Poulcheria Papadopoulou

The best online learning tools (Part 2) A while back, I have briefly expanded on the best online learning tools for the classroom; tools that benefit parents, students, and teachers alike allowing them to be involved in the process of learning. Since it’s almost time for another fun-filled academic year, there is no time like the present to regroup and explore some more fun platforms, websites, and apps to make learning more integrative for all! instaGrok Conducting research and evaluating sources are a set of the most important skills that students develop through their education. InstaGrok is especially useful to students who are first becoming familiarized with conducting research. This tool is a search engine that provides the students with videos, images, and articles as a result to their query. What’s best is that students can quiz themselves on certain topics of interest in order to learn a topic in depth. Moreover, instaGrok works in combination with Edmodo, where students can upload their assignments and other work they have created on instaGrok directly to Edmodo. Wolfram Alpha This database is excellent for students wanting a more systematized way of learning. Wolfram Alpha covers a wide range of topics with a clearer aim at STEM topics. It provides learners with step-by-step solutions and explanations, so that they actually learn the how’s and why’s of a complex equation instead of simply memorizing a result. Quizlet As is probably obvious by its name, Quizlet allows students to create quizzes, flashcards, and games to enhance their learning. It can be accessed both online as a website and on mobile devices as a free app. Students don’t have to be alone in their creation of study material; Quizlet allows users to work together and access each other’s work. LightSail “Revolutionizing reading,” as is their motto, is what the LightSail tool has set about to do. It consists of 80,000 books which assess a student’s learning process through reading comprehension questions and quizzes. The website material targets mostly students in grades 1-12 and adjusts the reading material in order to cater to the needs and performance of the each student. NewsELA Another program that aims at cultivating reading skills, NewsELA addresses students in elementary school through to high school. This online reading program tests the students’ understanding through quizzes and attunes to the reading level of each student. What is noteworthy is that NewsELA allows all students to read the same content of an article, each student, however, to their own ability. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to bring up these tools in your classroom and at home. Use technology to come closer to your learning process and the people who wish to work with you on that, such as your parents and educators. You won’t regret having a fun-filled academic year!