The Top 7 Tools For Your Digital Classroom For Teachers & Learners

In today’s classrooms, digital tools are essential for every teacher. Modern teachers must discover and master these tools to transform their classrooms into blended or digital environments.  Here is the list of free teaching tools for digital classrooms one needs to transform their classroom into blended or digital learning.

Enhance Learning: Right Tools For Your Digital Classroom

• Unique advantages bridging traditional classrooms and eLearning.
•  Online learning offers accessibility, especially for remote students.
• A chance to reach students with time, financial constraints, full-time jobs, and family commitments.
•  Traditional classrooms remain relevant, offering unique benefits.
•  Combines online and traditional approaches for comprehensive skill development.
• Blended learning prepares students for a virtual future while retaining traditional skills.
• The list provided for educators to transform traditional classrooms into blended or digital environments.
•  It balances the best of both worlds, addressing the ongoing debate on traditional skills like cursive writing.

Let’s start exploring the best digital classroom tools:

1. HotChalk

HotChalk is an essential digital tool for online learning, facilitates teacher-student interaction, and houses curricula, lesson plans, and grades. Despite fewer options, it’s a free platform with a library, grade books, quizzes, and customizable lessons. It offers tools for teacher-student interaction, including assessments and feedback, enhancing the learning experience.

Its vast library base makes it a valuable resource for educators seeking diverse teaching materials. HotChalk is free, making it an accessible option for educators looking for a comprehensive yet budget-friendly tool.

2. Pumpic

eLearning for All is a trend that extends to schoolchildren; tablets, smartphones, and VR/AR have become primary learning tools. Cyberbullying, inappropriate content, screen time issues, and psychological addiction concerns. It emphasizes guidance and close monitoring for a safe online learning experience.

Pumpic has a versatile monitoring tool with iCloud tracking, GPS monitoring, and unique features for parental control. It prioritizes safety by addressing potential adversities, ensuring a secure digital classroom experience.

3. NYT VR – Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality provides an immersive learning experience, evolving from surgery simulators and military training to classrooms. It has technological Maturity. After decades, VR fulfilled its potential in the nineties, entering educational settings.

It is a Free app with the slogan “All it takes is a smartphone,” requiring VR gear like Google Cardboard. VR places students at the story’s centre, visually enhancing history and cultural studies. VR offers a powerful tool for an enriched learning experience, particularly in historical and cultural education.

4. Teachem

It has powerful eLearning tools and excellent video Resources like Khan Academy, TED Talks, and HowStuffWorks. Videos lack face-to-face interaction; Teachem addresses this with interactive lessons. It provides a web-based service that turns YouTube videos into customizable lessons with quizzes, flashcards, and notes.

One of the best features is that it enables users to create classes with various videos, enhancing engagement and comprehension. From history to music to math, Teachem serves as an entertaining and creative tool for various subjects.

5. Kahoot!

Inspires creativity motivates self-learning, and fosters focus through fun and flow state. It is a game-based learning platform empowering students in the learning process, assessed through quizzes. It offers thousands of pre-existing game options or allows the creation of custom games, catering to various subjects and modes.

A versatile tool for both individual and group eLearning, supporting blended learning approaches. Kahoot! Enhances responsiveness as teachers assess student progress through interactive quizzes, promoting an interactive learning environment.

6. GoClass

Blended learning tool enhancing classroom engagement, applicable to eLearning. It lets teachers share content, videos, and handouts directly to students’ devices.  Students can bookmark and save notes, promoting personalized learning. Students can take lessons in sessions, facilitating remote participation and convenient access. Teachers create playlists and assessments, tailoring the learning experience for individual students.

7. Socrative

Socrative streamlines and automates the grading process, reducing the burden on educators. Digital teaching tools connect teachers and students instantly, enabling prepared assessments or on-the-fly questions. Socrative facilitates engagement regardless of location, offering flexibility in learning interactions.

It allows tracking of individual student progress and offers personalized approaches for skill mastery.  Digital classroom tools for teachers and learners suggest tailored approaches, enhancing understanding and knowledge acquisition.

What are the Important Key Issues in a Digital Classroom?

• Impact of COVID-19: Worldwide, the lives of students, staff, and faculty members have been stressed and strained by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the context of the transformed role of online learning.
• Drawbacks of Online Classes: Online learning has led to various drawbacks affecting students and teachers.
• Health Issues: According to the NBC News and Challenge Study, common health issues associated with online learning include headaches, insomnia, stress, and fatigue. These issues impact students and, undoubtedly, teachers as well.
• Motivational Decline: Learners experience a decline in motivation when engaging in online learning. The absence of face-to-face interaction and engagement can contribute to this decline.
• Challenges of Self-Managed Workloads: Learners face difficulty in dealing with self-managed workloads. The absence of structured face-to-face interactions can make it challenging for students to navigate and manage their academic responsibilities.
• Technology Frustrations: Learners and instructors struggle with the ever-changing technology associated with virtual classroom tools. Navigating through user-unfriendly online course software can lead to frustration and hinder the learning experience.
• Instructor Responsibilities: Instructors face similar technological challenges and are responsible for supporting learners in dealing with these issues.

The problems associated with remote learning encompass health issues, motivational decline, challenges in managing self-driven workloads, and frustrations with technology. So, Digital tools in the classroom create an accessible environment for students and instructors.

In Summary

The digital classroom tools highlighted provide innovative teachers with powerful resources to enhance and modernize their teaching methods. From collaborative platforms to interactive content creation, these useful digital classroom tools empower educators to create dynamic and engaging learning environments for their students.

Related: Top 10 Tools For Digital Classroom