We all know that online environments allow us to take risks and include tasks that might be unsafe in a traditional face-to-face environment. At the same time, if the technology is poor or inappropriate, students will find ways around it. This post gives you some great free software for teaching online.
The internet has become an integral part of social life today. As adults, we spend most of our time online for work, education, entertainment, banking transactions and networking. At the same time, it is challenging to control the amount of time children spend on websites like Facebook or Instagram. It can be hard to keep up with all the latest trends and technologies like blogs, podcasts and online news. That is where Free Software comes into play.
1. TalentLMS
About TalentLMS
TalentLMS is built to support blended learning curriculums that mix self-paced eLearning and instructor-led online learning. On the self-paced learning experience side, teachers can import existing courses, or create whole new courses from scratch using an included authoring tool, then set customized learner paths to dictate how and when learners can consume them. Features such as discussion forums and personal messaging enhance class interactions.
Instructors can schedule real-time webinars to teach students face-to-face. Automated grading eases the burden of assigning homework, while detailed reports and student analytics allow teachers to uncover which students need help and which courses need to be improved.
Limits and the cost to upgrade
Though the free version of TalentLMS has no storage limit, it only supports up to five users and 10 courses, making it an option for only very small classes. The “Starter” package, which allows up to 40 users, starts at $59 per month.
Creating an eLearning course in TalentLMS (Source)
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2. Google Classroom
About Google Classroom
Completely free for schools, Google Classroom allows teachers to create classes, distribute and grade assignments, and send feedback to students. Permissions for students, guardians, and co-teachers are customizable, as are the options teachers have to share their screen, share a student’s screen, or lock everything down for something such as a pop quiz.
Teachers can augment digital learning through free apps that integrate with Google Classroom. Different apps can support specific areas of knowledge, add more flair to online courses and presentations, or foster better learner engagement. You can also push grades to your student information system (SIS) if you sign up for a beta program and have a compatible system.
Limits and the cost to upgrade
Google Classroom, along with the rest of the G Suite for Education, is completely free with 100GB of storage and no limits on the number of users. G Suite Enterprise for Education, which includes extra features, starts at $48 per user, per year.
The home screen in Google Classroom (Source)
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3. Thinkific
About Thinkific
Billed primarily as a platform for e-learning entrepreneurs to sell their courses, Thinkific is nonetheless a LMS option for teachers who want to set up online courses for their students. Teachers can create and brand their own lessons as they see fit using a drag-and-drop course authoring tool.
Thinkific courses support a variety of different content types (text, video, quizzes, downloads, discussions), and teachers can customize their courses to fit their curriculum needs by setting prerequisite lessons, hiding courses from certain students, or creating a drip schedule for courses to become available.
Limits and cost to upgrade
Thinkific is free for up to three courses and unlimited students. For unlimited courses and additional features, Thinkific’s “Basic” package starts at $49 per month.
Previewing a designed online course in Thinkific (Source)
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3. CANVAS
About CANVAS
CANVAS LMS, from Instructure, is an open source LMS solution built to accommodate both K-12 and higher ed institutions. If you can’t afford a school- or district-wide plan, CANVAS offers a Free-for-Teacher option that has all of the course level features you’d expect, including assessments, grading, online learning discussions, and a class syllabus.
In addition to getting access to CANVAS Commons Resources, where you can import a bunch of premade assets from other users into your own learning content, the Free-for-Teacher plan supports third-party user authentication, notifications via SMS or email, and basic learner analytics.
Limits and cost to upgrade
The Free-for-Teacher plan only gets you 500MB of storage per course. Support is also limited, as Instructure will only help with deleting accounts, restoring deleted courses, resetting passwords, or making courses public. Pricing for paid plans in CANVAS is not made public.
The dashboard view in CANVAS (Source)
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5. Schoology
About Schoology
Schoology combines instructional tools, assessments, collaboration features, and advanced analytics into one comprehensive LMS platform. Within the system, teachers can develop and distribute course materials, facilitate discussions, assign tests and quizzes, and even give parents visibility into their child’s progress.
Teachers can browse community groups to leverage free resources provided by other instructors and integrate external tools and games into their learning content using Schoology’s app center. A dedicated mobile app allows for anytime access for instructors and students alike.
Limits and cost to upgrade
The “Basic” package of Schoology is free for instructors and learners. The “Enterprise” package, targeted at whole schools and institutions, has more functionality and customized pricing.
A list of course materials in Schoology (Source)
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Canva
A brilliant, free graphic design tool you can use to create educational visuals and infographics for the classroom. It couldn’t be more intuitive and is loved by both beginners and experts alike. We guarantee you’ll be hooked.
WeTransfer
The answer to your prayers. Transfer large files easily to colleagues and keep your ideas moving. It’s free and does not even require you to create an account. Just upload files, enter the recipient’s email and you’re away.
Teacheroo, the online teacher community
Teacheroo is a dedicated, friendly space for teachers everywhere to connect, share ideas and browse 1000s of free resources. Share posts, blog and stream live video from your Teacheroo profile. Search, follow and chat with like-minded educators, join groups, and get tailored news, tips and insights straight to your feed.
Create an account and prepare to be inspired. From epic lesson plans to clever classroom design, Pinterest is the place to be. Create your own boards to collate all your ideas in one place and share your best boards with your students.
Pixlr
Pixlr is an online photo editing tool that allows you to design, create and edit your photos and images easily. Right now, Pixlr for Education is offering an upgraded version of Pixlr for free, for teachers and educators.
Loop
Ask your students anything in under 30 seconds on Loop’s easy student feedback app and website. Free for teachers and students.
Calendly
Stay in control of who you meet and when with Calendly, a free calendar booking app. Calendly integrates with your calendar so you are never double-booked – a miracle when teaching – and allows you to save time when booking in your parent-teacher appointments or meetings with colleagues.
Edmodo
No teacher is an island – join Edmodo’s global education network and connect with your fellow teachers and students now. Collaborate in groups, administer and provide educational materials, measure student performance and communicate with parents to create a more personalised and enriching learning experience for both you and your students.
Conclusion
Are you frustrated with the video software your professor is requiring you to use in your online classes? Are you tired of shelling out hundreds of dollars every year to pay for software updates when all you want to do is make a 3 minute video? In this article, I’m going to share my top three free alternatives to the software programs your professors are recommending.