Tech Play 4

This is my last Tech Play for my ETEC course.  My assignment this week was to explore an app that can be used in my classroom.  I teach kindergarten so I explored different apps that could be used in my classroom which includes students with abilities that range from beginning alphabet identification to readers. There are many applications available that provide math manipulatives so I decided to explore an ELA app to use on a tablet.  The app I found was iLEAP Word Builder. It was free from iTunes.  The iLEAP app would be great to use as a center during Literacy Stations.  It is divided into 4 categories (Learn, Explore, Apply and Practice).  The categories are perfect for differentiated learning.  Students who have beginning alphabetic knowledge could work with the "Learn" level which works with letter sounds.  Students ready to build words can use the other levels.  The app focuses on the following word families: -at, -et, -it, -ot, -ut.  I believe this app would fit into what is already being taught in the classroom. It would not be a new concept for the students, just a different way to independently practice an objective. 

While I think finding ways to use technology in the classroom is a fun and motivating way for students to learn I believe there are a few factors that need to be considered.  The school I teach at does not have any student or teacher tablets available.  My classroom just received a student computer last month.  I bring my personal children's tablet to school for my students to use.  The only apps that are on the tablet are free apps I have found. I think it is wonderful when districts are able to provide schools with tablets for student use.  I do wonder how apps are purchased for the tablets though when most purchases must be done through district approved vendors.  Since technology is being used more in schools I wonder if districts are approving vendors such as Amazon and iTunes.  I think it is unfair for teachers to be expected to purchase these apps with their own money.  Since I only have one student computer in my room if I want to work on something as a whole class then I must sign up for a time to visit the computer lab, which is full for most of the school day.  Educational technology is wonderful but we still have  a long way to go before it is readily available to all students.