Let's Talk About Great EdTech Tools!

OSMO (https://www.playosmo.com/en/)
OSMO - simply put...great tool!  This is an interactive device that connects to an iPad 2 or newer and is rated for K-Friends and up. Added bonus...this is also a great tool for integrating technology in our Encore Art Classes.  Presently, the package, which includes a base, a reflector, 2 sets of alpha chips and a set of tangrams sells for $79, along with several free downloadable apps. Each app has several levels ranging from Easy to Hard. When in Play-mode, they level up nicely and appropriately. What I specifically love about OSMO is the eye-catching pictures and pleasant sounds.  It really is all top quality!  The Free apps include a tangram game, a word/phonics game, a physics game called Newton and a drawing app which can use the device's camera and photo album to download pictures into the app. The individual pieces are durable and well crafted.  Primarily, we use OSMO in our Kindergarten & 1st Grade Classrooms for Math & Reading Centers.


Tiggly - (https://www.tiggly.com/)

Tiggly - This is a sweet tool for our younger friends in Pre-K to 2nd Grade.  The very durable, yet soft-to-the touch manipulatives (numbers, vowels, and shapes) work interactively with the applications on iPad2 and newer.  Each step's instructions are carefully mapped out, so limited supervision is necessary.  Each app levels up nicely, gives pleasant praise and encouragement, has nice music & graphics and speaks clearly.  Some apps even allow for multiple languages to be articulated.....now that's a nice feature. There are several number apps, one particular is of a Chef who needs help with his recipe...cute! The user places the numbered manipulative that matches the number of portions Chef needs directly on the iPad's screen.  If more units are needed, an addition problem is shown..another nice feature here.  If too many units are placed, there is a pleasant ding to try again.  In the apps that use the vowels, beginning and ending letters are shown and the user creates words with the correct vowel manipulative.  If it is correct, a fun picture is shown.  If the vowel placed is incorrect, the app springs it off the page....it's really kind of funny. Of course, each app levels up from Easy to More Difficult. The apps that use the shapes are for the youngest friends and work similarly to the other apps.  This is yet another perfect tool for Centers, but I also like this for our EC and ESL friends, because of the proper sounds, the multiple languages that can be heard and more.  This just feels like a great fit all the way around.


Sphero - (http://www.sphero.com/)

Sphero is a very cool device.  If you check out the webpage & video, it shows so many possibilities in a catchy way.  This hard ball robot can be programmed to do just about anything.  It can change colors, spin, go in all directions, you can play golf, have races, run obstacle courses and so much more.  There are so many iOS apps to choose from and easy to get started.  I rate this for the older Students in 4th and up.  Tinkering is essential up front before you introduce it to Students.  It will be tricky for them at first, but once everyone gets the hang of it, it is fun, engaging and addictive.

Ozobot - (http://www.ozobot.com/)

I have to add Ozobot to my list as it has become an easy favorite of mine!  Ozobot blends creativity, coding, critical thinking and more to the mix.  It can be programmed either using the iOS apps or by drawing wide lines on a blank piece of paper using a black, blue, green or red marker.  Ozobot can move in all directions, change colors, spin, stop, speed up, slow down and so much more.  I think this would be a great team building exercise to have Students work together to program theirs and then show off their work to the rest of the Class in the end...who can be more creative?  From the webpage, there are codes that can be printed, pre-made programs to get stared with and more information.  I like it!