ducators have many things to worry about. Project-based learning, collaboration between the students, bringing in guest speakers, engaging students in discussions, getting feedback from it, gamifying the learning process… the list goes on and on.

The good news is that technology is there to help both teachers and students throughout this process. Students can easily level up their knowledge and skills if they have the right educational platform at hand.

We suggest 20 platforms that can boost every student’s skills and knowledge.

1. StudyBlue

This is a crowdsourced learning platform, where students can find and share flashcards, study guides, notes, and other learning materials. Over 10 million students are part of the community. The social aspect alone motivates the users to make progress with their studies.

2. Unplug the TV

Although it seems like people are no longer watching TV that much, since they are glued down to other types of screens, the TV still is a major distraction for learners. When you want to inspire a student to learn more, you should suggest this website to them. The platform offers a random video with interesting educational information. If the user doesn’t like that one, they can keep asking for other videos until they run into something they are interested in.

3. Open Culture

This online platform offers great intellectual stimulation, which is far from boring. Students don’t feel like nerds when engaging in an Open Culture course. They satisfy their natural curiosity through different resources, including audio books, movies, eBooks, and textbooks that are much more fun than the traditional ones. The best part is that this is a free learning platform.

4. Chegg

The struggle for textbooks is real. Not all students can afford to get new textbooks, and some editions are not available in the area. This platform solves the problem. Students can rent or buy books and textbooks there. In addition, they can find an online tutor to help them with the subjects they are stuck with.

5. Mental Floss

The trivial information at this site may not be necessarily useful for school, since it’s not always related to the curriculum. However, the resource is still educational and stimulates the user’s interest to learn something new every single day. It’s important to introduce students to this platform, since it helps them gain an important quality: learning not for grades, but for the sake of learning.

6. Reddit

You didn’t expect to see this site among educational resources, did you? However, there’s a discussion on any topic on Reddit. If you can’t find the discussion you need, you can start one. This platform encourages open discussions with no prejudices. Advise students to explore subreddits such as education and literature.

7. Sophia

This online platform provides affordable courses for college credit. That’s a great way for students to boost their progress in the studies, but make them more affordable as well. The users have access to over 37,000 self-paced courses, and a vibrant community that gives support.

8. EssayOnTime

Many students struggle with essays and other types of assignments. Teachers don’t always have the time and patience to guide each student through the process of research and writing. This online resource can be very useful in such situations. Students get connected with professional writers, who guide them through the entire process of writing, editing, and proofreading.

9. WikiHow

This is a user-generated website that doesn’t have huge educational value, but is still useful for students. If someone is stressed and doesn’t know how to write homework, they can find a guide on how to relax, and another guide that inspires them to fight procrastination and write that assignment ASAP.

10. HyperPad

Teachers can use this online tool to gamify the classroom. If the students are old enough to handle technology, they can create their own apps with hyperPad. It’s important to inspire students to develop skills that will help them get job. Creating apps is definitely a skill they could use.

11. ScratchJr

This platform helps students learn coding. Even young children (ages 5-7) can use ScratchJr to design their own projects, solve mind-stimulating problems, and express their creativity. If you’re teaching a group of young students, you can discover the future programming stars thanks to an app everyone will love.

12. Quora

Whatever question or doubt you have, the Quora community can help. This is an extremely useful platform that triggers discussions on any topic. You can encourage your students to become part of it. They will learn solely by reading the most popular answers in the categories they subscribe to. If they need specific information, they can explore the website further.

13. Docsity

This is an actual studying platform that helps students get ready for tests and exams. Over 1.8 million students share their notes and studying materials with the community. When a student becomes part of this community, they get the support they need, but they are also encouraged to contribute with their own content.

14. Skillshare

There’s one aspect of the modern learning process that makes it really special: individualization. In the era of online learning, each student can discover their learning style and work on their interests. Skillshare is a platform that offers short classes customized to the user’s needs. Everyone learns what they want to learn, as much as they want to learn. The platform can get addictive, but learning is the good kind of addiction you want your students to have.

15. Project Gutenberg

Finances should never be an obstacle to reading. You want your students to read as many books as possible throughout the year, but you know they can’t afford buying them. Here’s the good news: Project Gutenberg. It holds digital copies of many books, as well as textbooks. All materials are free of charge, so you can feel free to recommend your students to explore the library.

16. Duolingo

Learning a language is not only about memorizing words and grammar rules. It’s about discovering new cultures, and that’s exactly what we need students to be doing. This app makes language learning easy. The students can start from scratch and go through brief daily lessons that make them progress. The best news is that it’s absolutely free.

