3 Simple Distance Learning Tools

I wanted to offer some of my favorite distance learning tools (including tutorials). These are simple enough to use and effective enough for any classroom.

Image of computer and hands for simple distance learning tools for teachers.

Screencastify

screencastify.com

With this screen recording program (best used as an extension with Chrome web browser), you can record lessons or instruction to send to your students. You can record your screen with yourself as well! This has streamlined instructions for at home packets or digital learning. It connects directly with Google Classroom if you have that.

(Video tutorial on Screencastify for digital learning (via Instagram)
Phonics blending slides can be found here.

Edpuzzle

edpuzzle.com

Want to send videos to your students, but don’t want them to just sit and watch them all day? This tool is excellent for making YouTube videos interactive. In this tutorial, I show how I add questions to a YouTube video to get more interaction and reflection. If you are filming read alouds or lessons, this tool would help you put purposeful “stop and reflect” points throughout your video.

Video tutorial for Edpuzzle for distance learning.
Used Screencastify to record this video.

Online Voice Recorder

If you’re sending out anything in Google Classroom, you may want to embed some audio into it for directions or read alouds. This simple website online-voice-recorder.com makes its really simple to record and then embed into your Google Slides. Here’s an example of how I have used it and how to do it.

Note: audio files in Google Drive must be shared as “anyone on the public web” for users to access the file when shared. If you are sharing wit

Bonus: Google Classroom

I’d hate to reinvent the wheel here, so I’ll send you over to my friend Aris from Sailing into Second for a wonderful Google Classroom tutorial. Google Classroom is one of the best distance learning tools. It is a platform to host your students’ digital assignments.