Best Tools for Schools Using Microsoft Office 365

Collaboration tool makes digital sharing easy

Bottom Line: This handy tool encourages collaboration and creativity, and it makes sharing assignments and giving feedback a snap.

Stellar collaboration tools, controls make Minecraft classroom-ready

Bottom Line: An excellent tool to engage students in learning, collaboration, and critical thinking is now more accessible than ever to teachers.

Cloud-based multimedia editor elevates brims with possibility

Bottom Line: This is an excellent way to provide multimodal learning experiences to students.

Build timelines, embed media with cool storytelling tool

Bottom Line: With a super-simple design and tons of flexible features, this is an appealing and intuitive way for teachers and students to organize and share class content.

Compose, perform, and practice with powerful music education tool

Bottom Line: This digital companion for in-person music study is an excellent tool for beginners and pros alike.

High-quality animated videos engage young kids in a variety of topics

Bottom Line: Great videos, though kids' learning should be enhanced with interactive elements to encourage deeper, more active learning.

Free, expansive digital library unlocks treasure trove of books

Bottom Line: This large collection of books and videos on a wide variety of topics is an easy -- and free -- enhancement to any classroom library.

Engaging supplemental resource encourages conceptual understanding

Bottom Line: An engaging conceptual supplement for math lessons with easy-to-find standards-aligned activities.

Impressive, interactive 3D models augment classroom learning

Bottom Line: While some models are lower resolution and less appealing, Corinth is still a no-brainer for supplying mostly clear, professional 3D models for deep investigation.

Incredibly engaging cartoons on a wide range of topics draw kids in

Bottom Line: These short videos are undeniably valuable as a teaching tool for elementary and middle school kids.

Kids use block code and wireless blocks to program, design, and create

Bottom Line: With some perseverance, it's a great fit for PBL and STEAM, helping students learn programming skills and engineering concepts through invention.

Bring code to life with circuits, robots, Minecraft, and more

Bottom Line: Once you purchase the hardware, MakeCode opens doors to an incredible diversity of coding applications.

Create, share, and modify math models and simulations

Bottom Line: Free, open-source software that lets teachers build or adapt learning experiences to meet their kids' needs.

Excellent text-based coding site a great way to learn real-world skills

Bottom Line: For both introductory and higher skill levels, it teaches the breadth and depth of skills for programming careers.

Engage and assess students with media, videos, and interactive slides

Bottom Line: The teacher- or student-paced learning can improve 1-to-1 environments and the learning activities are top notch.

Video communication site connects users; lacks bells and whistles

Bottom Line: Far-reaching communication tool helps teachers cultivate a connected classroom.

Interactive video creator has great question variety

Bottom Line: This tool strikes a nice balance, offering teachers an easy intro to interactive video mixed with a large set of features that can lead to increasingly sophisticated lesson design.

User-friendly slideshow tool offers customization, promotes creativity

Bottom Line: The robust design and accessibility features make creating dynamic presentations a breeze.

Game-like student-response tool can spark competitive fun

Bottom Line: This is an effortlessly fun tool, but it shines best with creative implementation that tests its boundaries.

Motivate students and monitor behavior with clever gamified platform

Bottom Line: When used thoughtfully, this classroom gamification can encourage positive behavior and develop essential collaboration skills.

Flexible desktop, mobile assignment tool works best with pro features

Bottom Line: A flexible way to collect student assignments and offer written and verbal feedback, especially with the premium features.

Flip the classroom, gather student feedback with easy-to-use tool

Bottom Line: Promote better discourse, participation, and accountability -- across devices -- with this thoughtfully designed platform.

Note-taking giant built for flexible, collaborative work

Bottom Line: A powerful (and free) tool for thinking and organization that's making smart strides in the education space.

Create dynamic visual presentations on flexible storytelling platform

Bottom Line: A seamless transition from design to presentation makes Sway a great fit for presenting carefully curated content.

Collaborative LMS platform helps manage classes, groups, and projects

Bottom Line: Educators will likely find that the wide variety of features Teams offers is worth the time it takes to learn how to use it.

Slick portfolio tool has cool features, limited feedback options

Bottom Line: A neat tool for publishing online, possibly better suited to teacher content creation than student publishing.

Digital planner makes scheduling easy, if paired with teacher app

Bottom Line: If used on a regular basis with teacher guidance and motivation, students can be ready to tackle their complex schedules with ease.

Share files with Microsoft’s free but limited cloud storage tool

Bottom Line: For those in the MS ecosystem, it's great; it's even a solid choice for those in more, shall we say, indecisive schools mixing iPads and MS computers. However, others will likely prefer more full-featured competitors.