TeachersFirst Edge
New web 2.0 tools appear each day. Many of these tools were not originally intended for classroom use, but they can be powerful learning tools for today's techno-savvy students and their more adventurous teachers. These sites appear (and frequently disappear) very quickly, launched by creative techno-geeks out there in the world.
Many of these tools require a higher-than-average set of teacher tech skills or some extra monitoring to assure student "safety." TeachersFirst Edge reviews these "tools on the Edge" carefully, and with specific ideas for using them safely and effectively in teaching and learning. Reviews point out any safety or policy concerns for the tool and offer links to management tips for each concern.
Especially popular is this subset of the Edge: BYOD Dream Tools: Free tools that work on any device. Look for the device agnostic tool tag in any review.
This is the world your students already know. Try teaching in their vernacular. A little adventurousness makes for powerful learning.
See General Tips for using Edge Tools - a must for first-time users
Browse the full listing of detailed safety/school policy tips or save time by reading them as needed from each tool review.
If you try one of these tools and find it especially useful, be sure to leave a comment on it to share your students' successes with other teachers. If you know of another tool that teachers would find beneficial, please suggest it via our webmaster account, as a "suggested resource."
Here's the Edge:
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Perplexity Pages - Perplexity
Grades
5 to 12
tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), communication (120), digital storytelling (163), multimedia (59), presentations (31), Research (83)
In the Classroom
Use Perplexity Pages in many different ways to support student learning. For example, create Pages to introduce content to students as you begin a new learning unit. Include Pages as part of choice boards or multimedia text sets (MMTS), view the archive video of OK2Ask: MIE Day - Quick & Engaging Explorations with Multimedia Text Sets, reviewed here to learn more about using MMTS in the classroom. Use Perplexity Pages to share examples of creating informative and engaging research presentations. Extend learning by asking students to use Sway, reviewed here that include similar features, including images and videos.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Nolej - Nolej
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), differentiation (87), flash cards (44), quizzes (88), Teacher Utilities (205)
In the Classroom
Upload a short video (such as a science or social studies clip) into Nolej and let it generate embedded questions. Have students watch and respond in real time, keeping them actively involved instead of passively viewing. Generate multiple versions of activities at different difficulty levels. Assign the tasks based on student readiness so all learners can access the content while being appropriately challenged. Turn Nolej-generated quizzes into a class competition or team challenge. Students can replay activities, track progress, and reinforce key concepts before an assessment in a fun, low-prep way.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Opal - Google Labs
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), Teacher Utilities (205)
In the Classroom
Have students describe a simple classroom tool they wish existed (e.g., a quiz generator, a vocabulary helper, a story prompt machine). Using Opal, they can turn their idea into a working AI mini-app, then present how it works and why it's useful. Students can design an AI-powered story generator that changes characters, setting, or conflict based on user input. In groups, have students build subject-specific review apps (reading comprehension quizzes, science concept checkers, social studies trivia).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Monsha AI - Monsha, Inc.
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), differentiation (87), presentations (31), Teacher Utilities (205)
In the Classroom
Use Monsha to quickly create a high-interest lesson hook, such as a scenario, short story, or essential question, tied to your current reading unit. Have students respond with a quick write or turn-and-talk to activate prior knowledge and spark curiosity. After using Monsha to model strong comprehension or test-style questions, have students create their own questions on paper using the same format. Generate exit tickets or short review questions aligned to the day's objective. Use them for quick formative assessment, or turn them into a team-based review game to reinforce key skills in a fun, low-prep way.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teachmate - Teachmate
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), assessment (139)
In the Classroom
In the classroom, students can complete assessments that have been made through Teachmate using Google Forms, reviewed here or Gimkit, reviewed here. Students can use the information that is shared to create presentations using Google Slides, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What If History - Anshumaan Vishnu
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), timelines (60)
In the Classroom
What if History is an excellent resource to promote critical thinking about the consequences of events, either in the past or in the future. Encourage students to think about what life would be like if the sun disappeared or if Edison hadn't invented the lightbulb. Ask students to use comic creation tools like Free Comic Maker by Adobe, reviewed here to create a visual representation of their look at alternatives to history. Use a discussion tool such as Kialo Edu, reviewed here to promote conversations about the pros and cons of the impact of historical events or technology and how life might be different if those events hadn't occurred.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wikidot - Wikidot Inc.
