, STEM simulations, or GeForce NOW cloud gaming sessions.

This is all backed by the Intel Core 5-120U, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD for enough power to run large workloads, Linux applications, and multitasking without slowdown. Despite the bigger screen, it remains manageable in size and weight at 3.8 lbs. Battery life approaches 10 hours in real-world testing, which is impressive for such a large and bright panel.

Students drawn to creative work such as coding, editing or designing, will find plenty of support here. Teachers can benefit from the expansive display for planning and presenting. It’s the closest thing to a premium workstation Chromebook without the premium price tag.

4. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Best for Portability & Battery Life

Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is the model to choose when portability and all-day stamina matter most, while still delivering responsive performance.

Built around the efficient MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 and paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, it should be smooth for multitasking and can quickly handle AI-powered Plus features.

The 14-inch 120Hz touchscreen brings excellent responsiveness, great for sketching, annotating documents, or navigating coursework. Its convertible design adds real classroom flexibility, and Gorilla Glass protection on the hinge and display help it endure daily wear.

The Spin 514 feels light at 3.31 lbs., with compact dimensions, making it ideal for moving between rooms or carrying in a student backpack. Long battery life supports full-day learning without needing a charger. Teachers should appreciate the versatility for instruction, while students gain a fast, durable device optimized for mobility and continuous study.

5. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook Plus: Best Budget Workhorse

The IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook Plus is an great choice for schools seeking strong performance at a very accessible price point.

The Intel i3-N305 processor, 8GB RAM, and a generous 256GB of storage mean it comfortably handles the everyday demands of student workloads and browser-based teaching environments.

The 14-inch Full HD display offers clear, comfortable viewing for reading, video learning, and productivity. It’s lightweight enough for daily student carrying but still feels sturdy and well-built. Battery life reaches around 11 hours, helping both teachers and students get through full timetables without worrying about sockets.

It’s also capable of running Steam Beta and Linux apps, giving technically curious students more room to explore. Consistently discounted in the U.S. and offering higher-spec internals than older budget Chromebooks, this model is a practical, reliable all-rounder for large deployments.

From AI-powered smart reading assistants to huge libraries of smart texts, there are a lot of tools aimed at helping students improve their reading skills. Simply reading stories, making annotations, and even embedding questions to be answered -- there are many helpful additions to the reading itself to help cement learning.

And with new AI additions, these resources are getting better than ever. The idea is to offer a way to help both educators and students work together to improve literacy skills in the most efficient and engaging way.

Many of these even come in web app forms so they can be easily accessed across a range of devices.

This guide aims to lay out the very best tools to teach reading so you can find the top contenders for a place in your class.

Best tools to teach reading

Best to teach reading skills overall

Actively Learn

Actively Learn is a digital reading platform that helps teachers turn texts into interactive, engaging learning experiences. The tool provides a large library of articles, stories, and curriculum-aligned passages, but teachers can also upload their own materials.

What makes Actively Learn stand out is its embedded questioning and annotation features. Students encounter prompts, notes, polls, and scaffolds -- such as hints, translations, and text-to-speech -- right inside the reading flow, which supports comprehension and encourages deeper thinking.

Teachers can track progress through a detailed dashboard showing how long students read, how they annotated, and with which questions they struggled. These insights help with differentiation and targeted instruction.

Actively Learn works across subjects, making it useful for ELA, science, social studies, and more. The free tier includes strong core features, while paid plans unlock expanded libraries and analytics. It’s a versatile platform for bringing structure and accountability to digital and classroom reading.

READ: Actively Learn guide

Best for social reading

Glose

Glose is a digital reading platform designed to make reading more social, interactive, and accessible across devices. The tool provides thousands of ebooks and audiobooks, and its interface encourages students to engage with texts actively rather than passively. Students can highlight, annotate, leave comments, and respond to each other’s insights in a secure, teacher-managed environment. This shared reading experience helps build comprehension and confidence, especially for reluctant readers.

Teachers can curate reading lists, create assignments, and monitor student progress through built-in analytics showing reading time, engagement, and completion. Glose also syncs across phones, tablets, and laptops, making it practical for homework or hybrid learning. Its flexible library model allows schools to mix free titles with purchased ebooks. With a focus on collaboration and ease of use, Glose is a good option for classrooms looking to build community around reading.

READ: Glose guide

Best for real-time guidance

Amira Learning

Amira Learning is an AI-powered reading tutor designed to support early readers with real-time, one-on-one guidance. Using advanced speech recognition, Amira listens as students read aloud and identifies errors such as mispronunciations, omissions, or hesitations. The system then provides immediate, gentle feedback and prompts students to try words again, offering decoding support, or modelling correct pronunciation. This creates a personalized tutoring experience that aligns closely with the science of reading.

Teachers gain access to detailed fluency and accuracy data, including error types, reading rate, and progression over time. This helps identify students who need targeted intervention and helps with small-group instruction.

