Teachers like you work tirelessly day in and day out to ensure your students excel in their studies. Online learning platforms can be another tool in your tool belt to keep kids engaged and excited to study!
Online learning platforms are a good way to help students:
- Bridge remote learning with classroom learning
- Progress with their studies and receive feedback
- Connect and collaborate with their peers
- Explore diverse topics with personalized lessons
Whether you’re looking for a game-based math platform, virtual learning tools for managing digital classrooms, or an online space to share assignments and videos, there’s learning platforms online for every learning style.
Let’s explore 21 of the best online education platforms that help support student success.
Types of Online Learning Platforms (with Examples)
To help you choose the right online platform for learning, here’s a quick comparison of the leading virtual education platforms:
Top Online Platforms for Communication
These platforms help teachers and students communicate effectively while supporting classroom collaboration and parent engagement.
- Flipgrid – Share short videos on various topics to encourage discussion.
- Zoom – Host secure video lessons, class discussions and webinars.
- Slack – Engage in class conversations in real time, organized using topic channels.
- Bloomz – Communicate with parents, schedule parent-teacher conferences with built-in translation if needed, and track student behavior.
- ClassDojo – Encourage positive student behaviors with real-time feedback.
- Microsoft Teams – Collaborate using integrated chat, assign homework assignments and exchange videos.
Game-Based Learning Platforms Kids Love
Game-based learning combines the fun of gaming with education. Quizzes, badges and points systems help students to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.
Online learning games for children help students stay engaged while learning educational skills. These online education platforms turn math, vocabulary, and more into exciting experiences.
- Prodigy Math – An adaptive, fantasy-based math platform for grades 1–8. It challenges students to complete questions, earn rewards and battle friends, all while answering curriculum-aligned questions. Use your free teacher account to differentiate instruction and monitor student progress.
- Kahoot! – Use quizzes and games in the classroom or use live video conferencing tools such as Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet.
- Gimkit – Earn in-game rewards by answering educational questions correctly.
- Quizlet – Study with flashcards and interactive games across various subjects such as art, math, science, humanities, and languages.
Online Teaching Platforms for Classroom Management
Classroom management platforms are timesaving tools that make learning run smoothly. These ingenious platforms help you time tasks, manage and improve students' behavior and focus on student-centered learning.
You can also use these platforms to communicate with parents and enhance educational experiences at school or at home.
- Google Classroom – Share files, collect homework, and organize classes easily.
- Buncee – Create engaging multimedia presentations, digital stories, and charts.
- Edmodo – Share assignments, distribute quizzes, and connect with families through posts and messages.
- Edulastic – Deliver standards-aligned assessments, help students, and track their progress.
- Eduplanet21 – Build and share lesson plans with helpful collaboration tools.
- ClassMax – Create seating charts, monitor behavior, and track student progress without paper.
Online-only virtual learning platforms
Virtual learning platforms are essential if students aren’t in a traditional classroom.
There are countless platforms to make studies enjoyable while kids learn from the comfort and safety of their homes. They provide teachers benefits such as administering lessons and sending out learning materials
For schools that need a comprehensive online platform for learning, these sites for online education offer full virtual programs or content libraries.
- Skillshare – A vast library of over 20,000 classes about productivity, business and creativity and consist of presentations and class projects.
- 3P Learning – Offers math, reading and writing content for students ages 3 - 16.
- Dialpad – Helps schools set up secure, cloud-based communication systems and virtual classrooms.
- Docebo – A collaborative learning platform for distributing and tracking online courses.
- Habyts – Encourages focus on schoolwork and limits distractions with screen management using goals and rewards.
Choosing the Right Online Platform for Learning
Choosing the best virtual platform depends on several factors:
- What’s the age and grade level of your students?
- Do you need real-time collaboration or asynchronous tools?
- Are you managing one class or multiple subjects?
- How much oversight will parents have?
One of the best ways to determine the right platform for you is to create a list of must-haves. Compare the list against each virtual platform's features and benefits. From there, you'll be able to settle on the best platform for your students.
Our digital world has a staggering number of virtual classrooms to choose from. Each platform has their own unique advantages. But like everything else, there are limitations to consider.
Here are several caveats associated with virtual classrooms:
- Students may lose interest in completing homework assignments.
- Educators should be mindful of how student data is collected and stored.
- Students miss their friends and the social interaction they received at school.
- Technological limitations may exist especially for kids from low-income families.
- Problems with internet access could prevent students from logging into classes and missing important lessons.
- Other limitations include length of each session and the number of participants allowed to enter the virtual classroom (this isn't an issue for paid versions of some platforms)
Before choosing a virtual classroom, consider the pros and cons of each platform and how they may influence your students' learning experience.
There are several wonderful learning options available to educational institutions and teachers. A little research will help you arrive at the best decision for your students!
Looking for support on how to teach online? Prodigy’s blog has tips for educators and school leaders.
Virtual learning is changing education
In every state and school district, there are different opinions on the future of virtual learning. Some say it's here to stay while others insist a physical classroom is the best way for kids to learn.
Here are a few key points to consider about the future of virtual classrooms:
- Online courses offer flexibility and accessibility for everyone with internet access.
- Several platforms offer an extensive selection of programs and courses catered to different interests.
- Most online learning resources are less expensive than traditional in-person classrooms and lecture halls, making virtual education more affordable.
Although it’s hard to predict what online education will look like ten years from now, online learning resources will likely only grow in popularity. Online studies have become a great way to supplement traditional classroom learning.
Prodigy Math Game blends the adventure of an online game with curriculum-aligned math practice. As students explore the world of Prodigy through their wizard avatars, they’ll encounter skill-building math questions that help them earn rewards and level up.
With your free teacher account, you can align the questions students answer to your lesson plans, differentiate content and track student progress, even while students learn online. Get started today!