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): collaboration (110), social networking (56), wikis (15)
In the Classroom
If you have not tried a wiki yet, visit the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for a detailed, step-by-step explanation and starter help, including dozens of ideas for ways to use a wiki in your classroom. Create wikis for any number of classroom purposes, for example, publish a wiki with study guides that students build together before exams, or to document project-based learning portfolios.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Miraheze Wiki Hosting - WikiTide Foundation
Grades
K to 12tag(s): collaboration (110), social media (61), wikis (15)
In the Classroom
If you have not tried a wiki yet, visit the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for a detailed, step-by-step explanation and starter help, including dozens of ideas for ways to use a wiki in your classroom. Before implementing this site in your classroom, take some time to teach students how to edit and add information. Create and use a wiki to collaborate and compile information on any classroom research projects. For example, have your class work together to add resources and web links when researching the causes of the Civil War, plants and animals found in different habitats, or to share math problem-solving ideas and links. Use your wiki for small-group projects and ask students to share a synopsis of group meetings, along with a compilation of websites and videos used in their research.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Knowt - Knowt
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), assessment (139), DAT device agnostic tool (127), quizzes (88)
In the Classroom
Share Knowt with students as a resource for practicing for upcoming quizzes and tests. Consider this option as an alternative to flashcards or other review methods. As students become familiar with Knowt, use this tool as a starting point on lessons sharing how to find and understand important information within any piece of writing. Create a quiz together and share it on your interactive whiteboard. Ask students to analyze the questions that Knowt creates and discuss why they are included in the quiz. Once students understand how to create an effective quiz, ask them to create their own quizzes for personal study or to share with peers. Gimkit, reviewed here, offers a free quiz-creation tool for use in a variety of educational settings.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Games and Challenges - Genially
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): collaboration (110), digital escapes (29), game based learning (299), Teacher Utilities (205)
In the Classroom
Customize a Genially escape room (like Education Escape Room or Mystery Breakout) with questions and puzzles that review key concepts from your current unit--perfect as a fun pre-test or review session. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different puzzle or task within the escape game. This activity encourages teamwork, communication, and shared problem-solving as they work toward a common goal. Challenge students to create their digital escape rooms using Genially's templates. They must design puzzles, write clues, and embed subject content, transforming them from game players into game designers. Use a breakout template to reinforce vocabulary. Each "lock" can be opened only by correctly defining or using academic terms in context, making it ideal for ELA, science, or history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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StoryJumper - Peter Weck and John Yen
Grades
K to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): digital storytelling (163), stories and storytelling (72)
In the Classroom
Have students write and publish a personal narrative or memoir, adding illustrations and narration. Have students create informational books in science or social studies (for example, life cycles, ecosystems, or historical events). Work together to create a class book where each student contributes one page or chapter.Edge Features:
Includes an education-only area for teachers and students
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Requires registration/log in (NO email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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Brain Raider Notebooks - Brain Raider, LLC
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): blended learning (29), flipped learning (9), note taking (34), personalized learning (13), Teacher Utilities (205)
In the Classroom
Visit the Brain Raiders YouTube channel to find helpful videos that explain how to get started with notebooks and tutorials for the different features, including creating drag-and-drop activities. Create and share notebooks that include materials for any teaching unit, to be used as a practice tool and a study guide upon completion of the unit. This resource can also be a helpful tool to supplement classroom learning for multiple language learners or students with IEPs. Consider sharing this tool with parents or older students to use as an at-home support to classroom instruction.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Free Digital Choice Board Maker - Genially
Grades
K to 12tag(s): differentiation (87), multimedia (59), presentations (31), student-centered (9)
In the Classroom