Amira fits easily into literacy blocks as a supplemental activity, allowing teachers to work with one group while others receive structured practice. District-level licensing provides access to the full platform. For schools looking to strengthen early literacy and provide consistent, adaptive support, Amira offers a powerful, research-backed solution.

READ: Amira Learning guide

Best for phonics

Lalilo

Lalilo is an adaptive, phonics-focused reading program aimed at supporting early learners as they develop foundational literacy skills. It offers a playful, illustrated environment in which students work through phonemic awareness, letter–sound relationships, decoding, and early comprehension tasks. The program adjusts difficulty automatically, ensuring each child works at an appropriate level that builds confidence without causing frustration.

Teachers can track progress through clear dashboards that highlight strengths, gaps, and emerging skills. This makes it easier to form targeted small groups or identify students who may benefit from additional intervention. Lalilo is especially useful in kindergarten through second-grade classrooms, where consistent phonics practice is essential. The activities are short, engaging, and well-suited to independent rotation work. With its focus on early reading science and its ability to adapt to individual learners, Lalilo provides a helpful layer of structured practice within a broader literacy curriculum.

READ: Lalilo guide

Best for independence

LightSail

LightSail is a literacy platform designed to support independent reading while giving teachers the data they need to guide instruction. The system offers a large library of levelled texts, allowing students to choose books that match both their reading ability and personal interests. As students read, LightSail embeds brief comprehension checks and vocabulary activities to keep them engaged and assess understanding in real time.

Teachers have access to detailed analytics showing reading time, progress, quiz performance, and overall growth. This makes it easier to monitor independent reading and ensure students are selecting appropriate texts.

LightSail also supports goal setting and personalized reading pathways, helping students build motivation and ownership over their progress. Suitable for classroom, after-school, or home use, LightSail provides a structured framework for developing reading stamina and comprehension skills, with a strong emphasis on student choice and visibility into learning.

READ: LightSail guide

SceneCraft was designed by the Engage AI Institute with funds from the National Science Foundation. This AI-in-education research organization has its headquarters at North Carolina State University and partnerships with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Indiana University, Vanderbilt University, and Digital Promise.

Teachers can currently apply for early access to SceneCraft through the tool’s website. Once teachers have access to SceneCraft, they can quickly create stories with AI that empower students to explore class subject matter in new and engaging ways while playing an active role in a story as it unfolds.

“These are interactive stories that are branching narratives, and the student can choose where they want to go,” says Jeremy Roschelle, Co-Principal Investigator for Digital Promise.

Although educators use generative AI to create the story, this is definitely not a chatbot, and students exploring each teacher-created story are not directly interacting with AI.

“So it's very safe to use, which is really important,” Roschelle says. He adds that another important feature is that it gives educators 100 percent control of the content students engage with.

SceneCraft In Practice

To create a SceneCraft story linked to class content, teachers who have access to the tool are led through a series of intuitive prompts. With the help of AI, they quickly develop a variety of scenes and different branches or scenarios that students can traverse. They can then deploy the story they’ve created with their students during class time.

Rochelle Urban, a senior research program manager at Digital Promise, says SceneCraft is primarily being used right now with middle school students, but the team creating it envisions high school students may utilize it as well. Science teachers, in particular, have been drawn to the tool, but English and History teachers have found creative uses for it as well.

Regardless of the topic, SceneCraft tends to work best when there is debate or uncertainty around a subject.

“It's well-tuned to content where there's not a right answer,” Urban says. “When there are differing ways to look at a situation, then the characters come in and talk about those different viewpoints, and you can hear from lots of different characters about how, whatever that topic is, impacts them.”

Urban adds that this can be a particularly good way to debate various topics related to science.

Keeping Teachers In The Loop

The Engage AI Institute will soon launch a companion program to SceneCraft that will serve as a community and education hub for educators using the tool. U.S.-based educators can receive a stipend for participating in these projects.

Urban says there will not be traditional trainings; instead, there will be events during which educators can come together and "talk through what they’re trying to do, work on it [SceneCraft] together, and have a little fun,” she says. “This project is just about having fun, too, because stories are fun. That's part of what makes them different from just giving students, ‘Here is what the controversy is and do something with it,’ versus ‘Let's actually hear an authentic conversation about the controversy.’”’

For teachers, the tool is also really designed for them to be at the center of the AI use, which can alleviate some concerns about the technology.

“That's often talked about, but we've seen very few good realizations of Teacher in the Loop,” Roschelle says. “This is quite a thorough one, and teachers are reacting really positively to all the control they get with this. And it gives them the ability to do something that's pretty stunning in about 10 to 15 minutes, once they get used to it.”

Movavi Academic is not just a screen recorder and not just a video editor -- it's both in one, and it's tailored for education specifically.

That makes this an ideal option for teachers who want to use screen recording as part of their teaching. That can be for in-class use or for flipped learning styles that leverage useful guidance with video. Thanks to the editing part of this tool's feature list, it offers a lot of freedom for specific video output and creative license to educators.

