Actively Learn is an online tool with a library of thousands of texts and Common-Core aligned lessons that both teachers and students can interact with in real-time. Teachers can assign pre-existing Actively Learn materials to students or upload their own content. They can then track student responses and activity using the company’s data tools (some for a price). Students can interact with a text by digitally highlighting and annotating, responding to embedded questions and content, and leaving feedback and comments for peers. This online resource can be used in several different ways, including teacher-led small and whole group instruction, independent reading, and research projects. Teachers can view student progress towards mastering each standard.
For students, Actively Learn chunks text by breaking it up with embedded questions. Students cannot proceed until they submit their answer to the question. Students struggling with a text have the option to send a message to their teacher by highlighting the content and using the “I don’t understand!” feature. Actively Learn makes it possible for students to define words in a text, to hear the text read aloud, and to translate it.