Overview of Instructional Tools

Keep reading to learn about:

Teaching & Presentation Tools

Student Engagement Tools

Safety Tools

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Teaching & Presentation Tools

Explore Mode

Explore Mode allows users to freely navigate and interact within a SchoolSpace environment without being locked into a structured activity or guided flow. It gives students the ability to move at their own pace, discover content, and engage with the space more independently. Worlds can be customized with links, videos, and activities for students to explore.

How teachers can use it:

• Allow students to explore a learning environment before or after instruction

• Use for self-paced learning or enrichment activities

• Encourage curiosity by letting students interact with different areas or elements in the space

• Provide choice-based learning opportunities where students can decide what content to engage with

• Use during early finisher time or optional learning sessions to keep students engaged

 

Gallery Mode

Gallery Mode displays all participants’ video feeds in a grid layout, allowing teachers and students to easily see each other. It creates a more traditional “classroom feel” by making all participants equally visible.

How teachers can use it:

• Use for focused, synchronous instruction.

• Monitor student engagement by quickly seeing who is present and attentive

• Facilitate class discussions where students can see and respond to one another

• Use during check-ins, presentations, or collaborative conversations

• Encourage accountability when camera use is expected or required

 

Whiteboard

The Whiteboard Tool will provide a shared, interactive space where teachers and students can write, draw, and visually collaborate in real time. It is designed to support dynamic instruction by making thinking visible and allowing for live annotation and idea sharing.can be used inside.

How teachers can use it:

• Model problem-solving step-by-step during live instruction

• Annotate lessons, diagrams, or student responses in real time

• Facilitate brainstorming sessions or concept mapping activities

• Have students contribute ideas, solve problems, or demonstrate understanding collaboratively

• Use as a visual aid to support different learning styles, especially for complex or abstract concepts

 

Screen Sharing

Screen sharing allows teachers (and permitted students) to display their screen to everyone in the session, making it easy to present content, demonstrate processes, or guide students through materials in real time. Screen sharing can be used while inside of the world (Explore Mode) or in Gallery Mode.

How teachers can use it:

• Present slides, documents, or lesson materials during instruction

• Demonstrate how to complete assignments or use specific tools

• Walk students through step-by-step processes or problem-solving

• Share videos or interactive content with the whole class

• Support small group instruction by focusing attention on specific content

 

File Sharing (in development Fall 2026)

File Sharing will allow teachers to easily share documents such as PDFs, slides, and other materials with students during a class session. This feature is currently in development and is expected to be available in late 2026.

How teachers can use it:

• Share lesson materials, slides, or reference documents in real time

• Provide students with resources to follow along during instruction

• Distribute assignments or supporting materials during class

• Give students quick access to documents without leaving the platform

 

Video & Audio

Audio and video features allow teachers and students to communicate in real time using their microphones and cameras. This supports live instruction, discussion, and engagement, helping create a more interactive and connected virtual classroom environment.

How teachers can use it:

• Encourage student participation through discussions and verbal responses

• Require camera use (when appropriate) to support accountability and engagement

• Teachers can manage their classroom by revoking camera and microphone access at any time

 

Messaging (DMs, Channel Messages, Group Messages, Private Zone Messages)

Messaging tools in SchoolSpace allow teachers and students to communicate in real time through a variety of formats, including direct messages, group chats, and location-based messages within specific areas. These options support both whole-class communication and more targeted interactions.

Messaging also includes built-in visibility and safety features. Teachers and admins have a real-time view of messages—including direct messages—to support oversight and student safety. Additionally, all messages can be monitored through an integration with Gaggle, which flags and escalates concerning content to the school when necessary. A “Message an Admin” feature (coming soon) will allow students to communicate directly with an admin without messaging peers, providing a more controlled communication option when needed.

