Week 8: Gadgets

This week I had the opportunity to try out several different “gadgets” and apps that could be used in the classroom, including Osmo Words, Osmo Tangram, Sphero, and Aurasma. My favorite gadget to use was the Osmo.

Tangram              Words

Using a reflector placed over the iPad camera, the Osmo gaming system brings the physical world and the digital world together to create an amazing learning experience! With Osmo Tangram, students use shapes of all different colors and sizes to create images shown on the iPad screen. Players must use their abstract thinking and problem-solving skills to figure out where each piece fits! The game also has different levels of difficulty, with the lowest providing the most guidance and the highest level providing NO guidance.

tangram2

The second Osmo game I had the opportunity to experience was Osmo Words. In this game, two students compete against each other to correctly guess and spell out a mystery word. The iPad screen shows a picture clue and tells you how many letters are in the word. Students then race to throw down the correct letter tiles in front of the iPad to spell out the mystery word. This game can also be played in single-player mode, giving students a fun way to practice vocabulary and spelling.

words2

This gadget is a great way to engage students and facilitate learning! Today’s students have grown up using advanced technology, and these games take advantage of those abilities. Osmo utilizes both hands-on learning and learning from technology. It is a gaming system students will be familiar and comfortable with, but it also requires them to use physical objects they can use and manipulate!

For more great games from Osmo, check out Osmo Newton, and Osmo Masterpiece!

The Osmo gaming system can be purchased from the Osmo website or from Amazon!

Download the apps: Osmo Tangram http://goo.gl/VGdTE0 Osmo Words http://goo.gl/CcDCIP

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