Online Learning Platforms, Apps, and Tools for Parents

The closure of schools due to the coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) has got parents looking for alternative arrangements for their kids’ home learning. 

“How will children learn amid the covid-19 outbreak”, you ask?

e-Learning platforms seem to be the best option. The good news is, there is an abundance of courses and apps on the web today. 

But while this sounds good, the list of learning platforms, tools, and apps currently available is long and can rather be overwhelming. 

That is why we created our guide. In alldigitalschool.com, you will find trusted educational resources and websites. You can even filter your search by subject or year level. All you need for high-quality online learning—you can find them on All Digital School. 

Online Learning Platforms

Online learning tools have never been so crucial, especially in this devastating public health crisis.

What we like about online learning platforms is that they require no physical contact, which, for this matter, is essential in preventing the spread of the virus.

We can all agree that no pandemic should ever stop children from learning, and online learning platforms don’t fail to secure the next generation’s education. 

They are your most viable resources for continuing lessons in spite of restrictive circumstances such as COVID-19.

Check out some of the best ones out there.

1. BlendSpace 

Pricing: Free
Platforms: Browser extension
Devices: iOS and Android

How it helps you

Ever wish you could search, create, and organize lessons in one place? 

You can do all those on BlendSpace. 

On BlendSpace, you can: 

• Search for a subject (ex. Chemistry) or a particular topic (ex. Periodic Table). 
• Find unlimited learning resources from Google, YouTube, or Tes, a marketplace of free and paid materials created by teachers. 
• Drag and drop resources from the results page into your lesson.
• Upload your own files.
• Type text directly on your lesson. 
• Easily add a quiz or a game.

2. PowerMyLearning Connect

Pricing: Free and paid plans
Platforms: Desktop browser extension
Devices: iOS and Android

How it helps you

If you’re working with a teacher while homeschooling your kid, you have to check out this tool. PowerMyLearning Connect is an award-winning digital platform. 

On this tool, teachers, parents, and students can teach each other with lessons.

On PowerMyLearning Connect, you can: 

• View your kid’s progress through real-time reports.
• Create, design, and import your own family playlists.
• Access hundreds of high-quality K-12 content—videos, games, quizzes, simulations, etc. 
• Use the multi-lingual Family Playlists to let your kid learn and then teach you what they have learned. These playlists contain curated lessons by the teachers. 

3. K12.com

Pricing: Tuition-free and tuition-based
Platforms: Desktop browser and smartphones
Devices: iOS and Android

How it helps you

K12 is an online education provider. They cater to homeschoolers, students who need flexible schedules, pupils who need more support, and advanced learners. 

On K12.com, you can: 

• Get online homeschool resources and links. 
• Find tuition-free online public schools from K–12. 
• Buy courses (12-month courses for grades PreK-12.)
• Enrol in free Summer School Programs. 
• Join online extracurricular activities. 
• Find tuition-based online schools and courses.
• Join online tutoring services.

4. edX

Pricing: Free and paid courses
Platforms: Desktop and smartphones
Devices: iOS and Android

How it helps you

edX provides free online courses to adults and businesses, but you can also use their lessons and courses to teach your child. 

On edX, you can:

• Access over 2,500 online courses about computer science, language, math, humanities, data science, etc.
• Watch online videos, written instructions, and follow corresponding assignments.
• Get training and courses that help your older teen kids become college-ready. 
• Receive verified certificates in a PDF, which you can print as well. 
• Get to enjoy classes offered by top universities such as Harvard, Berkeley, and MIT.
• Grade other students’ work and vice versa.

Educational mobile apps

Web-based tools are important, but you shouldn’t dismiss educational mobile apps. According to a study by Ling et al., smartphone apps positively impact students’ learning. 

Child-friendly mobile apps do two things: educate and entertain. Take advantage of these two things while increasing your child’s technological awareness. You can introduce relevant educational mobile apps as part of their daily screen time interspersed with games to maintain focus and interest.

That is why you should use apps alongside web-based learning tools. This will be a practical way to streamline your child’s learnings—whether they’re homeschooled or not. 

Here are some of our favorites.

Language apps

LingoKids (English for kids)

Pricing: Free
Devices: iOS and Android

LingoKids is an ad-free app for kids 2–8 years old. It teaches English and other skills through games, songs, and activities. 

