Over the last four years, we, the Language Learning and Technology Research and Design Group at the University of Texas at Austin, have designed and developed FunWritr [paper, presentation]. We have presented preliminary findings on the dynamics of our team [paper, presentation] as well as on observations made on technology's influence on creative and participatory literacy practices [paper, presentation] in a language arts classroom.

We work to create, introduce, and study FunWritr, a playground for literacy development and English language acquisition which supports learners in robust ways as part of in-class activities, center time, Free Voluntary Writing, and free time. FunWritr strives to make writing, vocabulary building, and language learning an immersive, whimsical, and memorable experience. This Fall, November 2011, we will introduce FunWritr to a select number of elementary school aged students at several schools. Using ethnographic research methods we look to understand how students and teachers use FunWritr as well as larger classroom creative and participatory literacy practices as well.