The 2023-24 school year is fast approaching and in fact, for some of you it may already be here! Teachers, it's time to gear up!
In our increasingly digital world, educational tools have evolved far beyond the traditional textbook and chalkboard.
Today, a plethora of innovative and effective resources are available to enhance teaching and learning experiences, both in the classroom and remotely. To deliver the best learning experience to your pupils, the right tools aren't a luxury—they're essential.
This guide is your roadmap to free and paid tools that empower you, the educator. Start the school year strong. Let’s dive in.
Top Free Tools For The Classroom
Khanmigo
Khanmigo, developed by Khan Academy, is an experimental AI-powered virtual tutor and assistant for education powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4.
For students, Khanmigo acts as a personalized learning companion. Whether a student is grappling with a complex math problem or exploring a new topic, Khanmigo steps in to provide tailored support.
It breaks down complex problems into manageable steps, prompts students to think critically, and guides them to relevant resources, such as Khan Academy videos or practice problems.
For teachers, Khanmigo is a brilliant administrative ally. From crafting detailed lesson plans to efficiently grading assignments, this tool is designed to lighten the load for educators.
Free Resources for Newline Boards
Newline interactive boards have been a game-changer for American classrooms. But, digital experiences for these devices are hard to come by and can be expensive.
Fortunately, Newline Interactive has compiled a great list of free resources for you to try. Here are our favorites:
- Kindergarten kids can learn tons about letters, numbers and STEM through interactive games with the Sesame Street family!
- Desmos is a useful math and digital graphing calculator to help students visualize equations and graphs.
- Learn the basics of computer science, programming and animation by creating fun games on Scratch.
Check out the full list here!
Top Paid Education Tools
The Securly Platform
Securly is an all-in-one toolkit for teachers and schools to keep students safe and empower their learning.
Here are some of the products and features on offer:
E-Hallpass
Securly's e-hallpass is a digital solution for K-12 schools, modernizing the traditional hall pass system.
The e-hallpass allows educators to track and manage student movements throughout the school. Students request passes electronically on their devices and teachers can swiftly approve or deny them without disrupting their lessons.
The system offers features like setting pass limits for students, preventing overcrowded destinations, and generating custom reports for better oversight.
Teachers can easily see whos out of class, track how long and see whether a student is requesting departures too often on a given day. With Contact Control, you can even prevent specific students from getting passes at the same time.
Securly Flex
Securly Flex, formerly known as FlexTime Manager, enhances time management in schools by seamlessly incorporating flex periods into daily schedules.
These flex periods are designed to address learning losses, promote personalized learning experiences, and grant students more autonomy in their educational choices.
How does it work?
Teachers can offer classes and activities to students on an open booking platform. Students can enrol for each flex period, either through open enrollment or rosters for mandatory activities.
Teachers can efficiently plan and allocate time for targeted student support, including intervention, remediation, and peer tutoring. Administration staff can even use Flex to locate specific students during flex periods.
Securly Aware
Securly Aware is a platform for schools to gain visibility into students’ mental health and safeguard their wellbeing.
Aware can:
- Identify students who may be at risk so you can intervene when needed. It uses wellness indicators, activity alerts and AI to find signs of a student struggling in real time.
- Monitor student communications and activities for nudity, bullying, suicide and violence.
- Provide automatic signpost resources and warnings to students to preempt any concerning student behavior
Securly Classroom
Securly Classroom is a classroom management app for teachers to plan and lead lessons with confidence.
This platform allows teachers to monitor students’ devices during both online and in-class lessons. It also lets teachers engage in private 1-on-1 chats with students to raise issues or hear concerns.
There are plenty more features and products in Securly, but we haven’t got the space to cover them! Check out what’s on offer on the Securly website!
