Teachers Review Remote Learning Tools

Although words such as “remote learning” and “distance learning” have dominated our conversations this school year, the heart of every classroom is still the connection between a teacher and their students. With the right tools and resources, that connection can remain infinitely stronger than the wifi networks powering your virtual classroom.

Over 400 teachers from the DonorsChoose community shared their feedback and tips for the most popular programs enabling their students to learn from home. Here’s what teachers across the country had to say:

What is it? “BrainPop is a virtual library designed to assist teachers in exposing students to content in all subject areas: science, social studies, mathematics, health, and so much more. BrainPop provides teachers with quizzes and additional activities that engage students and are motivating. BrainPop is a mini movie theatre that your students will constantly ask to visit!” – Ms. Pearson, 1st Grade

Recommended for: Kindergarten – 8th Grade students, though high school teachers note it can be a great review tool and early education teachers recommend BrainPOP Jr.

What DonorsChoose teachers are saying: “I absolutely love using Brainpop as a way to introduce a topic or at the start of a unit. The students get excited when they hear the “Beep Beep” sound that Moby makes when I start a video. The program also comes with many extras such as a short quiz, worksheets, etc. I use it as a whole group tool most of the time, but in this time of distance learning, it also allows you to use BrainPOP as an assignment. ” – Mr. Starken, 9th grade

Read the full BrainPOP for remote learning review, then get a basic BrainPOP subscription through DonorsChoose vendor AKJ Education. Get started on a project today.

What is it? “This tool is a platform to access standards based “escape rooms” for all grade levels and content areas – plus some just for team building and seasonal fun!  There are games that you can play with a kit – but there are also many digital versions.” – Mrs. Vedros, 8th and 11th Grade

Recommended for: Teachers recommend Breakout EDU for everyone! Breakout EDU includes content appropriate for all grade levels.

What DonorsChoose teachers are saying: “I highly recommend Breakout EDU! The students love the challenges and they’re content and standard based. It is serving two or three purposes in one and the students are always engaged in it!” – Mrs. Dragoo, 6th Grade

Read the full Breakout EDU for remote learning review, then get a Breakout EDU subscription through DonorsChoose vendor AKJ Education. Get started on a project today.

What is it? “Flipgrid is a tool allowing students to post videos in response to questions being asked. The teacher creates the video assignments and descriptions of what students must say in the video. There are options to create time limits, allow for comments and to post pictures matching the topic. Students may watch videos others have posted and comment. I feel this strongly creates community and allows teachers to better know their students. I pose questions and challenges for them to do on this platform. It has created a loving and supportive community in which my students are comfortable bonding with one another. – Ms. Brinkman, 3rd Grade

Recommended for: Teachers recommend Flipgrid for all grades! From show & tell or oral book reports to classroom debate exercises and music performances, Flipgrid can be adapted to any subject area at any grade level.

What DonorsChoose teachers are saying: “If you’re a remote teacher this tool becomes so valuable to hear your students. Each student has a voice and they deserve to be heard. The hardest thing about teaching remotely is our students are on mute for so much of our lessons.  Flip Grid allows them the opportunity to tell it all.” – Mrs. Policastro, Kindergarten

Read the full Flipgrid for remote learning review, then get the technology you need to make the most of Flipgrid on DonorsCHoose. Get started on a project today.

What is it? “Nearpod is an interactive presentation tool that allows you to do it all in one place. You can teach using modeling, visuals, written information, 3D models, videos, and virtual trips. Then you have the opportunity to engage students with polls, quizzes, questions, and games. Everyone can participate, every time. You can make your own or choose from a full library of lessons. It’s all in one spot.” – Miss DeLisa, 6th Grade

Recommended for: Teachers recommend Nearpod for all grades! For any lesson in which you would use a slideshow presentation, you can swap in Nearpod to get added engagement and real-time feedback.

What DonorsChoose teachers are saying: “Nearpod is a way to make presentations interactive. You can add games, matching, fill in the blank, quizzes, videos with questions, and more. It has taken my classes up a notch as the students are so much more engaged.” – Ms. Sloane, 7th-12th Grades

Read the full Nearpod for remote learning review, then get a Nearpod subscription through DonorsChoose vendor AKJ Education. Get started on a project today.

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You know what your students need, especially during this time of remote learning. The DonorsChoose community is here to help you get it. 3 out of 4 schools in the U.S. have a public school teacher who’s used DonorsChoose – that’s over 1.8 million classroom project requests funded. Yours could be next. Start your project today.

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