Sunday, July 25, 2010
Voki
I was immediately impressed with the Voki digital tool, it was simple to create and there are many possibilities for its implementation in the classroom. Voki allows students and teachers alike to create customisable avatars that can be embedded on the Internet. For example a teacher cannot organise a guest speaker to talk to the students about recycling, the teacher simply creates a recycling expert avatar that presents information to the students. Marzano & Pickering (1997) discuss that students are engaged when tasks are ‘real life’ and related to life outside of school. By incorporating avatars into everyday school activities can re-engage students as they believe the information is coming from a real life expert. From a student’s perspective Voki’s are an exciting way of presenting information to the class. Students that are shy can record their voice and choose an avatar to present it to the class. The enthusiasm that I had towards creating avatars surprised me and I look forward to incorporating this ICT into many class activities.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Avatars have the possibility of transforming how classroom activities are structured. For each subject area the students and/or teacher could create an avatar. For example when "Crabson" talks to the students they all know that it is time for Maths. This will serve as another way of engaging students as they will look forward to hearing what their favourite avatar has to say.
ReplyDeleteWhen students create their own avatars it would be essential for an educator to set behavioural expectations for the students as they may become easily carried away. The same classroom rules apply for the students as well as their avatars such as no swearing, put downs etc.
ReplyDeleteSetting rules and expectations is essential for providing a positive classroom climate (Marzano & Pickering 1997).
I really like your ideas for the avatars Nick. Sometimes it is too difficult to find an expert to come into class and speak to the students. The avatar can be utilised to play the role of any expert. I believe if an avatar was introducing the learning material at the beginning of an activity, students will be more inclined to engage in the lesson. Also if you allocate an avatar to a particular subject it will trigger students to start getting prepared for that subject. I think it is very smart. You also raise the point of behavioural expectations. Strict rules will need to be put into place in order to keep a positive classroom climate.
ReplyDeleteChris
PMI of Voki
ReplyDeletePlus -
Simple to create
Large variety of characters
Choose different voices
Can contain studnets voice
Provide instructions to students
Provide information
Can be used in any subject area
Quick to create
Can be uploaded into most web pages
Minus
Students may become distracted by animations
Unacceptable language
Students may get bored with same avatar
Interesting
Different languages are available