The following is a guest post from Kerry Watson, an online tutor and an avid writer. She has written a wide range of articles focusing on the changing scenario of higher education and related topics. Her blog provides the latest updates and information on higher education.
As you’ve no doubt experienced, spending five or six hours in a classroom, listening to a teacher give a lecture, can be extremely tedious. This is especially true when you’re only given a blackboard and a set of textbooks to look at throughout the lesson. But guess what, it’s the 21st century! Which, as you well know, has quickly become the digital era. Technology is now allowing modern learners to study with the help of a wide range of online learning tools, and it's time we put them to use.
Today, students are able to network and collaborate with global peers around the world, instead of staying stuck within a brick and mortar classroom all day long. In fact, these digital learning tools are playing a key role in easing the learning processes for students, while giving teachers time to adopt new and innovative strategies that help them impart knowledge unconventionally.
So, here are a few examples of effective online learning tools that can help both students and teachers engage in wonderful experiences in today’s classrooms. Let’s take a look:
So, here are a few examples of effective online learning tools that can help both students and teachers engage in wonderful experiences in today’s classrooms. Let’s take a look:
1) The Learning Space
Our first example, The Learning Space, is designed to make it easier for schools and districts to create online learning communities. Through this service, schools can create online sections for the courses they offer. This way, students and teachers can connect in a digital space, share assignments, have discussions, and begin to extend the classroom outside the traditional four walls.
Our first example, The Learning Space, is designed to make it easier for schools and districts to create online learning communities. Through this service, schools can create online sections for the courses they offer. This way, students and teachers can connect in a digital space, share assignments, have discussions, and begin to extend the classroom outside the traditional four walls.
2) CreativeLIVE
Next up, CreativeLIVE is an online collection of digital workshops. You can watch any workshop you want for free, and you can purchase sessions for download if you want to view them later. They have an enormous variety of topics and categories, all of which are taught by experts in the field. CreativeLIVEalso connects with Google Apps for Business and Pinterest.
Next up, CreativeLIVE is an online collection of digital workshops. You can watch any workshop you want for free, and you can purchase sessions for download if you want to view them later. They have an enormous variety of topics and categories, all of which are taught by experts in the field. CreativeLIVEalso connects with Google Apps for Business and Pinterest.
3) Writing House
Writinghouse is an impressive citations tool that has the added benefit of being completely free. Students and teachers can use Writinghouse to instantly and easily create citations and bibliographies. Plus, the site not only supports MLA and APA, but Chicago and Harvard style formatting as well.
Writinghouse is an impressive citations tool that has the added benefit of being completely free. Students and teachers can use Writinghouse to instantly and easily create citations and bibliographies. Plus, the site not only supports MLA and APA, but Chicago and Harvard style formatting as well.
4) iLearn
Online learners searching for an updated virtual campus need look no further than iLearn. Apart from letting students initiate digital discussions with their peers and instructors, iLearn also gives students access to their online study materials 24x7. Plus, distance learners can get involved in virtual discussions and can receive feedback from their instructors.
Online learners searching for an updated virtual campus need look no further than iLearn. Apart from letting students initiate digital discussions with their peers and instructors, iLearn also gives students access to their online study materials 24x7. Plus, distance learners can get involved in virtual discussions and can receive feedback from their instructors.
5) Edutopia
Edutopia is an incredible learning tool for students but teachers alike. From lesson plans, to professional development, to integration strategies, and everything in between, Edutopia has you covered. They even have a great section on “Schools that Work” which chronicles success stories from schools around the country.
Edutopia is an incredible learning tool for students but teachers alike. From lesson plans, to professional development, to integration strategies, and everything in between, Edutopia has you covered. They even have a great section on “Schools that Work” which chronicles success stories from schools around the country.
Obviously, these are just a few examples from the enormous variety of digital learning tools that are now available to students. But, for teachers and students looking to improve the learning experience (both physical and virtual) these sites offer a great place to begin the journey.