Genially, reviewed here offers many other templates for creating playlists and interactive activities to differentiate instruction and offer student choice in learning. Learn more about creating and using choice boards and other tools to tailor instruction by completing the TeachersFirst: Differentiated Instruction Learning Module, reviewed here. This on-demand archive of OK2Ask: Teach Made EZ with Genially, reviewed here provides tips on getting started using Genially to gamify lessons and create engaging interactive content.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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LogicBalls - LogicBalls
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), chat (40), images (263), search strategies (18)
In the Classroom
Utilize LogicBalls for various classroom applications, including lesson planning, creating images, and generating text. This site also analyzes YouTube videos, saving time by allowing users to paste the video URL into the chat and get a summary of the content without watching the entire video. Use the AI prompt generator as a tool to guide you through writing a prompt that achieves your desired results by adding information in a step-by-step manner.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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FlipAnim - Tomasz Witkowski
Grades
4 to 12In the Classroom
Share this site with students and give them time to explore and experiment. When working with troubled students, use this site to help them share their thoughts and emotions through animation. This is an excellent site for students who love art and enjoy sharing their learning through creative expression. Take a look at the images created by other users in the gallery as inspiration for how to use animations. Ask students to create animations that demonstrate science concepts such as erosion, weathering, or chemical reactions. Use this site to have students create animations that demonstrate events from stories, share their thought processes in math, or animate historical events. Have students include their animations when creating multimedia projects in an online tool like Sway reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Superstructures - Teaching Lab Studios
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), collaboration (110), graphic organizers (55), mind map (32), teaching strategies (66)
In the Classroom
Start a new unit by launching a "See, Think, Wonder" Superstructure using an image, short video clip, or text excerpt. Have students post their observations and inferences live, then discuss patterns that emerge. Create a discussion Superstructure in which each student must respond to a prompt from a rotating viewpoint (e.g., character perspectives in a novel, perspectives on a historical issue). The AI assistant helps keep the debate balanced and on topic. Have students connect new vocabulary terms in a concept-mapping activity, using examples, synonyms, and visuals to deepen understanding.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Krea.AI - Krea
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), editing (88), images (263)
In the Classroom
Have students generate images to represent a scene, setting, or theme from a story they are reading. Use AI-generated visuals as writing prompts. Students can select an image and write a narrative, poem, or descriptive paragraph inspired by what they see, focusing on sensory details and word choice. In social studies, students can create visuals representing a historical event, civilization, or cultural practice, then explain how their image reflects researched facts and historical context.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Latimer: AI for Everyone - FutureSum AI
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), bias (30), cultures (290), diversity (52), perspective (27)
In the Classroom
Use Latimer to generate multiple perspectives on a historical event or social issue, then have students discuss how background and lived experience can shape interpretation. Have students use Latimer.ai to generate research questions or organize notes, then locate and cite evidence from trusted sources to support their findings. Use Latimer as a case study to explore ethical AI use, representation in technology, and responsible decision-making, connecting directly to digital citizenship standards.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TestCadia - TestCadia
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (273), assessment (139), test prep (70)
In the Classroom
Share TestCadia with students as a helpful resource when preparing for standardized testing. Encourage students to analyze their results to identify focus areas for practice and improvement. As you evaluate practice test results, find areas that need strengthening, then use the tools found in MagicSchool, reviewed here to create custom ELA and Math practice activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Creately Comics - Cinergix Pty. Ltd
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): comics and cartoons (61)
In the Classroom
Instead of a book report, have students create a comic that showcases a specific scene from the book or proposes a different ending. Students can create a comic modeling classroom procedures or expectations. Students can also showcase their understanding of a math concept by creating a comic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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