Resources: Non-Profit Organizations for Educators and Learners
Research Based-Best Practices
Empowering students with access to Khan academy has shown to increase learner outcomes (Anggi Liztya Qomara et al., 2024).
Integration of ISTE Standards into teaching practices enhances learner outcomes (Crompton & Burke, 2024).
Educators who share best practices regarding digital citizenship and literacy help learners thrive in online landscapes (Hollandsworth et al., 2011).
Edutopia is a resource educators can use to inform their teaching practice for impactful learning (Malin, 2020).
Home | ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a non-profit organization that aims to empower educators to integrate technology into their teaching practice, enabling learners to develop 21st-century skills and be ready to solve the problems of tomorrow with technology that doesn't exist yet. They provide numerous resources for members and non-members, including many professional development courses and an ISTE certified educator program. ISTE drives instruction with its learner, educator, administrator, and coach standards for integrating technology into teaching practices in a responsible, equitable, and ethical manner. (International Society for Technology in Education, n.d.).
Khan Academy | Free Online Courses, Lessons & Practice
Khan Academy is a non-profit organization that provides free education to anyone through its online platform. It hosts thousands of videos, articles, and lesson activities for a multitude of grades, from kindergarten to 12th grade. The subjects it offers vary from science and math to social sciences and even test prep. It promotes self-paced, differentiated content. As an educator resource, classes could be created, and student data and progress within a subject could be tracked to provide teacher feedback and further instruction (Khan Academy, n.d.).
Common Sense Education
Ever wanted to review a video before you showed it to learners, or had a breakdown of the privacy policy of an ed-tech tool? Common Sense Education offers this and so much more. This non-profit, a subsidiary of Common Sense Media, is a go-to for rating and reviewing digital tools and media. They examine learner ratings, community feedback, and crucial privacy aspects. Their mission goes beyond just vetting. Common Sense Education also provides free, research-based resources, professional development opportunities, and practical lesson plans. I personally have used their digital citizenship material in my teaching practice, all designed to help educators integrate technology and teach essential skills like digital citizenship (Common Sense Education, n.d.).
Edutopia - What Works in Education
Want to know what makes a difference in education? Edutopia is the place to find out. This initiative from The George Lucas Educational Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to showcasing "what works" in pre-K-12 classrooms. Its goal is to provide information and resources to help educators adopt the best practices. It envisions a world where students become lifelong learners, developing critical 21st-century skills like creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving (George Lucas Educational Foundation, n.d.).
References
Anggi Liztya Qomara, B. H. S., & Wahono, B. (2024). Flipped Classroom Based on Khan Academy as a Student’s Problem-Solving Abilities and Cognitive Learning Outcomes Booster. Journal of Biological Education Indonesia (Jurnal Pendidikan Biologi Indonesia), 10(2), 467–475.
Common Sense Education. (n.d.). Common Sense Education. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.commonsense.org/education
Crompton, H., & Burke, D. (2024). The Nexus of ISTE Standards and Academic Progress: A Mapping Analysis of Empirical Studies. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 68(4), 711–722. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-024-00973-y
George Lucas Educational Foundation. (n.d.). Edutopia: What works in education. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.edutopia.org/
Hollandsworth, R., Dowdy, L., & Donovan, J. (2011). Digital Citizenship in K-12: It Takes a Village. TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, 55(4), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-011-0510-z
International Society for Technology in Education. (n.d.). Home | ISTE. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.iste.org/
Khan Academy. (n.d.). Khan Academy | Free online courses, lessons & practice. Retrieved June 3, 2025, from https://www.khanacademy.org/
Malin, J. R. (2020). Mediated, Evidence-Informed Practice as Impact. International Journal of Education Policy & Leadership, 16(12), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.22230/ijepl.2020v16n8a955
Image credit: Illustration by Deep on Unsplash (Deep, 2025).
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