Actively Learn

What is Actively Learn?

Actively Learn is a digital curriculum platform for grades 6-12 ELA, SS, and Science. Their catalog includes over 3,000 texts, videos, and simulations that include embedded questions, scaffolding notes, and multimedia to support all learners. We also seamlessly integrate with Google Classroom.

Students can use Actively Learn, a web-based reading platform, to highlight, comment, and discuss literature as they read. Teachers can assign readings to students individually or in groups, allowing entire classes to read, annotate, and discuss works at their level. From The Picture of Dorian Gray to George Washington's "Farewell Address" to recent news reports on climate change, the site provides 3,300 an increase of free ELA, scientific, and social studies literature. Texts can be viewed by theme, genre, or news, or they can be arranged into units, such as book units.

What do we like about Actively Learn?

Students can interact with Common Core and NGSS-aligned discussion topics in most titles. It's simple to chunk readings and immerse students into the book with these thorough, engaging questions and media.

What skills does it improve?

Easy to use, with great built-in questions and the ability to create new prompts. This technology goes above and beyond the typical e-reader in that it enables students to connect with materials and one other while also providing teachers with valuable insight into student thinking. With tools for annotation and peer dialogue, reading seems alive. There are several opportunities for participation and cooperation, especially when professors model the process.

Actively Learn - What are the main features?

Language translation choices and customizable text-to-speech features are among the features included by the app's creators to make the reading experience more flexible and accessible. In addition, the developer's website includes videos, blog postings, and substantial guidance on how to use this technology effectively in the classroom. Actively Learn, unlike other literacy platforms, emphasises the reading experience. As a result, Actively Learn appears to provide students with an almost limitless number of alternatives for what they can do inside a text: change, annotate, edit, share, and contribute. 

Students can also see their reading proficiency and vocabulary reports to track their development. Students are involved in both the reading and the cognitive processes that accompany this type of active reading experience throughout. It's the kind of interactive technology that, when properly implemented, can facilitate deep, high-quality communication between teachers and students.

What age is it appropriate for?

Actively Learn is appropriate for students in grades 3-12. 

Is Actively Learn free?

However, because most of the features for uploading content, differentiating instruction, promoting student collaboration, and assessing student progress are only available for a fee, the paid plan (called premium or Prime) is more likely to be more powerful and ultimately useful solution for teachers. Furthermore, the free version's content upload limits (just three items per calendar month) may feel particularly restrictive to teachers who want to do a lot of customising.

Is Actively Learn easy to use?

You can use Actively Learn to manage and track how students interact with what they read. Discussions regarding a text can grow organically within the tool, enabling more genuine engagement. The option of answering in the margins and thinking through their words may appeal to reluctant hand-raisers. Students can, for example, take turns adding critical questions to a text, and the class can have a self-directed or teacher-led discussion on the themes provided by the students. 

A prominent feature is the accessibility tools. There are numerous options for customising what appears on screen to make it more accessible to readers with a variety of disabilities. While it doesn't have as many features as readers focused on accessibility, it has plenty for most classrooms.

How will students benefit?

Students can add their own questions, ideas, and annotations to help drive discussion in class, while this may be difficult for students who are new to digital reading. Because good annotation skills and healthy conversation techniques may not come readily to your students, be prepared to teach and demonstrate them. 

To assist your classroom to build more student-centred, student-led reading practises, have your students take over and ask questions, annotate, and initiate dialogues. To assist students with chunk readings, rely on your own knowledge, and keep asking questions along the way to help steer the conversation and improve students' understanding.

How will teachers benefit?

Teachers can also keep track of their student's progress or even read their notes as they type in their own "copies" of texts. Embedded polls that show students how opinions differ in a classroom are also good ways to start a discussion. 

Teachers can project the text and poll, ask students to expound on their responses, and then work through the rest of the material as a class, utilising comments to disseminate debate and inspire students to expand on their initial ideas. More ideas can be found in the large teacher resources section and blog, which contain a wealth of information and inspiration for adopting Actively Learn to your classroom.

How will parents benefit?

By contributing questions and reactions, students can delve deeper into the material. They can also respond to their teachers' multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Rubrics, data, and teacher answers are all available for students to review. Most questions are answered through videos and a support centre. Texts provide a wide range of accessibility features, including text-to-speech, text size, and a dyslexia-friendly typeface. Thus, Actively Learn helps your kids learn and enjoy systematically and with guidance. 

How much does Actively Learn cost?

The premium plans of Actively Learn cost $39.95 and vary based on plans.

What can Actively Learn to improve on?

A paid subscription is required for many of the best features. Only commentary is permitted.

Final thoughts

Actively Learn is an award-winning digital curriculum for core subjects that drives student engagement through deeper learning. Its flexible features and comprehensive resources empower parents to deepen students’ comprehension and customize their approach to learning anytime, anywhere.