Educators using digital resources for classroom needs know that AI continues to evolve in exciting and unexpected ways. As we’ve passed the halfway point of 2025, it’s time to examine some of the latest and updated AI resources available. Interestingly, some longtime favorites have steadily and quietly transformed–adding powerful new features that deserve a fresh look. What once began as basic tools has stood the test of time and evolved into sophisticated platforms competing with newer resources, creating engaging and practical classroom materials.
Here are five standout tools catching my attention:
1. Canva’s Creative Leap: Code and Sheets for Educators
Canva (reviewed here) has long been a go-to for visual design, but its latest AI updates—Canva Code and Canva Sheets—open up entirely new possibilities. Additionally, Canva has a new format for finding and creating items using the site, making it much easier to start any design.
Canva Code makes it easy to describe your needs. Canva generates the code for your plan, allowing users to add it to a design and create a website. Begin on your home page, select Canva AI and Code for me to begin, then describe your project in the message box. Canva shares ideas, including creating timelines, interactive flashcard games, and a 3D game to explore space. However, this is just the beginning of the many possibilities for using Canva Code to create interactive learning objects.
Educators are also using Canva Code to:
- Create Civil War Circle of Viewpoints – Ask Canva to create a Circle of Viewpoints Thinking Routine activity based upon the Civil War.
- Build daily Wordle-style puzzles based on vocabulary for your subject area.
- Document nature observations by creating a class journal to share pictures and information about items observed in your location.
Canva Sheets, another new tool from Canva, meanwhile, integrates spreadsheet functionality directly into your designs. Use Magic Write to generate content and Magic Formulas to create calculations from prompts. Here are two great ways to get started:
- Use Canva Sheets to track classroom data and progress, then convert the information into charts to visualize it. Start with a blank sheet or choose one of the many templates to input or import data from your current spreadsheets.
- Use a checklist template to delegate and assign tasks for group projects. The checklist includes columns to add tasks, priority level, person in charge, and current status toward completion.
2. AI in Padlet: Enhanced Boards and a Built-In Teaching Assistant
Padlet (reviewed here) has been a classroom staple for years, and along with its new Padlet TA (reviewed here) feature, takes things to a new level. They help you design Padlets, presentations, quizzes, and more quickly and easily!
- Padlet TA is the newest offering from Padlet (TA stands for Teacher Assistant). Choose from several tools to generate images, lesson plans, groups, rubrics, etc. Begin by filling out a short form and adding optional resources like links, files, or videos. After generating your activity, share it using a link or export it to Google Slides or a PDF.
- While Padlets aren’t new, recent updates offer fresh ways to personalize and elevate their classroom impact. Examples of AI “recipes” include design boards for attendance, thinking routines, and vocabulary lists. Visit the gallery and select education to find all of the options for education.
3. Google Learn About: AI Conversations That Teach
Google’s Learn About (reviewed here) tool offers a conversational approach to learning. Start your conversation by asking a question, uploading a file, or sharing an image to learn or discuss any topic. The AI tool responds with vocabulary highlights, information, and options to dig deeper, simplify the response, or find images. As you continue the dialogue, you’ll unlock videos, interactive lists, and “stop-and-think” questions that encourage reflection and exploration. It’s a dynamic way to turn curiosity into deeper understanding.
4. Illuminate: Audio Learning Tailored to You
Also from Google, Illuminate (reviewed here) uses AI to tailor content to your learning preferences by generating audio conversations from a URL or topic. Define the type of dialogue you prefer by choosing from casual, formal, guided, or free-form styles. Here is an example broadcast made in the formal style based on a recent TeachersFirst blog post. Use Illuminate to create recordings based on webpages, articles, and more, and share them with students as an engaging alternative to traditional lectures or a supplement to required reading activities. It’s a great way to supplement reading assignments or offer accessible content for auditory learners.
5. AI Trust You: Building Integrity in AI Usage
AI Trust You is an add-on to help middle and high school teachers foster transparency and integrity.
- The area for teachers includes options for selecting from four technique categories – Content Creation, Content Understanding, Research Assistance, and Audio-Visual Generation. Teachers choose a category and specify how students can use AI for an assignment using transparent expectations.
- The student area lets students select the AI tool they use and identify the techniques and percentage of work that was AI-assisted to create a citation to include with the assignment.
It’s a thoughtful way to “flip the script” and encourage honest conversations about AI in education.
Why These Tools Matter
According to recent data, 84% of teachers began using AI within three years of generative AI becoming widely available. Finding the right balance between incorporating new, innovative opportunities for using AI and research-based pedagogy is essential. These tools don’t just save time—they offer personalized learning experiences, spark engagement, motivate, and support research-based pedagogy.
Whether you’re a seasoned tech user or just starting to explore AI, these platforms provide practical, creative ways to enrich your classroom.
What are some of your favorite new AI tools? Share your ideas with our readers as we learn together.