Movavi Academic is actually marketed to teacher, admins, and students, all of whom can use this as a way to communicate about what's happening on-screen, for viewing on demand as needed.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about Movavi Academic at your institution.

What is Movavi Academic?

Movavi Academic is a video recording and editing platform that's designed for use in education. Specifically this is all about screen recording in which teachers, admins, and students can not only record what is on-screen, and add their own commentary, but also edit freely.

The end result offers a lot of freedom to get creative with guidance on pretty much anything that can be shown and explored on a display. Since this works as a video recorder, with editing, the output can be saved and manipulated to get the best possible unique result.

Any video can easily be saved and shared so it can be accessed on demand by anyone who might need it later. So from teachers creating lessons, to students working collaboratively on projects, to admins creating useful software guidance videos -- there is a huge range of possibilities created with Movavi.

How does Movavi Academic work?

Movavi Academic can be downloaded to work on a device in order to record what is on-screen as well as using other source inputs, including webcams for video and microphones for audio.

After recording, there is an option to edit videos, making precise frame cuts, correcting colors, adding visual effects, and even editing the audio to include music or multiple layers of sound.

For educators, there are specific tools that are also available to use including stickers, background transitions, and titles, all suited to schooling. These all help to make the end result look class-friendly and engaging.

Advanced AI tools can be used to automate tasks such as attaching stickers, text, or graphics to moving objects, or usefully remove distractions from the background.

For admins, there is a bulk installer setup for Windows, plus license management that allows for activation and deactivation across multiple devices across schools.

What are the best Movavi Academic features?

Movavi Academic is feature rich yet also manages to be relatively straight forward to use. The company is proud of its ability to offer pro-level video editing tools that are easy to use.

The main feature is the ability to easily screen and webcam record, which makes it great for lessons, the flipped classroom, and remote instruction.

The templates on offer -- along with stickers, graphics, and more -- all make for a fun way to theme videos and give an engaging and professional finish.

Throw in the AI powers and this becomes a really effective way to create useful videos. The ability to remove objects or distractions is a particularly helpful feature -- ideal if you spot something after just recording a whole video you don't want to waste.

The fact this is built to work for teachers, administrators, and students makes it even more flexible. And the ability to control how that's installed across the school's machines, with dedicated admin controls, makes it even more appealing.

How much does Movavi Academic cost?

Movavi Academic offers a few tiers of pricing that make it suitable for varying school levels.

For the Individual plan, you pay $59.95/year, for access to the software on one device.

Go for the Academic level, at $10/machine/year, and you get access to the software across more device school-wide. A minimum 100 licenses per school at this tier is available.

Movavi Academic best tips and tricks

Flipped-classroom videos
Use the screen and webcam recording to create short instructional videos students watch before class. Then use class time for discussion.

Distance learning content
With remote learners, record a lecture or tutorial once and reuse it. The built-in assets can help make it visually engaging.

Student video-projects
Encourage students to tell stories via video. Give them access, use titles, stickers, and backgrounds to make it fun and professional.

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AhaSlides is an interactive presentation tool that offers a way to make the sharing of information a far more engaging process, which can be helpful to educators hoping to teach in a way that grabs, and holds, student attention.

While there are plenty of passive slides tools out there for presentations, this platform differentiates itself by making the process far more interactive so that students avoid passive learning and can instead engage in active learning.

With more than 2 million users worldwide this is an already well-established system that offers a selection of tools and resources to help educators. Usefully, the tool also integrates with current presentation tools such as PowerPoint and Slides so teachers can even repurpose current resources to make it all more interactive.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about how AhaSlides could work in your class.

What is AhaSlides?

AhaSlides is a presentation tool at its core but it stands out thanks to the interactive nature of the platform as a whole. So while the slide shows themselves can be interactive, there is plenty more here. This includes not only standard presentations, but also Q&As, polls, and quizzes, as well as self-paced assessments, gamification, learning discussions, and team activities.

All that adds up to a wide selection of tools for an educator to use, all within one platform -- so educational resources can be easily adapted for use in a more interactive way.

How does AhaSlides work?

Using AhaSlides typically follows a simple way of working. The presenter logs into the AhaSlides platform and either creates a presentation from scratch or picks a template. Within the slide deck, the educator mixes standard content slides, using text and images, with interactive slides using features such as polls, quizzes, word clouds, spinner wheels, and more.

Then at presentation time, the students are given a unique code or link that they open on their phones or other devices -- with no app download required in most cases.

As the presentation runs, participants respond live via their devices. Their input is aggregated and visualized in real time. So, in the case of a live word cloud, this will show crowd responses, or for a quiz, the scores can be displayed.

After or during the session, the educator can review analytics, export data, and assess engagement levels.

This also offers helpful integration with other tools, including Google Slides, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and others. This can allow teachers to use their current materials and setups in an interactive way using this platform.

