7 Digital Resources to enhance Distance Learning

Creating differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all your students is even more imperative during this COVID-19 pandemic. If your teaching methods are more of the traditional sense, finding resources that help fill the gap that the global crisis has created can be somewhat challenging.

I've compiled a short list of some digital resources that have helped me tremendously during my virtual tutoring sessions:

Quizlet

Quizlet is a free website and mobile app that is great for learning vocabulary online or on the go. It provides study options for students, including flashcards, mini quizzes and even games. With Quizlet you have the autonomy to create your own set or use an existing set on the topic you wish to teach. It is a great resource for helping students practise and master learning objectives for developing new content knowledge.

How do I use it?

I usually use Quizlet as part of the closure or summary segment of my sessions to determine my student's level of understanding of the concept that was taught. I then send those flashcard sets to my students so they can have them for future reference when studying or reviewing a topic.

Didax

Didax is a free website that provides virtual Mathematics manipulatives and English Language Arts resources that helps bring your distance learning instruction to life.

Gone are the days of spending hundreds of dollars on manipulatives that take up most of your classroom storage space or tiny pieces that can be potentially hazardous to little children. From base ten blocks to Math balances and geoboards, Didax’s easy-to-use virtual manipulatives are extremely fun and effective. Didax also offers free downloadable distance learning activities for Math and literacy.

How do I use it?

I absolutely love incorporating Didax virtual manipulatives in my set induction activities. it’s a perfect way to introduce lessons and get students hooked, interested and ready to learn!

Flocabulary

Flocabulary is a website that offers educational Hip-hop videos and instructional activities that promote literacy, develops student engagement and spark creativity. I’m sure at least one of your students will enjoy a little fun, educational rap battle! Flocabulary offers a free 30-day trial, after which you can decide to choose from one of their plans.

How do I use it?

I usually use Flocabulary’s youthful and engaging videos as a great way to introduce lessons and grab students’ attention. An excellent way to easily commit new content knowledge to memory is encouraging students to sing along to the hip-hop songs.

SplashLearn

SplashLearn is a game-based learning website and mobile app for teaching Mathematics to kids at all primary school levels. Yes, you read correctly, this platform makes learning Mathematics fun through gameplay, which is a reward in itself. With SplashLearn it’s super easy to monitor students’ progress in specific Mathematics concepts. How great is that?!

How do I use it?

I usually use SplashLearn’s Mathematics games during those lighter sessions; especially when students aren‘t feeling or performing at their best. It helps relax students and encourages them to participate more.

Kahoot!

Kahoot! is a fun online quiz and gaming-based learning platform. Its learning games, "Kahoots", are user-generated multiple-choice quizzes that can be accessed via a web browser or the Kahoot app. You can choose from a host of premade Kahoots for any subject area, or you can create your own personalized quiz. Kahoot! is the perfect digital resource for those students that need an instant reward.

How do I use it?

I usually use Kahoot! as a formative assessment strategy to determine my students’ level of understanding of the concept being taught. It’s a fun and innovative replacement for the traditional pen and paper tests.

Nearpod

Nearpod is a free, cloud-based platform that provides interactive ready-made lesson plans, videos, formative assessments and even virtual reality and simulations to enhance any distance learning experience. Nearpod even generates post-session reports that can be used to review student progress in real-time.

How do I use it?

When my schedule is somewhat hectic and I can't find the time to create my own lesson plans for my students, I use one of Nearpods' premade lesson plans to facilitate my sessions. It saves time and I am confident that they provide quality content.

IXL

IXL is a website that offers custom-built IXL skills to reinforce concepts across the primary school curriculum. Like Flocabulary, IXL also offers a 30-day free trial, after which you can decide to get a paid subscription. With IXL you receive real-time diagnostic feedback about students' proficiency and personalized guidance and tips for differentiating instruction to meet students' needs.

How do I use it?

I sometimes use IXL's skills as a formative assessment tool, at the end of each teaching point, to check for understanding, as well as a summative assessment strategy to end off a session.