How teachers can use it:

• Send announcements or reminders to the whole class using channel messages

• Communicate individually with students through direct messages for support or feedback

• Facilitate small group collaboration using group messaging

• Use private zone messages to enable discussions within specific areas or activities in the space

• Provide quick clarification or answer questions without interrupting instruction

• Support participation from students who may be less comfortable speaking out loud

• Monitor student communication in real time, including direct messages, to maintain a safe environment

• Utilize Gaggle monitoring to support student safety and compliance

• Provide students with a safe way to reach out through “Message an Admin” (coming soon)

 

Broadcasting

Broadcasting enables teachers -and students who have been granted permission - to speak to all participants within a world at once while in Explore Mode. This creates a shared audio experience where one voice can reach the entire group, regardless of where participants are located in the space.

How teachers can use it:

• Make announcements or give directions to all students without needing to gather them in one place

• Provide real-time instruction or clarify expectations during activities in Explore Mode

• Regain attention during transitions or when students are spread throughout the environment

• Allow students to present projects, ideas, or share-outs with the entire class

• Facilitate whole-group moments within otherwise independent or exploratory learning time

 

Spotlight

The Spotlight Feature allows teachers to highlight a specific participant so their video and/or presence is prominently displayed for all users while in Explore Mode. While Spotlight mode is turned on students will not be able to move around the world. This helps direct attention to a single speaker or presenter during instruction.

How teachers can use it:

• Highlight a student who is presenting to the class

• Keep focus on the teacher during direct instruction

• Showcase guest speakers or special presenters

• Guide student attention during discussions or demonstrations

• Support classroom management by clearly indicating who has the floor

 

Following

The Follow feature allows teachers to invite students to automatically follow them as they move throughout the world in Explore Mode. This keeps students together and synchronized within the space, making it easier to guide groups without requiring manual navigation.

How teachers can use it:

• Lead guided tours of the world, highlighting key areas, content, or activities

• Keep students together during instruction to ensure everyone is in the right place

• Transition smoothly between different parts of a lesson without losing students

• Assign student leaders to guide small groups through activities or stations

• Support structured exploration by controlling movement while still using Explore Mode

 

Teleporting

Teleporting gives teachers the ability to instantly bring selected students or all users directly to their location within the world. This makes it easy to quickly regroup participants, provide support, or move students to the right place without relying on them to navigate there on their own.

How teachers can use it:

• Bring a student to you for a quick 1:1 conversation or check-in

• Gather a small group of students for a project, discussion, or demonstration

• Bring all students together for a whole-group activity or instruction moment

• Quickly redirect students who may be in the wrong area of the world

 

Silent Mode

Silent Mode allows teachers to temporarily disable all communication within a world, including video, audio, and messaging. This creates a focused environment where distractions are minimized and students can work independently. Silent Mode will also activate automatically as a safety measure when no administrator is present.

How teachers can use it:

• Create a distraction-free environment for independent or focused student work

• Provide quiet time for reflection, reading, or individual assignments

• Pause communication during transitions or when resetting expectations

• Support testing or assessment scenarios where communication should be limited

• Ensure a safe and controlled environment when active moderation is not present

 

Breakout Groups

Breakout Groups allow teachers to divide students into smaller groups within a world for more focused collaboration and discussion. While in breakout mode, students can only communicate with others in their assigned group, while admins and teachers can move freely between groups to monitor, support, and facilitate learning.

How teachers can use it:

• Organize small group projects or discussions

• Differentiate instruction by assigning students to targeted support or enrichment groups

• Facilitate collaborative activities without distraction from the larger class

• Monitor group progress by moving between groups as needed

• Create more opportunities for student participation in a smaller setting

 

Polls

Polling allows teachers to create and share questions that students can respond to while in either Gallery Mode or Explore Mode. This gives teachers a quick, interactive way to collect responses, check understanding, and gather input from the class in real time.

How teachers can use it:

• Use polls as exit tickets at the end of a lesson

• Gauge student comprehension during or after instruction

• Gather feedback from the class on lessons, activities, or pacing

• Check for understanding before moving on to a new concept

• Encourage participation from all students, including those who may be less likely to speak up aloud

 

Pre-Built Educational Scenes

Pre-Built Educational Scenes are ready-made environments designed with content to support specific learning concepts, subject areas, or events. These scenes give teachers a starting point for instruction by providing immersive spaces that are already tailored to a particular topic, such as speech therapy, space exploration, or art.

