Classroom platforms

A classroom platform is where the daily work of a class lives: assignments, materials, submissions, grades and messages. Most schools have already chosen one, often Google Classroom in K-12 and Canvas or another learning management system in higher education, so for many teachers this category is about getting more out of the platform they already have and adding tools that plug into it.

The interactive lesson tools here, such as Nearpod, Pear Deck and Edpuzzle, sit on top of those platforms. They turn slides or videos into lessons where every student answers questions on a device, and they show the teacher who answered what. They are useful when you want every student to respond, not only the few who raise a hand.

AI features are arriving in these platforms through their own assistants and through add-ons. Google and Microsoft offer AI features to schools on some editions, and lesson tools add question drafting and summaries of student responses. What you see depends on the edition your school pays for and the settings your administrator chooses.

Before you add a new tool to your class, check two things. First, does it connect to your platform so rosters, assignments and grades move without retyping? Second, has your school approved it? Many districts keep a list of approved apps with data agreements, and adding an unapproved tool can create problems with student data rules.

Featured AI tools for teachers: classroom platforms

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8 AI tools for teachers in classroom platforms

Google Classroom

by Google

Google's free classroom hub for posting assignments, collecting work in Docs and Slides, returning grades and messaging a class.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Works with Google Classroom or Google Docs
  • Students use it directly

Seesaw

Student portfolio and learning platform for younger grades, where students post work with photos, drawings and voice and families can see it.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Students use it directly
  • Mobile app

Nearpod

by Renaissance

Interactive lessons with slides, polls, quizzes and activities that students follow on their own devices, live or at their own pace.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Students use it directly

Pear Deck

by GoGuardian

Adds interactive questions to Google Slides and PowerPoint so every student answers on a device during the lesson.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Works with Google Classroom or Google Docs
  • Students use it directly

Edpuzzle

Turns videos into lessons with questions placed at points in the video and shows which students watched and how they answered.

  • Free plan or free tier
  • Works with Google Classroom or Google Docs
  • Students use it directly

Canvas

by Instructure

Learning management system used by many universities and districts for courses, modules, grading and discussions.

  • Students use it directly
  • Mobile app

Schoology

by PowerSchool

Learning management system for K-12 districts with courses, assessments, grade books and parent access.

  • Students use it directly
  • Mobile app

Microsoft Teams for Education

by Microsoft

Class teams with assignments, grades, files and chat in Microsoft 365, plus reading and speaking practice tools.

  • Students use it directly
  • Mobile app

When a platform offers AI features, ask how they handle student work and whether they are turned on for students or only for teachers. The answers vary by district.

If you teach in higher education, your institution likely runs Canvas or a similar system, and the rules about third-party tools can be stricter, since tools that connect to the LMS often go through a review by the campus IT or accessibility office. Ask early in the term if you want to add something new, because approval can take weeks. In K-12, the same idea applies at the district level. Starting the request before you plan a unit around a tool saves frustration later.

A useful habit is to keep your class page simple. Students find work faster when every assignment follows the same naming pattern and lives in the same place, with due dates set in the platform rather than only announced in class. Families who can see the class page benefit from the same order.

Questions about classroom platforms

Should I switch platforms to get AI features?

Usually no. Your school picks the platform. Look for AI features in your current edition, or approved add-ons that connect to it.

What do interactive lesson tools add?

They let every student answer during a lesson and show you the answers in real time, which helps you see who understands before you move on.

How do I know if an app is approved?

Ask your school or district technology team. Many keep a list of approved apps that have signed data privacy agreements.

Do these platforms work on phones?

Most have mobile apps for students and teachers, though some features, such as building lessons or grading long work, are easier on a laptop or Chromebook.

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