Thanks to this style, AhaSlides supports not just static presentations, but interactive experiences -- ideal when you want students to think, respond, and reflect, rather than just absorb.

What are the best AhaSlides features?

AhaSlides uses live polls and quizzes with the ability to embed these as a way to transform passive classes into active ones. This promotes real-time participation through quizzes, word-clouds, polls, and games, all of which can be used in class and beyond.

That word cloud and those open response slides take the tool beyond fixed-choice polls. AhaSlides offers word-cloud slides in which participants submit open words, and the responses visualize dynamically. This is particularly useful in classrooms to gauge feelings, brainstorm, and surface thinking.

The platform provides a rich library of templates that help educators get going quickly. This should be easy too, as the interface has a very low learning-curve.

For many educators who already use PowerPoint or Google Slides, AhaSlides’ ability to integrate is important. You can incorporate interactive slides within familiar slide decks and use your existing work, too.

The ability to review answers, export to Excel or PDF, and review ‘My Answers’ or ‘All Slides’ tabs allows for follow-up, reflection, and assessment of responses. Ideal for educators to use and also to share with admins or guardians as needed.

Because it can be used for live classrooms and remote sessions, the tool is flexible across modalities including in-person, hybrid, and online.

How much does AhaSlides cost?

AhaSlides offers a free options as well as paid tiers.

The Free plan, allows up to 50 live participants with unlimited events and presentations, and a subset of interactive features.

The Essential plan, at $7.95/month, supports up to around 100 live participants, unlimited polls and quizzes, custom backgrounds, and more.

The Pro plan: at $15.95/month, supports unlimited class size, full analytics, brand customisation, team modes, and more integrations.

The Enterprise plan, at a custom pricing, is for very large audiences, offering advanced SSO, and premium support.

According to AhaSlides’ pricing page, yearly billing offers savings (up to 20%) for some plans.

AhaSlides best tips and tricks

Start with purpose-driven interactivity
Use word-cloud slides to surface prior knowledge or feelings (“What’s one word you think of when I say ‘resilience’?”). Use quizzes to check understanding. Use polls to make decisions together.

Blend with your existing slide deck
If you already have slides in PowerPoint or Google Slides, import or integrate interactive slides from AhaSlides rather than rebuilding everything.

Use anonymity wisely
Participants can respond (often via mobile) without needing to download an app or provide much personal info. Anonymity can encourage honest responses, especially in sensitive topics.

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Pangram is a tool for teachers and others that bills itself as “AI detection that actually works.” It’s a bold claim but one that Pangram backs up with links to research from third-party academics at major universities showing it outperforming other AI detection tools on the market.

I first became aware of Pangram after interviewing one of the co-authors of a study on AI detection tools conducted at the University of Chicago. This study found that Pangram had essentially zero false-positive and false-negative rates when assessing whether a piece of writing was AI-generated or not, regardless of whether AI humanizers were used.

For this story, I conducted by own more informal tests of Pangram and was impressed overall. It’s certainly better than other AI detection tools I’ve used, and has great additional features that let you know some of the reasons a piece of writing was flagged as AI-generated or not. However, it wasn’t 100% perfect.

Here’s a closer look.

What is Pangram?

Pangram is an AI detection tool designed to accurately detect AI use while also providing educators and others some of the rationale for why a piece of writing was flagged as AI-generated.

To that end, Pangram flags phrases or terms that are more likely to be used by AI, even giving you a sense of how much more likely. One piece of AI writing I submitted came back with multiple phrases more than 20x likely to have been generated by AI than a human.

Pangram also has browser extensions that let you scan the pages you are reading for potential AI-generated text. This could save teachers who are grading online work time, and also could potentially help them wade through the AI slop that is becoming increasingly common on the internet.

How Did Pangram Fare in My Tests?

I was impressed with the research demonstrating Pangram’s efficacy at correclty identifying AI writing vs. human writing, but I still wanted to see how it did in my educational and writing settings.

After putting it through many tests, both of writing I had generated and work I had prompted with ChatGPT, I was impressed. Pangram was correctly identifying whatever I threw at it.

In fact, I was so impressed that I decided to make things more difficult for Pangram by mixing and matching two paragraphs of my writing with a third AI-generated paragraph that I had asked ChatGPT to create after reading my first two paragraphs. In my view, this made ChatGPT’s writing much more difficult to spot, but Pangram correctly flagged the piece of writing overall as AI-generated.

On the one hand, this was great: it wasn’t fooled by my inclusion of some human writing overall. But on a less positive note, it now insisted that the two paragraphs I had written were also AI-generated, pointing out two phrases I used that were more likely to be used by AI. This failing was understandable but a little disappointing, particularly because it had previously correctly labeled these same two paragraphs as human-generated.

In other words, even though Pangram is great at recognizing when AI writing has taken place, it's still not perfect at piecing out exactly what is AI vs. human-written. Ideally, as educators, we’d have the opportunity to tell exactly which elements of text were human-generated vs. AI-generated, though I get that might be asking too much.