How teachers can use it:

• Deliver subject-specific instruction in a space designed around the content

• Provide immersive learning experiences connected to a particular subject or event

• Introduce new concepts in a more interactive and engaging way

• Use themed environments to support discussion, exploration, or guided activities

• Save planning time by using pre-built spaces instead of creating a world from scratch

 

Recording & Transcriptions

Recording & Transcriptions allows class sessions to be recorded and paired with a written transcription for later review by both students and staff. This makes it easier to revisit instruction, reference key moments from a lesson, and increase access to learning materials after a session has ended.

How teachers can use it:

• Review lessons for reteaching, clarification, or reflection

• Support accessibility by providing students with a written transcription alongside the recording

• Share materials with absent students so they can catch up on missed instruction

• Allow students to revisit lessons at their own pace for additional support or review

• Monitor engagement by seeing which students have viewed a recording and how long they watched

 

Guest Speaker Access (coming soon to LTI-gated worlds)

Guest Speaker Access allows participants who are not part of a specific course roster to join a world when invited. This gives teachers added flexibility to bring in approved visitors and collaborators without requiring them to be enrolled in the course.

How teachers can use it:

• Invite outside guest readers, speakers, or subject matter experts into the world

• Host special events or presentations

• Allow other teachers, administrators, or support staff to join a course world

• Create opportunities for cross-classroom collaboration or special instructional moments

 

Attendance Tracking

Attendance Tracking records which students attended a class session or event and how long they were present. This gives teachers and staff an easy way to monitor participation and confirm student presence during live instruction.

How teachers can use it:

• Easily track student attendance during class sessions

• Monitor how long students remained present in a session

• Support documentation for participation and engagement

• Identify attendance patterns that may require follow-up

• Use attendance data to help inform communication with students and families

 

Custom World Creation & Co-Teacher Collaboration

Custom World Creation & Co-Teacher Collaboration allows teachers to build learning environments tailored to their instructional goals, either from scratch or by using premade templates for faster setup. It also supports collaboration between teachers who are working together in the same instructional space.

How teachers can use it:

• Design subject-specific spaces that align with lesson goals or course content

• Create immersive learning experiences customized for a class or activity

• Use premade templates to save time and simplify setup

• Support co-teaching models by allowing multiple teachers to collaborate in the same world

• Enable team-based instruction, planning, and shared ownership of the course world

 

Analytics

Analytics in SchoolSpace provides insights into how students and teachers are engaging within a world. This includes data on attendance, participation, movement within spaces, and interaction with features such as recordings or activities. These insights help educators better understand student behavior, engagement levels, and overall usage of the platform.

How teachers can use it:

• Monitor student attendance and participation during live sessions

• Identify trends in engagement to inform instructional decisions

• Track how students interact with different areas or activities within a world

• Use data to support intervention for students who may be disengaged or absent

• Review usage patterns to refine lesson design and improve student experience

• Share insights with administrators to support program effectiveness and decision-making
  

 

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Student Engagement Tools

Unlockable Content

Unlockable Content gives students the opportunity to earn avatar accessories and emotes by completing specific activities or challenges. These rewards add a layer of motivation and engagement by connecting participation and achievement to fun, visible incentives within the world.

How teachers can use it:

• Encourage participation in a course related scavenger hunt or other interactive activity

• Create goal-oriented learning experiences tied to lesson objectives

• Motivate students to complete challenges, tasks, or checkpoints

• Add a gamified element to instruction to increase engagement

• Reward effort and participation in a fun, student-facing way

 

Avatar Customization

Avatar Customization allows students to personalize their avatars within the world to reflect their personalities and preferences. This helps students feel more connected to the space and gives them a sense of ownership over their digital presence.

