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Trending News: 10 factors to consider when lesson planning with AITax Refund? Invest in Your Professional Growth.Test Stress? 5 Ways to Support Students During State AssessmentsTeacher Appreciation Week: Ideas for Parents and AdministratorsDitch the Lecture, Dig into Learning in the Social Studies Classroom10 ways to co-teach with AIBeyond Evaluation: Using Peer Observation to Strengthen Teaching Practices – Faculty FocusHow multimedia and interactive tech transform engagementHexagonal thinking: Creating connections in the classroomUsing technology to support learning through movementAI-Powered Teaching: Practical Tools for Community College Faculty50 FREE graphic organizers — and how to make your ownFive years on: COVID’s impact on schools–and what’s next for educationReviving Wonder: How a Sense of Awe Enhances Lifelong Learning in Online Higher Education – Faculty FocusTeacher Interview Tips – American Board BlogElevating principals, teachers, and students through shared purpose and leadershipIs your district safeguarding student data?From Feedback to Feedforward: Using AI-Powered Assessment Flywheel to Drive Student Competency – Faculty FocusMaximizing Student Engagement During Live Online Seminars – Faculty FocusUnderstanding Teacher Certification Requirements – American Board BlogKey questions that unleash powerful PLCsThe “Big Five” Within the Science of ReadingSearching for the Optimal Class Design to Maximize Learning – Faculty FocusHow AI can make any template work for your classAmerican Board Now Available in AlabamaFun, low-stakes, gamified student writing with WeWillWrite5 powerful ways to link STEM lessons to real-world applicationsCourse-Correcting Mid-Semester: A Three Question Feedback Survey – Faculty FocusEmpowering student voice with TED Ed Student TalksThe 5 most important tools for virtual learningLeveraging edtech for differentiated instructionTired of Awkward Silences? Upgrade your Think-Pair-Share – Faculty Focus6 recommendations for AI in classroomsReading, Writing, and Thinking in the Age of AI – Faculty FocusReenergize and Refresh Your Classroom during Spring BreakStrategies for Teaching Complex Subjects in Large Hybrid Classrooms Across Campus: Bridging Engagement and Equity Across Modalities – Faculty FocusBlessings in a Backpack Names Lisa Hanneman as Chief Development OfficerEleven Ways to Shine Online – Faculty FocusTop female district leaders share do’s and don’ts of climbing the professional ladder in 2025What Job Design Can Teach Us About Course Design – Faculty FocusResources for Federal Workers: Next Steps after LayoffsBeyond Syllabus Week: Creative Strategies to Engage Students from Day One – Faculty FocusRural areas are poised for unique STEM education, but need more resourcesGrowing authors: 15 ways to use Book Creator to publish student writingEngaging Students in Collaborative Research and Writing Through Positive Psychology, Student Wellness, and Generative AI Integration – Faculty FocusEY and Microsoft equip the next generation with AI skillsIncreasing Classroom Engagement – Faculty Focus10 ways to manage group work in the classroomPutting school safety measures at the forefront of district budgetsCelebrating National Leadership Day: Leadership in EducationGenAI and cultural competency: New priorities in teacher preparationStudent to Teacher: The Silent Transformation – Faculty FocusMotivational Force: Building a Foundation for Student Success – Faculty FocusCarousel Digital Signage Integrates with CrisisGo to Empower Safer School CommunitiesThe Power of Students’ Stories – Faculty FocusPresident Trump and the Department of EducationGrowing communicative, knowledge-building composers: A focus on processEarning Our AI Literacy License – Faculty FocusHonoring a Space Pioneer: 30 Years Since Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr.’s Historic SpacewalkRenewing your Professional Educator Certification – PennsylvaniaRunning a Workshop: Guidelines for Engagement and Impact – Faculty FocusGetting Started: A Basic 10 Point Guide to Launching an Academic Career – Faculty FocusIncorporating Black History Month in Your Classroom: Resources Included!Renewing your Standard Teaching Certificate – New YorkNAEP scores show disheartening trends for the lowest-performing studentsHow to Practice Equitable Empathy: What White Faculty Should–and Shouldn’t–Do – Faculty FocusNational School Counseling Week 2025Britannica Empowers Districts Working with Newcomers and Multilingual LearnersEffective Strategies for Sustaining Student Attention during PowerPoint Lectures – Faculty Focus“How Are You Doing Today?” A Survey for Starting Each Class – Faculty FocusRenewing your Teacher Professional Educator License – IllinoisCollaborate and celebrate at TCEA 2025Five-Minute Starts: Fifteen Ideas to Ignite Your Class – Faculty FocusWhen AI whispers in students’ earsTeaching: A Job with Real MeaningDismantling the U.S. Department of Education‘Pathway to Prosperity’ initiative shows the power of partnerships in driving student successA Wicked Perspective: Faculty and Leadership in Academia – Faculty FocusRenewing your Standard Teaching Certificate – TexasDirect and Indirect Assessment Measures of Student Learning in Higher Education – Faculty Focus10 ways to provide instant feedback to studentsPreparing for evolving ransomware threats in 2025Assume the Best: Trust-Based Strategies for Empowering College Students – Faculty FocusWhy Data Alone Won’t Improve Retention – Faculty FocusHow AI Has Gone To The DogsBeing Genuine in the Classroom  – Faculty FocusThe State of STEMBreaking Classroom Barriers with Advanced AVThe Rise of the Heretical LeaderDays of Service for MLK DayEm-pathy, not un-pathy, in school leadershipUsing Generative AI to “Hack Time” for Implementing Real-World Projects – Faculty FocusShow Floor News—The Imagine Learning SolutionBeyond the Classroom: Establishing Partnerships for Real-World Learning and Student Success – Faculty FocusThe Importance of Goal SettingFour Powerful Practices to Promote Student Success  – Faculty FocusFour Powerful Practices to Promote Student Success  – Faculty FocusNew Collection of Free Environmental Education Resources Encourages Students and Teachers to Explore the WorldIncident IQ Welcomes Tech Innovator Bill Loller as Chief Product OfficerIndispensable Instructional Designers at Professional Schools  – Faculty Focus
Wed. Apr 23rd, 2025

The 5 most important tools for virtual learning

The 5 most important tools for virtual learning


Did you know that virtual learning is still going strong?

Yep, it didn’t disappear when schools reopened!

It’s like that one houseplant you forgot to water—still thriving against all odds.

Virtual learning is an incredibly flexible option that allows students to learn anytime, anywhere (yes, even in pajamas). It personalizes learning experiences and lets students progress at their own pace with parental support (and sometimes a cameo appearance from a younger sibling or a very judgmental cat on camera).

Since the fall of 2020, I’ve been navigating the world of virtual education as a special educator. 

My students, spread across Iowa, meet with me weekly via Google Meet.

My workspace? A cozy little nook in a school building where I juggle between 12 and 17 students, each receiving 30 minutes of direct instruction daily. It’s like speed dating, but with IEP goals and progress monitoring.

So, how do I keep things running smoothly while maintaining my sanity? With these five essential (and gloriously free) tools!

As a virtual special educator, these tools keep me organized and make learning more interactive for my students. I love getting to know them (and their pets) in their home environments, and I’ve gained a new appreciation for the parents who support their learning.

Virtual learning has come a long way since the pandemic. Some tools have vanished (RIP, Jamboard), while others, like Magic School, are evolving with AI-driven capabilities. The future of virtual education isn’t just about the tools—it’s about ensuring students get the support they need.

At the end of the day, teachers are the heart of learning, but it sure helps to have tech tools that make life a little easier. Now, if only there were a tool that could grade papers and make coffee …





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