How Much Does Pangram Cost?

Anyone who creates a Pangram account gets five free credits per day. Generally, one credit gets you one AI test, though longer passages might require more credits.

Subscription plans start at $15 per month for 600 credits per month. A more robust $45-per-month plan gets users access to 3,000 credits per month.

What Are Pangram’s Best Features?

Pangram’s best features include its ability to accurately ID AI text and provide reasons for that accuracy. This can allow educators to use their own judgment on a case-by-case basis to inform their conversations with students around AI use. Instead of saying, “You were flagged for AI use on this paper . . . .” teachers might start a conversation with a student along the lines of, “This piece had several phrases that are commonly used by AI tools. What can you tell me about that?”

These types of conversations may become more necessary as AI use continues, and a tool such as Pangram can help educators as they navigate appropriate and inappropriate AI use with students.

Quizplus is available as a one-stop shop for study, offering a place to practice and cement learning in an independent way that also gives educators oversight.

The company behind this resource claims that it has millions of users and, as such, offers tens of millions of questions that can be explored.

This works across a wide range of ages and institutions, from elementary schools and colleges to high schools and home schools. It offers quizzes, flash-cards, textbook solutions, and a broad question-bank across multiple disciplines.

But how does it stack up for classroom use, how might a teacher integrate it, and what are the caveats? In this article we’ll explore what Quizplus could do in your class.

What is Quizplus?

Quizplus is a massive online resource of quizzes, flash-cards, textbook solutions and questions designed to help with study.

This offers a massive 10 million+ data bank of options that cover more than 30 fields of study. That means access to a community of more than 10 million students using more than 20 million questions and answers as well as more than 300,000 quizzes.

This covers micro-learning but also plenty of school and higher ed subjects including biology, computing, chemistry, nursing, psychology, and more.

This works as a helpful supplement for educators who want to use the ready-made content as a way to support learning and reinforce independent exploration.

How does Quizplus work?

Quizplus uses a simple drag-and-drop interface that allows teachers to begin creating a quiz from scratch with ease. But it's not totally from scratch, as there are a range of questions, images, videos, timers, randomizers, and more from which to pick.

Once the quiz is all set, students can access it via a browser or mobile app -- on both iOS and Android -- allowing them to try it. Automation is applied to grading so responses can be given with instant feedback for students without a teacher needing to get involved in the process. Usefully, this can include explanations, hints, links, and supplementary materials -- all helping students progress independently with valuable actions.

For educators, there is a helpful dashboard that visualizes performance trends across classes and individual students. They also can quickly identify areas in which learners are struggling and adjust instruction accordingly. Also, the platform supports gamification, with leaderboards, badges, and rewards that encourage participation and can help provide a sense of achievement.

What are the best Quizplus features?

Quizplus has a host of helpful features beyond the broad selection of questions and answers. Adaptive quizzing adjusts the difficulty based on student responses, so this can follow the student learning curve to help keep them progressing without being prohibitively hard.

Multimedia integration means you can add images, audio, or video to a question in order to make it far more engaging and appealing to a wider range of students.

That instant feedback is a really great way to help students understand mistakes in real time. The fact it also offer additional pathways for learning can help support independent learning all in one spot.

The analytics dashboard -- which tracks class performance, question difficulty, and learning gaps -- is a helpful way for teachers to stay close to each student but at a time that's convenient to them.

The gamification -- featuring leaderboards, badges, and competitions -- can help boost engagement, especially with students who are particularly suited to that type of learning style.

For admins and educators, the LMS integration syncs with platforms such as Google Classroom and Canvas for streamlined management.

It all adds up to a service that is designed to support active learning, promote self-paced study, and give teachers actionable insights -- all in one spot.

How much does Quizplus cost?

Quizplus is subscription-based, with options for individual educators, schools, and districts. Costs vary depending on the number of students and the level of features required. A free version is available, as is a trial option.

The Free version offers some basic access with in-app purchase options.

Basic plans may offer limited quizzes per month, making it suitable for trial or smaller classrooms.

Annual institutional licenses provide unlimited quizzes, analytics access, and premium support.

Quizplus best tips and tricks

Mix question types
Use a combination of multiple-choice, short-answer, and multimedia questions to keep students engaged.

Vary challenge
Set up quizzes that adjust difficulty based on responses to challenge advanced learners and support struggling students.

Incorporate gamification
Leaderboards and badges motivate learners, especially in competitive or collaborative classroom settings.

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QR codes. They look sleek. They’re everywhere. But in education, they’re often misused.

Sure, these are convenient if the audience you’re targeting primarily accesses information on their phones. But in education, especially with today’s widespread phone bans, that’s usually not the case.

Educators and students usually engage using laptops, tablets, or desktops. So when a QR code is plastered on a slide, agenda, or online resource with no alternative, it’s not innovative; it’s misguided.