How teachers can use it:

• Increase engagement within the course world

• Build community and identity among students

• Help students feel more comfortable and invested in the virtual environment

• Encourage self-expression in a safe, creative way

• Use personalization as part of community-building at the start of a course or activity

 

Game Based Learning

Game-Based Learning in SchoolSpace allows teachers to integrate interactive, customizable activities directly into their instruction. These experiences are designed to reinforce learning through play, increase engagement, and provide students with hands-on ways to interact with content.

Examples include quiz-based competitions and custom scavenger hunts.

How teachers can use it:

• Use quiz race to review content or assess understanding in a fun, competitive format

• Create custom scavenger hunts to guide students through key concepts or areas within a world

• Use game-based activities as warm-ups, reviews, or reinforcement after instruction

• Increase engagement by turning learning objectives into interactive challenges

 

Platform Games (social)

Platform Games are interactive games built directly into SchoolSpace that teachers can add to or remove from their world at any time. These games provide opportunities for students to engage, collaborate, and interact in a more informal, social learning environment.

For a full list of available games, apps, and experiences, visit our Apps & Experiences page in the SchoolSpace help center.

How teachers can use it:

• Increase student engagement through interactive and collaborative play

• Foster teamwork and communication among students

• Use as a reward or incentive after completing classwork or meeting goals

• Incorporate into lesson activities as a fun way to reinforce concepts

• Provide structured “brain breaks” during longer instructional sessions

 

Badge & Reward System

The Badge & Reward System allows teachers to award badges to students for a variety of achievements. Students can display earned badges on their profile, making accomplishments visible to their peers and reinforcing positive recognition.

How teachers can use it:

• Recognize participation, effort, or mastery of content

• Reinforce positive behavior and classroom expectations

• Align with PBIS or other school-wide reward systems

• Motivate students through visible achievements and recognition

 

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Safety Tools

Video backgrounds

Video Backgrounds allow students and admins to blur their real-world background or choose from a selection of preset background options during video use. This helps create a more focused and comfortable virtual environment.

How teachers can use it:

• Reduce distractions during live instruction

• Help maintain student privacy in their physical environment

• Create a more consistent and professional classroom setting

• Support students who may feel uncomfortable sharing their surroundings

• Encourage camera use by providing flexible background options

 

Camera & Microphone on/off

Camera and microphone access can be turned on or off within a world at any time, giving teachers full control over how students communicate and interact in SchoolSpace. These controls can be applied broadly or adjusted for specific students as needed.

How teachers can use it:

• Create a quiet environment for independent or focused work without leaving the space

• Manage classroom communication by controlling when students can speak or be on camera

• Reduce distractions during instruction or transitions

• Adjust settings for specific students to better support classroom management

• Set clear expectations for participation during different parts of a lesson (e.g., discussion vs independent work)

 

Block & Banning (world, platform, and chat)

Blocking allows students to block another student from communicating with them if they are bothering them or being inappropriate. After blocking the student will be prompted to submit a report to an admin (optional). 

Teachers also have the option to ban a student from a world or chat channels, either temporarily or permanently at any time.

How teachers can use it:

• Allows students to take action right away before alerting an admin
• Gives staff a way to incentivize good behavior in the world

 

Student Reporting

Student Reporting allows students to report concerning behavior directly to admins. Teachers and admins can view reports within the world and take appropriate action to maintain a safe and respectful learning environment.

How teachers can use it:

• Manage classroom dynamics and address issues quickly

• Maintain focus during instruction by resolving disruptions

• Support a safe and respectful virtual environment

• Encourage student accountability and appropriate behavior

• Provide a clear process for students to raise concerns

 

Gaggle Integration

The Gaggle Integration enhances student safety by automatically monitoring and screening messages for concerning content. When a message meets Gaggle’s requirements, it escalates flagged messages to the school for review and appropriate follow-up.

How teachers can use it:

• Provide additional oversight in online learning environments

• Help identify and respond to potential safety concerns early

• Give staff added confidence in managing student communication