Educators navigating the abrupt shift to virtual instruction amid school closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic have access to a variety of free tools, services, and resources. These offerings, provided by companies and organizations, aim to support online learning efforts across different subjects and grade levels. The resources span digital platforms, e-textbooks, lesson planning software, and community support, with many available at no cost for the duration of the pandemic or through specific timeframes. Information is drawn from verified announcements and official program pages, ensuring reliability for U.S.-based teachers seeking no-cost educational aids.
Digital Learning Platforms and Collaboration Tools
Several platforms have made their collaboration and video conferencing tools freely available to facilitate remote teaching and student engagement.
Avaya Inc. offers Avaya Spaces, a cloud-based video conferencing and collaboration platform. Typically priced from $6 per user per month, this tool is now available at no cost to support virtual classrooms and group interactions.
Promethean's ClassFlow is a cloud-based lesson planning and delivery software that is freely accessible to schools, teachers, and parents amid the COVID-19 outbreak. This platform aids in creating and delivering interactive lessons remotely.
AppsAnywhere, developed by Software2 Inc., provides a software delivery platform for higher education. Normally not offered for free, AppsAnywhere licenses are available at no cost for 90 days. These licenses enable students to access necessary software for their studies on any device.
For virtual graduations, Vidigami provides free access to its digital experience platform for the class of 2020 affected by school closures. Educators can utilize this to build unique visual portfolios documenting each student's journey.
The Collabrify Roadmap Platform is a free, open, device-independent platform that equips teachers with tools to create curricula and collaborative lessons. Developed by the University of Michigan Center for Digital Curricula, it allows real-time collaboration between students and teachers, with all curricula stored in a searchable repository.
FeedbackFruits has made all its pedagogical tools available for free in response to COVID-19. Instructors receive free access until regular teaching resumes. Interested educators can read the announcements on their site for details.
E-Textbooks and Curriculum Resources
Access to digital textbooks and structured curricula has been expanded to support instruction at primary and secondary levels.
The Educational Company of Ireland (Edco) offers its Primary, Junior Cert, and Leaving Cert e-textbooks for free online during the pandemic. These form a complete range of learning materials for the Irish education system, with usual prices ranging from 9.95 to 32.50 EUR or more. To access, users log in with specific usernames: "primaryedcobooks" for Primary level, "jcedcobooks" for Junior Cert, or "lcedcobooks" for Leaving Cert, using the password "edco2020" for any level.
Educate Plus E-Textbooks and Resources by Walsh Educational Books Ltd. cover primary and post-primary levels of Irish schools. These are available for free, normally priced at 5 to 12 EUR each.
Open Up Resources and Kiddom offer free access to the Open Up Resources Math 6-8 curriculum on Kiddom's platform through August 1. Additionally, Kiddom's site hosts a "No-Nonsense Guide to Digital Learning."
Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) Education, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), has developed collections of digital learning resources aligned to Georgia standards. These are freely available for use.
Georgia Virtual School provides teacher-led class-based learning and Georgia Virtual Credit Recovery for self-paced environments. Content in Georgia Virtual courses is accessible to anyone via the Georgia Virtual Shared Content page, with courses divided into modules aligned to the Georgia Standards of Excellence.
Subject-Specific and Skill-Building Resources
Resources tailored to specific subjects, such as math, science, coding, and financial literacy, are available to enhance student learning.
For math and science, Money Experience's Essentials program is a self-paced financial literacy course designed for students and young adults ages 15-24. It covers milestones like education, jobs, retirement, and family, demonstrating how decisions impact long-term health and lifestyle. The program is free to high schools and colleges through the end of June.
Earsketch, a free program developed by Georgia Tech, helps students learn coding through music. It aims to engage students in computational thinking via musical creation.
Boclips offers a free resource kit called "Remote Learning with Video," providing tools, ideas, and inspiration for incorporating video into virtual learning. Teachers can sign up on their site.
Curriculum Associates provides free resources for families and teachers, including printable activity packs and guidance for supporting learning at home.
MindAntix releases a weekly set of free brainteasers to build cognitive creativity. These activities can be downloaded from MindAntix's site.
Fiveable is a free social learning platform for high school students and teachers focused on Advanced Placement (AP) prep. It offers live streams, trivia battles, and Q&A forums across 15 AP subjects in English, STEM, History, and Social Sciences.
For coding and music integration, EarSketch (mentioned earlier) features remix competitions and is freely available.
Community and Support Resources
Building connections and providing support for remote learning communities is a key focus.
"Survive learning at home with kids" is an online community from Participate, offering support and resources for families helping children learn at home. Adults can connect via morning coffee chats, afternoon happy hours, or discussion boards while children engage in activities. Students can access a schedule of live external events, such as music workshops, art sessions, and cooking classes with professional chefs.
Get Georgia Reading is a collection of resources including information on tracking COVID-19, school closures, safety tips, meal assistance guidance, and free learning resources.
MetEOR Education, the nonprofit Center for College & Career Readiness, and Rhithm have partnered to offer the Rhithm app to educators free of charge. This app provides tools for emotional and educational support.
Gaming and Interactive Tools
Interactive tools like Minecraft can enhance engagement in virtual settings.
Teachers and students with Office 356 Education accounts can access Minecraft: Education Edition at no charge through June 2020, adding an interactive element to online lessons.
Eligibility and Access Considerations
Most of these resources are available to educators in the United States and internationally, though some, like Edco's e-textbooks and Educate Plus resources, are specifically aligned with the Irish education system. For U.S. teachers, platforms like GPB Education and Georgia Virtual School focus on Georgia standards but may be adaptable. Free access periods vary: AppsAnywhere is free for 90 days, Money Experience through June, and Open Up Resources through August 1. Specific sign-up processes, such as logging in with provided credentials for Edco or registering on platforms like Fiveable, are required. No purchase is necessary for these educational offers, and they are designed to support remote instruction without geographic restrictions within the U.S., though international availability may depend on the provider.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a surge in free educational resources for teachers, from digital platforms and e-textbooks to subject-specific tools and community support. These offerings, provided by organizations like Avaya, Edco, and Georgia Tech, help maintain learning continuity without cost barriers. Educators should verify current availability and sign-up requirements on official sites, as some offers have expiration dates. By leveraging these verified resources, teachers can enhance remote instruction and student engagement effectively.