EdTech Tools for Effective Online Learning

May 6, 2024

Middle and high school students who embrace educational technology tools—or EdTech—become active participants in their learning and are better prepared for success in a rapidly evolving digital world.

By leveraging EdTech, online middle and high school students like those at Dwight Global Online School can access resources, personalize their learning journey, develop essential skills, and prepare for future academic and professional careers. 

How to Choose?

With the vast array of EdTech tools rolling out each year, educational institutions must curate the EdTech tools which are most effective and best for student, faculty, and administration use.

Renata Nikolayev, Dwight Global’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction said, “Dwight Global Department Heads, Curriculum leaders, and faculty continually share edtech tool recommendations through departmental dialogue, internal professional development, steering committees, and global conferences.”

She continued: “Requests are added to an evolving list, which is vetted by our Heads of Department and our Curriculum & Instruction team. In the coming year, these recommendations will go through a process of a formal review by our EdTech Tools and Applications Task Force.” 

Dwight Global Middle School Head Sara Crucet said the latest and most effective EdTech tools help equip students with the 21st century skills they’ll need to succeed in the careers of the future. 

”For both educators and students, The International Society for Technology in Education’s Standards and Common Sense Media’s Digital Citizenship guidelines provide a positive framework for propelling teaching and learning with technology." said Crucet. 

The ISTE is a not-for-profit organization that bases their standards on learning science research and practitioner experience. Their standards ensure that EdTech tools create high impact, sustainable, scalable, and equitable learning.

“The best EdTech tools help young people become thoughtful, empathetic digital citizens who use technology to learn and solve problems in their digital and physical communities,” Crucet said. 

The guide below explores the various categories of technology tools for online middle and high school students, and also highlights some popular options available.

Access to a Wealth of Resources

Online libraries, databases, and educational websites offer a vast array of resources, including textbooks, articles, videos, and interactive lessons. Students can explore diverse perspectives, access up-to-date information, and conduct research more efficiently.

• Duolingo: Offers interactive language learning lessons and activities to help students develop proficiency in foreign languages.

• Khan Academy: Provides free, high-quality educational videos, practice exercises, and personalized learning dashboards across various subjects.

• School History UK: provider of online history resources ranging from the ancient world to contemporary events

• Kuta Software: test bank of math questions

• Gizmos: science simulations and STEM interactive cases

Skill Development

Edtech tools facilitate academic learning and also help students develop digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Coding platforms, multimedia creation tools, and virtual reality experiences provide opportunities for hands-on learning and skill development.

• Quizlet: Enables students to create and study digital flashcards, quizzes, and games to enhance learning and retention.

• Flip: video content creation and video discussion board

• Turnitin: plagiarism detection

• HonorLock: Remote online proctoring software that ensures integrity and supports students taking exams

Personalized Learning and Flexibility

Personalized feedback and recommendations help students focus on areas where they need improvement. Edtech tools provide students with access to educational resources anytime, anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection. Online platforms offer flexibility in learning schedules, allowing students to pace themselves according to their individual needs and preferences.

• IXL: personalized math practice

• Blooket: interactive game/assessment tool for World Languages

• Gymkit: interactive game/assessment tool for science and World Languages

• Quest Learning: science and math review questions

• Lexile: analyzes text to determine reading level

Increased Student Engagement

Interactive multimedia elements, such as videos, simulations, and gamified activities, make learning more engaging and enjoyable for students. Collaborative tools enable students to connect with peers, participate in group projects, and share ideas, adding to a strong sense of community and collaboration.

• Padlet

• Trello: A visual collaboration tool that helps students organize tasks, manage projects, and track progress using customizable boards and cards.

• Pear Deck

• Miro: Collaborative whiteboard and workspace

• Flip

• Zoom

• Peardeck: Interactive slides deck

Improved Organization and Time Management

Digital planners, calendars, and task management tools help students stay organized and manage their time effectively. Reminder features and notifications help students stay on track with assignments, deadlines, and study sessions.

• Google Calendar

• Google Workspace for Education productivity tools

• Google Docs, Drive, Classroom for collaboration and organization 

• Canva for Edu: Image and content creator–web pages, graphic organizers, slides

• Calendly: calendar appointment tool 

• Plum Paper planner

• Moleskine planner

• Asana calendar scheduling

• Trello calendar scheduling

• Evernote, Bullet Journals, and Notion for note taking

The power of education technology is only a click away. Contact Dwight Global today to learn more about the school’s rigorous academic pathways, experienced faculty, and the scheduling flexibility that makes the school highly sought after worldwide.