BP4_Voki

Voki.com is a free, Web 2.0 tool that allows users to create something like an animated baseball card of sorts. You can use Voki to create speaking avatars in a fixed scene. Voki Classroom, which requires a one or two-year paid subscription, has been set up particularly for educators and students.

To begin, a teacher creates an account to assign and manage student accounts. Teachers can then assign lesson activities and review/approve all completed Voki assignments for publishing purposes. Students can then create and customize their own avatars, while adding content to address the lesson objectives.

One thing that I like about this site is the support for educators. Voki provides educators with a “Teacher’s Corner” section where educators can find ideas and tips for using Voki in a classroom. In addition, the site provides video tutorials and written guides for getting started. The tutorials are very easy to follow and concise. After viewing one brief tutorial, I was able to create my avatar.  Another resource available to educators on this site is a lesson plan database, where teachers are able to search for plans by grade level and subject. All resources in the database are free and updated weekly. Educators are also able to contribute lessons of their own to the database, as well. Two other important tools provided in the site are the Voki blog and newsletter. There, users are able to find other news, tips and uses for Voki. Users can also follow Voki on Facebook and Twitter to connect with other users and ideas, as well.

Take a look at the Voki I created by pressing the play button.

Though I had heard of Voki before, I never had the pleasure of exploring the site to see what it really offered. I must say I’m impressed. I can see myself using Voki with my 3-5 grade students. I feel this site is user friendly enough for students in those grades to be able to produce a finished product in 1-2 class sessions. Often, I find myself reserving tools like this for my middle-school students, due to the more complex nature of the tool. With this tool, very little instruction is necessary so students will be able to have more hands-on, independent practice time.

I look forward to using this Web 2.0 tool in my classes this year. The one minor draw back with Voki Classroom is the associated cost. I say it's minor because a one-year subscription is only $29.95/ year and a two-year subscription is $44.95/year. In the event the school/district is unwilling or unable to pay for the subscription, the prices are reasonable enough for teachers to absorb the costs.