It’s time to rethink the QR code trend and align it with user experience.

When QR Codes Make Sense

Mobile-first settings

QR codes shine when phones are already out:

• Check-ins at events
• Hallway signs or posters
• Scavenger hunts or gallery walks
• Bulletin boards or printed flyers

In these cases, a quick scan saves time and typing.

On printed materials

Paper flyers, bulletin boards, or other displays? A QR code can elegantly point to a website, video, or form. Just make sure it’s large enough to scan and clearly labeled with its intended purpose.

However, a QR code alone is not enough

Pair the QR code with a shortened URL. This gives users agency over how they access the content.

When NOT to Use a QR Code

During virtual presentations to desktop/laptop users

Don’t make attendees grab their phone to scan a slide just to open it on their computer. That’s a clunky workaround when a simple clickable or short URL would do.

In person, when people are using laptops

If attendees are working on laptops, such as in PD sessions, conferences, or meetings, they shouldn’t have to switch devices just to access content. A short URL is quicker and easier.

As the only method of access

Everyone should be able to engage, regardless of device. A QR code with no alternate link assumes everyone has the same comfort level and tools. Standard QR codes can also be challenging for blind or visually impaired individuals. Providing a QR code only is not an inclusive design. That’s an oversight.

Design for Access, Not for Show

QR codes look modern, but good design isn’t about appearance. It’s about accessibility and usability.

Before dropping a QR code into your materials, ask yourself the following, and know what to look for in your answers:

What devices are participants using?
If most are on laptops or desktops, a QR code should not be the primary access point. Provide a clickable link or shortened URL they can easily type or open.

Is scanning easier or more complicated for this audience?
If it requires switching devices or copying links between phone and laptop, it’s not easier. Choose the method that works with the device they’re already using.

Have I provided an alternative, like a short URL?
If not, you’re limiting access. Always offer both a QR code and a short link so participants can choose what works best for them.

Did I include a resource document?
A resource doc (Google Doc, PDF, or slide deck) should house all relevant links. This makes it easy for participants to revisit materials later, no matter what device they’re using.

QR Codes In Education: The Bottom Line

If a QR code creates friction instead of removing it, it's not the right tool.

True innovation means designing with your audience in mind. That includes making it as easy as possible for them to access and engage with your content.

Know someone who's using QR codes incorrectly? Now you have an article to share with them.

Taskade is an AI-powered platform that's specifically designed to help with tasks using AI bots. The key here is that you are able to build your own AI bots to carry out specific tasks.

One of the stand out education-specific features is the AI Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Generator. This tool has already been designed so educators can use it with their work around IEPs.

At time of publishing this system uses GPT-3.5 to run the AI tasks, although the company is in the process of upgrading that to GPT-4 for their mobile and desktop apps.

Usefully, this is a unified workspace tool that blends tasks, notes, AI automation, and real-time collaboration over chat or video, in one spot. It can also be helpful for educational teams working together -- as well as in individual lesson planning and beyond.

This guide aims to lay out all you need to know about Taskade AI for education.

What is Taskade?

Taskade is a one-stop-shop workspace for AI-assisted automation and project execution. For education specifically, this is made to offer support for teachers and admins when organizing workflows, planning lessons, collaborating live, and using AI agents to cover repetitive tasks.

The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) generator is designed to lessen stress for teachers and special-needs coordinators by reducing repetitive admin while offering a person-centered planning option.

This offers downloadable, editable IEP documents you can publish and share. This helps educators move toward a more personalized plan for each learner.

Usefully, this also focuses on the legal compliance side as well as pedagogy to provide a well-rounded result. Using templates and AI-assisted drafting, this aims to speed up the process rather than replace the human element being involved.

How does Taskade work?

Taskade can be used at a higher level, for more general tasks, but for an IEP it works in a specific way.

You can decide if you want to describe what you need the generator to produce, or use seed sources for the AI. These include reports, assessments, summaries, prior IEPs, and more.

Drop-downs can be used to select needs from student background and present levels to annuals goals, special education services, accommodations, and more.

Once the AI produces a draft, the platform’s collaborative features let every member of the IEP team comment, edit, and iterate in real time. Teachers, therapists, support personnel, parents, and administrators can all be invited to the project, and changes remain versioned within the Taskade workspace.

The output can be downloaded and edited locally so districts can save documents in their own formats and securely, when needed.

What are the best Taskade features?

Taskade usefully lets you upload current or previous IEPs that can then be used as a template. Results can be student-specific built using evidence from previous work, to avoid generic statements. This works well on several fronts including reducing the time teachers spend transferring information between systems and improving accuracy in the first draft.

The drop-down options are a really helpful way to ensure that legal and pedagogical parts are included as part of the output. This is also a handy way to make sure that nothing is omitted, acting a bit like a checklist that ensures features such as measurable criteria, service minutes, progress monitoring, and more are not forgotten.

The fact that outputs can be downloaded and edited make this a very powerful tool. You can have all the best of AI to speed up the task, but still have human control over perfecting and personalizing the results.