Your kids can learn up to 72 topics such as numbers, colors, shapes, etc. It has a kids’ area and a parents’ area, which has progress reports.

Zoolingo (for kids)

Pricing: Free 
Devices: iOS and Android

Zoolingo is a multi-language app that teaches numbers, alphabets, shapes, puzzles, and nursery rhymes in 16 languages available on Apple and Android devices.

It has 1000+ educational games, which help advance early childhood development. Educators and parents love using Zoolingo since it’s designed for kids with special needs as well. 

Duolingo

Pricing: Free and paid
Devices: iOS and Android

Duolingo is a mobile app that teaches 30+ languages in bite-sized lessons. It has a “learn and earn” system—as you learn, you can earn virtual coins and unlock levels. 

You can even certify your English Proficiency skill online with Duolingo. 

Busuu

Pricing: Free and premium membership
Devices: iOS and Android

Busuu is an app that teaches up to 12 languages in A1–B2 levels. You can access audio samples, memory practices, speaking exercises, quizzes, puzzles, games, and more. 

You can even improve your writing and reading skills here. Busuu is also available for offline use. 

RELATED: How to Keep Kids Entertained at Home During Covid-19 School Closures

Preschool apps

AlphaTots Alphabet

Pricing: $2.99
Devices: iOS and Android

AlphaTots Alphabet is a failure-free app. It teaches ABCs with over 26 puzzles and games. It has graphics, songs, and games, which preschoolers will find engaging. 

AlphaTots Alphabet also has a kid-friendly press-and-hold feature and a verbal positive reinforcement when a kid completes a task. 

Hoopa City

Pricing: $3.99 (iOS) & $2.99 (Android)
Devices: iOS and Android

Hoopa City is a fun building game for kids and kids-at-heart. They can make houses, villages, schools, and even their own city. 

If you want to enhance your child’s creativity and imagination, you can let them play this super fun app. 

Preschool Arcade

Pricing: $1.00 & add $.99 for additional games
Devices: iOS 

Preschool Arcade teaches numbers, letters, and cognitive matching skills. It has four mini educational games—ABC Invasion, Pinball 123, Claw-Crane Matching, and Whack-a-Mole Colors game. 

The paid version includes the full set of 18 educational games.

LEGO DUPLO Train

Pricing: Free
Devices: iOS and Android

LEGO DUPLO Train is a fun adventure game for kids 1 and ½ years old. They can help the train driver control the train’s speed, turn on the headlights, and sound the horn. 

This app can help your child develop their creative thinking from a very early age. It can also teach them about the value of safety.

Quiz and Test-maker tools

After teaching your kids with lessons using web-based tools and mobile apps, what better way to test if they absorbed the information than with a quiz, right?

Quiz or testing tools can help you monitor your kid’s lackings and improvements. Through this, you can help bridge the gap in their learnings.

Regular tests/quizzes and other assessment tools can also give you a real-time indicator of your child’s progress and comprehension level. 

Therefore, using these relevant quiz/testing tools is a high-value resource. This will ensure that your child will have the highest level of education at home or in any other setting.

We recommend that you use these tools. 

1. Easy Test Maker 

Pricing: Free, Plus and Premium plans
Devices: Desktop only

Easy Test Maker is the tool you use to make a quick assessment and test. You can create true-or-false, multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blanks, matching, short paragraph answers, and more. 

You can also create answer sheets, alternative versions of tests, and export them as Word or PDFs. It has Free, Plus, and Premium plans.

2. Quiz Maker

Pricing: Free
Devices: iOS and Android

On Quiz Maker, you can create different types of tests. It allows you to add or create themes, randomize pages, add section breaks, use a timer, and provide a certificate. 

You can even answer other quizzes and make your own tests from their templates.

3. Kahoot! 

Pricing: Free apps and paid plans (Standard, Pro, and Premium)
Devices: iOS and Android

Kahoot! is where you can create quizzes and play millions of free educational, student-paced challenges. This will relieve your kids of any pressure to answer quickly, which only encourages guesswork. 

Kahoot! At Home is specially designed for homeschoolers. You can even play Kahoot! with remote family members using Google Meet or Skype.

4. Quizlet

Pricing: Free
Devices: iOS and Android

Quizlet is an app that encourages mastery. You can create online flashcards and diagrams. You can also find millions of those on the app created by teachers and students.

It also has study sets, collaborative in-class games (Quizlet Live), and study models.