Creating concept maps helps turn abstract ideas into clear visuals, aiding comprehension and collaboration. Free tools like Draw.io and MXStudioGraph simplify visual learning for students and educators from K-16.
ExpanDrive: cloud and remote server mounting software is now free for personal use
ExpanDrive now offers a free plan that lets individuals or small teams mount cloud storage as local drives with support for major services and protocols like FTP, SFTP, and WebDAV. The free tier allows up to 10 devices or users …
College students can get Google AI Pro for free, as company launches new guided learning mode
Google is offering university students 18+ one year of its AI Pro plan for free, giving access to its top AI tools. The promotion is available not only in the U.S. but also in Japan, Indonesia, Korea, and Brazil.
https://mashable.com/article/google-ai-pro-free-students-guided-learning…
The Only Open-Source PDF Editors You’ll Ever Need
Open-source PDF tools give you powerful features without subscription traps or licensing headaches. While proprietary options exist, these free alternatives handle everything from basic edits to advanced workflows.
The Best ChatGPT Alternative Isn’t What You Think
Most ChatGPT alternatives like Claude, Gemini, and Meta AI offer similar chatbot experiences with minimal differences in output quality. Perplexity stands out by combining multiple AI models with extra research and productivity features beyond a standard chatbot.
https://www.makeuseof.com/best-chatgpt-alternative-isnt-what-you-think…
Gemini can now turn your photos into video with Veo 3
Google is making it easier to create videos with Gemini, but you only get a few shots per day.
Version control: how I combat the rise of generative AI in the classroom
I was worried that ChatGPT was composing my students’ essays. Looking at the writing process step by step can combat this and has other benefits, too.
Are AI-powered schools the future? Not so fast
Educators need to balance benefits and understand shortcomings of high-tech tools.
No more teachers, no more books at private schools run by artificial intelligence
AI-led schools like Alpha combine two hours of personalized, AI-driven lessons with hands-on life skills projects guided by humans, emphasizing motivation and self-directed learning. These programs are expanding rapidly, praised for individualized education but criticized for screen addiction risks and …
What Teachers Should Know About ChatGPT’s New Study Mode Feature
OpenAI launched a new ChatGPT “study mode” that guides students step by step to answers, aiming to foster deeper learning instead of simply giving solutions. Educators see potential for personalized learning but remain wary of cheating and cognitive skill impacts.…
The State of GenAI
Educators are moving from fear to experimentation with generative AI as the tools evolve beyond text. A key shift is the challenge to traditional authority, prompting humility among experts and explaining some of the resistance to AI’s capabilities.
This Free App Lets Me Run AI Chatbots on My Smartphone Without the Internet
Most popular AI chatbots send our data back and forth for processing on the cloud raising issues about privacy and even data usage. PocketPal AI is a free app that brings the power of AI models locally onto your smartphone.…
Tom’s Guide AI Awards 2025: 17 best AI tools and gadgets right now
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming technology across devices and industries, driving productivity for individuals and companies. To recognize these advancements, Tom’s Guide has launched its first AI awards, celebrating the best AI innovations of the past year.
Researchers created a chatbot to help teach a university law class—but the AI kept messing up
AI tutors are being promoted as tools that can personalize learning and provide tailored feedback to students. However, there is limited research on their effectiveness in structured university settings, prompting new studies to assess their real impact. In our new …
What Teachers Need To Level Up Their AI Use: 4 Lessons Learned
Many teachers are using AI-powered apps to save time and reduce job stress, finding them helpful in daily tasks. However, many others aren’t using AI due to more urgent priorities and a lack of knowledge or support.