Digital Learning Tools
Below is a non-comprehensive list of free or low-cost digital learning tools that BPSTechnology loves. They are arranged alphabetically and can be used across all content areas and/or in professional learning.
District Licenses
Acellus
Full video-based standards-aligned courses for use in blended learning and/or for intervention! Easily move students around in content, and get instant data via the gradebook tool!
Contact Lauren Barry in the Office of Expanded Learning Time for more information.
Apex
Standards-based modules with robust reporting tools that help you with small group instruction- great for blended learning! BPS has district-wide licenses available for use.
Contact Lauren Barry in the Office of Expanded Learning Time for more information and a license.
GoGuardian
GoGuardian provides Chromebook management solutions that keep students safer online and make teaching easier. Teachers can monitor what is on students' screens and support them with their learning.
Available for BPS teachers. If you are interested in a license for your classroom, login to BPSLearns (learn.mybps.org) with your BPS ID and BPS Gmail password and complete the BPSLearns GoGuardian course.
Website: www.goguardian.com
Read&Write for Google Chrome
Read&Write is a Chrome extension that supports reading and writing. This web-friendly toolbar offers options for text-to-speech, word prediction, speech to text, custom vocabulary lists, and more.
Available to use on devices with Chrome browsers. All BPS teachers and students with BPS emails (bostonpublicschools.org and bostonk12.org) can access this toolbar.
Free & Low Cost Recommended Apps
Adobe Spark
Adobe Spark is a free online and mobile graphic design app. Users can create images, videos, and web pages that help tell a story or demonstrate concepts.
Available for iOS and internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: spark.adobe.com
Book Creator
Book Creator is a publishing platform that allows users to create interactive and accessible books that incorporate video, audio, images, and text. Users can create digital portfolios, journals, content-specific books, guides, and more.
Available for iPads and Chromebooks.
Website: www.bookcreator.com
Canva
Canva is a free online and mobile app for creating posters, invitations, business cards, flyers, and more. Use this tool to give your designs a polished look and share with your school community.
Available for iOS and internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: www.canva.com
Chrome Apps & Extensions
Chrome Apps run inside your Chrome browser with a dedicated user interface and user interaction. Chrome Extensions are tiny software programs that enhance the functionality of your Chrome browser.
Available for use on the Chrome browser only.
Clips
Clips is a free app for iOS devices (iPhones and iPads) where users can create short videos like tutorials and selfie videos. Live Titles are included in the app, making it possible to caption videos for increased accessibility.
Available for iOS devices only.
Website: www.apple.com/clips
Code.org
Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented minorities. Code.org organizes the annual Hour of Code campaign which has engaged 10% of all students in the world and provides the leading curriculum for K-12 computer science in the largest school districts in the United States.
Available for internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: www.code.org
Flipgrid
Flipgrid is an interactive video board for posting short video responses and commenting on them. Ideal for engaging students in discussions and offering options for expression.
Available for iOS, Android, and internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: www.flipgrid.com
GoNoodle
GoNoodle is an online and mobile app that contains a repository of videos that encourage movement and mindfulness and build confidence. The videos range from full body workouts to breathing exercises. Used for test prep and movement breaks.
Available for iOS and internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: www.gonoodle.com
Kahoot!
Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform for playing games, taking quizzes, doing surveys and polls, and more.
Available for iOS, Android, and internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: www.kahoot.com
Padlet
Padlet is a free online “bulletin” board where students and teachers can collaborate, reflect, share links, pictures, videos, and audio. It can be used for sharing ideas, polling audiences, doing formative assessments, and composing journal entries.
Available for iOS, Android, and internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: www.padlet.com
QR Codes
QR (Quick Response) Codes are barcodes for quick and easy access to links. With a QR code reader such as i-nigma, users can scan the code and be directed to the link associated with that code within seconds.
- Make Your Own QR Codes with QR Code Generator or QR Stuff
- Read QR codes with i-nigma
- QR Codes in the Classroom
Quicktime
Quicktime is a free video and audio recording tool that comes with macOS computers. Educators and students can use this to demonstrate concepts, share stories, and record podcasts.
Available on macOS computers only.
Website: support.apple.com/quicktime
Seesaw
Seesaw is an online and mobile app for creating student-driven portfolios that incorporate multiple media. Teachers can invite families to view student work within the app.
Available for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Chromebooks, and browsers, including Chrome.
Website: https://web.seesaw.me/
Scratch
Scratch is an online app for programming interactive stories, games, and animations. Users can share their creations with others in the Scratch online community. Scratch has been used across content areas to teach young people to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.
Available for browsers, including Chrome.
Website: scratch.mit.edu
ScratchJr
ScratchJr is a free online and mobile app for young children to program their own interactive stories and games. In doing this, they learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively.
Available for iOS, Android, and Chromebooks.
Website: www.scratchjr.org
ThingLink
ThingLink is an online and mobile app for annotating images and videos by adding hotspots. These hotspots provide additional details about the images and spark curiosity and discussion.
Available for iOS, Android, and internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: www.thinglink.com
Tinkercad
Tinkercad is a browser-based 3D design and 3D printing app. Teachers and students can create and share 3D models across various subject areas.
Available for internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: www.tinkercad.com
TodaysMeet
TodaysMeet is a text-based backchannel chat platform for classroom teachers and learners. A backchannel is the conversation that goes on alongside the primary activity, presentation, or discussion and gives all students a voice and can extend conversations beyond the classroom.
Available for internet browsers, including Chrome.
Website: www.todaysmeet.com
Visit Common Sense Media for more apps, ratings, and reviews!
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