17. Lynda

This platform offers video tutorials that help the users learn different skills. Traditional education gives enough theory, but the students need something extra to develop practical skills. This is the resource that makes that happen. The students can explore hundreds of courses in different categories, including photography, business, software development, technology, and more.

18. Coursera

Now we’re talking about serious online learning. This website hosts courses provided by top-ranked universities, such as Stanford, Penn State, and Duke. The students can make a pick and start exploring high-quality resources at their own pace. These courses are more structured when compared to any other online learning material, and that’s their greatest advantage.

19. Khan Academy

We all have our unique learning style. Then why do we have to fit into the pattern of traditional education? We don’t! Khan Academy is perfect for visual learners. It offers brief, fun courses in different areas of study. The best thing about these resources is that they make even the most complex concepts easy to understand.

20. TEDEd

This website offers interesting video lessons on different topics, which the students can watch at any time. All categories are covered, including business, health, philosophy, literature, and so on. However, it also offers something that students rarely get from traditional education: inspiration. The TED talks are all about living life to the fullest, which means learning more and exploring more.

With the right online resources, it’s easy to be a student nowadays. In fact, it’s great to be a student! There are tons of materials to explore, and we’re motivated to keep learning for a lifetime. The 20 platforms suggested above provide the lessons and inspiration that students need.  

The TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is the access route for non-native speakers to an English-speaking university. The test may also be accepted as proof of English knowledge when applying to live and work in another country. It may be offered in a paper format, but is more commonly taken via the internet. Scoring high marks in the test is important, as your university place depends on a satisfactory result. So the pressure is on, and adequate preparation is essential. But what can you do to improve your chances of doing well?

Start well in advance

Leaving it to the last minute to revise never works well. Begin preparing for the test months in advance; some people advise starting as far as a year ahead.

Use online resources

You can find plenty of material online to help you with the test. There is lots of useful information on the official TOEFL website, including tips on how to pass the exam. Make use of all the resources available there, such as webinars and test questions.

Check what score is required

Each university or institution will have its own requirements regarding scores. It may be an overall score, or a minimum level in each of the sections.

Get a good textbook

A good textbook may not help you pass on its own, but it will be an invaluable resource in your studies. Look for one that contains practice questions and tests; this will give you an idea of what to expect when you take the real test.

Practice your weak points

The TOEFL covers reading, listening, speaking, and writing. If you know that one of these is your weak point, then spend more time working on that aspect. For example, if you are less confident in speaking, find a native speaker to practice with. In fact, it is a wise idea to book lessons with an English teacher so that they can teach you correct pronunciation and assess your progress.

Get used to speaking

Speaking out loud is often the greatest challenge for language learners. Get yourself accustomed to speaking English by repeating lines from films, videos and news clips, and reading out texts. You can also record yourself and try to improve your pronunciation.

Expand your vocabulary

You could be given material on any subject during the test. So take every opportunity to add to your vocabulary. There are plenty of ways of increasing your vocabulary in addition to using textbooks; read any material in English you can find, watch video clips on news sites like the BBC, and look for books in English in the library. You can even listen to audio books and podcasts. Be sure to write down words you aren't familiar with, so that you can look them up and memorize them.

Learn to take effective notes

One of the skills you'll be assessed on is listening, which requires you to quickly note down important points and answer questions on what you've heard. Refine your listening skills by learning to pick out the main information and summarize it briefly. Don't try to write down everything, as you will miss some of the important info.

Work fast

There are a lot of questions to get through in a short time, so learn to work fast. In the written section, begin with the questions you know, so that you can spend the remaining time on the questions you're not sure about. Otherwise you will waste time and panic.

Take practice tests

Any exam is made somewhat easier if you are familiar with the kind of questions you'll be asked and the structure of the test. You can find practice tests online, in your textbook, or at your language center.

Answer all the questions

If you're running out of time, or you're not sure of an answer, have a guess. You could get the right answer. But if you leave questions blank, you'll definitely lose marks.

Advise ETS if you have disabilities or health-related needs
If you have a health problem or disability that means you need extra consideration, get in touch with ETS (who administer the test) well in advance. They will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Have confidence

Martine Autry, who now works for Essayontime, credits this tactic with helping her pass. "I tend to panic in exams and tests, so I messed up the test the first time I took it. But when I tried a second time, I told myself that I could do this - and I passed. I really think it made a difference having some faith in myself."

So preparation and practice are key to success in the TOEFL. It's a tough test, so you need to put plenty of effort into it. Work hard, study for several months, keep your cool in the test, and that university place should be yours.