Best Online Tools for Distance Learning 2022.
Distance learning is rapidly evolving from a “backup” option to today’s student’s preferred way of learning thanks to more advanced e-learning technologies. Online educators need to master new digital and media literacies. For many experienced educators, this can be a steep learning curve.
Fortunately, numerous online tools make life easier for distance learning educators. You don’t need to be an experienced technologist or media expert to be an effective online teacher, you just need the right online learning tools to do the job right from your laptop.
Generic Tools Online Educators Should Know
This article focuses on the best tools specifically designed for online learning, but most of the tools used in distance learning are generic. It’s a long tradition to repurpose business or entertainment tools into powerful learning tools. There are several reliable digital tools that online learning is simply impossible without:
applications for video conferencing and webinars. e.g. Zoom, Skype, Teams, etc.Video editing apps: e.g. LumaFusion, Adobe Rush, Adobe Premiere, etc.Screen recording tools: e.g. Nvidia Experience, Open Broadcast Software, etc.Social networks: e.g. Facebook, Twitter, messaging apps, etc.
Online teachers should never ignore a tool or app because it is clearly not meant to be used for educational purposes. Try to think a little outside the box and you may find software that will enhance online learning for your students.
Google Suite Apps
Even if you’re just an individual Google Account, you have access to many online tools that make it easy to create, collaborate, and distribute content. For example, Google Docs is the main word processor and is a quick way to create documentation in collaboration with other team members. Students can also use these Google apps to collaborate and even submit work for comment or editing.
Google Drive makes it easy to store and share files with your students. The Google app suite has great access control settings so you don’t accidentally give students access to your personal documents or let them edit things they shouldn’t.
Google Classroom
While Google’s suite of online apps is perfect for educators who need a few informal tools to expand their online learning practice, Google Classroom offers a custom-built learning environment that integrates many of Google’s existing tools (like Google Calendar) into something that what is meant for students. and use by the teacher.
Available as a website and mobile app, Google Classroom gives online educators all of the following:
General classroom management. Create class templates by copying a class. Conduct video calls. Track student progress and get feedback. Create and share learning materials and lesson plans. Create virtual courses, assignments, and grades.
The classroom can be used as a complement to face-to-face classes (hybrid classroom model) or as an optimized LMS (Learning Management System) for fully online teaching and learning.
Google Jamboard
Digital whiteboards are an essential tool for live video lectures and pre-recorded content. This is a great way for teachers to illustrate lessons in real time using natural whiteboard skills.
There are many paid and free options, but we think Google’s Jamboard is the best. This free tool provides real-time collaboration and works on any device through a browser or mobile app.
Khan Academy for Teachers
Khan Academy is a free online learning resource covering the entire public school curriculum through high school and some college-level subjects. Subjects are taught in a unique way, progress is recorded using a game system, and students choose unique paths through subjects such as math to learn only what they need for specific purposes.
Khan Academy for Teachers allows you to register your students and act as their online teacher using brilliant content designed by Khan Academy. It’s the most impressive personalized learning tool available today, especially considering it’s free to use.
The Open Textbook Library
OER (Open Educational Resources) are educational resources with an open license so anyone can use them in their curriculum. Depending on the specific license, you may use them commercially, but not if (for example) they are under a Creative Commons Noncommercial license.
Finding high-quality OER can be a daunting task, but the Open Textbook Library allows you to quickly find the best open textbooks for any subject you want to imagine.
Libretexts
If you don’t find what you need in the open textbook library, your next stop should be LibreTexts. This is an exciting project supported by several major institutions that aims to provide quality OER textbooks in subjects ranging from social sciences to business or engineering.
Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle takes a modern take on online video and allows online educators to add their own educational layer on top of that video content. You select the video clip you want to designate as learning content and then add questions to that video using Edpuzzle.
You can then track how students interact with the video and answer questions. Edpuzzle can integrate with major LMS products like Moodle, Backboard, Canvas, Google Classroom, etc.
SmartBuilder
SmartBuilder is an eLearning authoring tool that allows teachers to quickly create rich, engaging and interactive scenarios without any coding or media skills. Check out their sample page to see the fantastic things you can do with SmartBuilder. You can also sign up for a free trial to see if you get along with their tools.
Udemy
You may have heard of MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses but know you can easily create your own? Udemy is one of many platforms that offer MOOCs, but what sets it apart is that virtually anyone with something of value to teach can create and download a course and still make some money! Whether you’re looking to create something for school districts or sell refresher courses, Udemy is your best bet.
EdModo
EdModo is an LMS-like platform and a kind of classroom management system with the addition of some aspects of a social media platform. It also includes all the tools you’ll need to create syllabuses, lessons, and assessments, as well as communicate remotely with your students. pupils. If you’re not interested in a simplistic approach to building your distance learning arsenal, EdModo is a great one-stop-shop.
Flipgrid
Flipgrid is a smart video discussion tool from Microsoft. What makes it different from the likes of Zoom or Skype? The idea is to create an open video discussion platform suitable for Pre-K and Ph.D. Most importantly, this is not a live video tool, but a tool where students can pre-record their responses.
The role of teachers at Flipgrid is to act as facilitators. Students can be put into groups and suggest specific topics for discussion. Students then use Flipgrid to record and edit their case responses. The response can be recorded as many times as the student wishes before submitting, removing any pressure to respond in a live situation.
Kahoot
You may have heard of terms like “gamification” or “game-based learning”, but using game elements or creating a game-based educational experience is a major technical challenge if you don’t have a tool like Kahoot. Kahoot is designed to allow you to create quizzes and let students solve them as a form of learning through play.
Moodle & MoodleCloud
There is intense competition in the LMS industry to be the platform of choice. But even here, Moodle stands out as an advanced e-learning solution and as a free and open source product.
Moodle is a complete online learning platform used by some of the world’s largest educational institutions. According to Moodle itself, 25% of the top 200 universities in the world are on the forum.
The amazing thing is that you can set up your server, install Moodle on it and manage it like your own college or university. If you don’t have technical skills or can’t afford to set up your infrastructure, you can pay for a managed instance through third parties or the official MoodleCloud service. MoodleCloud comes with a 45 day free trial so you can safely evaluate the LMS to see if it works for you.
Pear Deck for Google Slides
Pear Deck is a neat add-on for Google Slides (an alternative to PowerPoint) that allows you to use the Google cloud app to create learning content from within the Google Slides interface. You can leave formative ratings directly from the Pear Deck sidebar. You can create your own questions, add audio, and more. They also have a great onboarding guide so you can hit the ground running right away.
Near, Far, Wherever You Are!
Armed with these distance learning tools, no student is left out of your reach. This is the most exciting time for education since Socrates came up with his method!
Best Online Tools for Distance Learning 2022
Best Online Tools for Distance Learning 2022