Everything is also collaborative, integrating video chat and more, to allow for teams to work together for the fastest and most effective output. Editing a document, with in-line comments that can be seen by all, is a part of this, allowing teachers, parents, therapists and more to work on a single document effectively.

Despite all this deep functionality, Taskade runs via a web browser, so it's widely accessible and doesn't require a powerful device to access these rich features. It also means starting on one device and continuing on another is an option -- ideal for those on the move or jumping between devices often.

How much does Taskade cost?

Taskade offer a free option as well as pricing tiers to suit needs at varying levels.

The Free option gets you three AI apps, one workspace with real-time sync, plus basic AI models.

Go Pro, at $20/month, and you get unlimited AI apps, unlimited workspaces, agent and automations, the ability to train agent with files and links, plus frontier AI models.

At the higher end is Ultra, at $60/month, which gets you all the above plus custom domains and branding, API access and analytics, plus priority AI access.

The Team plan, at $200/month, gets you all the above plus unlimited users, unlimited AI teams, advanced security and SSO, plus an admin dashboard.

Taskade best tips and tricks

Start with specifics
Upload clear, detailed student data or previous IEP notes before generating a draft -- the AI works best with strong, specific input.

Refine, don’t replace
Use Taskade’s AI to create a first draft, then collaborate with your team to ensure goals, accommodations, and services meet legal and pedagogical standards.

Build reusable templates
After editing your first few IEPs, save the structure and phrasing as a custom template so future plans stay consistent and fast to produce.

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Easy-Peasy.AI is a do-it-all solution for AI tools, putting a whole host of features in one place. This gives it the potential to be a powerful educational aid for both teachers and students.

While there are plenty of single-purpose AI tools out there, such as ChatGPT for text or DALL-E for images, this offers lots in one workspace. It's a combination of chat, image- and video-generation tech as well as transcriptions, text-to-speech, and more. All of which are ideally suited to education.

It even offers a custom bot builder, which can be a great teaching assistant, both in the class as well as behind the scenes, to help with prep.

This guide aims to dive into the various tools to see just how well this can work as an AI assistant, so you can decide if Easy-Peasy.AI lives up to its name and could be of use in your class.

What is Easy-Peasy.AI?

Easy-Peasy.AI is what the company calls an "all-in-one AI solution." It combines various AI tools, each designed for specific tasks, into a single package.

The platform is unified by a point of contact called MARKY, which offers a chat interface similar to the likes of ChatGPT or Claude. But this differs by allowing you to switch between different AI models to perform specific tasks. Think of this as the Swiss Army Knife of generative AI tools.

From creating images to working with text, audio, and video, this can do lots of tasks. Crucially, it's also possible to train a no-code-needed bot of your own. Teachers can, for instance, upload course notes, textbook extracts, or exam specifications, and generate a classroom bot capable of answering curriculum-specific questions.

It also features more than 200 writing and content templates, for summarizing, rewriting, scripting videos, crafting social posts, or generating assessment items. Add to that text-to-speech, speech-to-text transcription, AI image and video generation, and you can see how this can be a very powerful class assistant.

How does Easy-Peasy.AI work?

Easy-Peasy.AI is powered by ChatGPT-4, Claude 3, Gemini, and more -- all working behind the scenes to use the best AI for the task that's required. So the MARKY interface effectively works like a conductor, helping the band of other AI tools orchestrate the jobs needed at any one time.

The creative tools are a helpful way for teachers to create original, rights-free materials for use, from images to videos. This can be great as a way to create concept visuals or storyboards for lessons -- using imagery and video to help add depth to ideas.

The functions sit on a dashboard for a consistent layout that can mean the learning curve is not steep at all. And since this is all cloud-based, operating through a single machine, it can be easy to get started and stay secure with no installation or storage needed. Consequently, it can be used across Chromebooks, laptops, and tablets easily.

So while you can interact with MARKY, uploading a doc and asking it to summarize for grade 8, for example, this also lets you build bots to help students work on a certain project with answers that save you time on repeating yourself across the class.

What are the best Easy-Peasy.AI features?

Easy-Peasy.AI does a lot, all in one place, but it's the custom bot creation that might be one of the most stand-out features.

Being able to upload course documents and instantly offer a subject-aware Q&A assistant opens lots of possibilities. Imagine a math revision bot trained on past papers, or a classroom policy explainer for new parents.

The file-aware chat is also helpful, letting teachers upload a document and then work with the AI on it. You can simplify the language, extract main ideas, or even create a quiz from the content.

The text-to-speech and rewriting tools can simplify reading materials or produce accessible audio versions of content, ideal for making sure everyone in the class can access what's being taught.

Students can also get use out of the multimodal generation tools as they could design visuals for a digital storytelling project, generate a narrated script, or turn notes into short explanatory videos.

Teachers can easily use this all to draft lesson plans, create email templates, or brainstorm classroom discussion prompts. Then, usefully, this can be connected to other tools such as Zapier and API integrations, to feed into the school LMS, newsletters, and more.

How much does Easy-Peasy.AI cost?

Easy-Peasy.AI offers a free plan as well as a tiered subscription model for deeper access.

The Free plan gets you access to core tools such as chat, templates, limited transcription, and image generation -- all with daily or monthly usage caps.

The Pro plans range from $15 to $30 per month, and these add in higher limits, faster model access, and premium features such as video generation or greater data upload capacity.

An Enterprise tier for schools is charged bespoke, which adds in administrative controls, shared workspaces, and custom API access.

Easy-Peasy.AI best tips and tricks

Start with a single, clear purpose.
Don’t try to use every feature immediately. Pick one pain point -- summarizing readings, generating images, or offering text-to-speech support -- and master that before expanding.

Use custom bots for revision
Train bots on your curriculum documents, and let students query these during revision periods. It’s a controlled, curriculum-aligned way to offer on-demand help.

Teach prompt literacy
Use Easy-Peasy.AI as a platform for teaching how to ask good questions. Show students how refining a prompt (“Explain photosynthesis as if teaching a 10-year-old”) changes output quality.

• Best Tools for Teachers
• New Teacher Starter Kit

Goblin Tools is designed to offer a compact and simple solution to big problems. The idea is to use intuitive tools to tackle tasks that otherwise take up valuable teacher time.

The website is minimal and offers a selection of AI-powered tools that can be used there and then, via the browser for ease of access. As such, this is easy to start experimenting with right away to find out how it could serve to save on lesson prep time and more.

Since these tools are all individually built, it offers a way to dip in and out as needed, without having to commit to any one system. That should mean this can work well across subjects, topics, learning modalities, teachers, departments, and more.

This guide aims to explain all you need to know about Goblin Tools to see if this platform could work for you.

What is Goblin Tools?

Goblin Tools is a website and app that offers a collection of simple-to-use tools that are designed to help teachers with their admin tasks and more.

These tools are AI-powered and offer a way to assist with lots, from organizing thoughts and planning tasks to managing tone and providing explanations.

All these tools are driven by OpenAI -- the system behind ChatGPT -- allowing for simplicity and intuition at the front end and plenty of smart processing power behind the scenes.

Everything is freely available to use and doesn't require a sign-up or login to get started. These ideals follow the ethos of the website that wants to offer clarity, calm, and accessibility.

The idea is to help those who find planning, prioritizing, or tone-judging mentally draining. By doing so, it should leave plenty more energy to focus on teaching. But it's a powerful option for students too.

How does Goblin Tools work?

Goblin Tools has all its features laid out front and center, ready to use, on the homepage of its website. It can also be accessed using its apps that come in iOS and Android forms.

The complete list of tools are:

• Magic ToDo – Breaks a big task into smaller, manageable steps.
• Estimator – Suggests roughly how long a task might take.
• Formalizer – Changes tone -- more formal, polite, or casual.
• Judge – Analyzes how your message might come across emotionally.
• Compiler – Turns a messy brain dump into a clear list.
• Professor / Consultant – Explains topics or helps weigh decisions.
• Chef – Generates recipes from whatever ingredients you have.

What are the best Goblin Tools features?

Goblin Tools is a really helpful way for teachers to save time on tasks but it can also be used, in class, by students.

The Magic ToDo, for example, is a useful way to get started with creating a presentation or writing an essay, which might otherwise seem like a daunting task. It also allows students to see how AI tackles the task versus how they might -- as a useful lesson in managing AI tools, too.

The Estimator tool can be a helpful way for students, and teachers, to break down tasks in a way that allow for planning. Useful to learn time management but also a helpful tool for actively doing that in future.

Working on formal tone is a great way for students to practice communicating with colleges, employers, and others. Using the Formalizer and Judge tools allow them to see how these tones can be adjusted to suit the situation and people with whom they are communicating. It can also help teachers if they want to make an otherwise chatty message appear more formal for a different audience.

The Professor tool can be a great pre-reading tool, used to adjust difficulty of an explanation to help ease students of varying abilities onto a similar level of understanding around a topic, for example. It can also be helpful to ease teachers into new areas of research.

How much does Goblin Tools cost?

Goblin Tools is totally free to use both online, via the website, as well as through its apps. It has no requirement to sign-up or give any personal details to use the tools.

Goblin Tools best tips and tricks

Task Scaffolding
Start by modelling how you’d use Magic ToDo on one of your own projects, showing students that even teachers break big goals into smaller steps normalizes the process.

Tone Awareness
Use Judge and Formalizer side-by-side so students can see how language shifts meaning and emotion -- perfect for digital citizenship or English lessons.

Time Reflection
Have students predict how long something will take before using Estimator, then discuss the gap between expectation and reality as a self-management exercise.

• Best Tools for Teachers
• New Teacher Starter Kit