PL Learning – Classroom Applications and Web 2.0 Tools
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Math– http://www.voki.com/php/viewmessage/?chsm=75bc7ddf18341e6d8c350582a4417984&mId=1148143
Math – http://www.voki.com/php/viewmessage/?chsm=2867c59a177d49842695fb67f893caea&mId=1148145
Math – http://www.voki.com/php/viewmessage/?chsm=a793188afc5c52f2f0aacecf204a4773&mId=1148146
Reading- http://www.voki.com/php/viewmessage/?chsm=a2ca3d50a6aa5d0f0ee500f2f43c61c6&mId=1145114
Spanish- http://www.voki.com/php/viewmessage/?chsm=fe69c3eb12a511fe68f8d3480f4a2138&mId=1146966
App or Web 2.0 tool you used:
Description of the tool:
www.voki.com
Voki is a free service that anyone can use to create customized “avatars” or characters
that are customizable. I used the text-to-speech feature to create what I wanted each of
my Voki avatars to say.
How did you use this tool?
How could you see others using this tool? Be Specific!
Math: I used Voki to bring to life 3 characters I
created to help students learn about and
memorize the 3 variables that drive various
transformations of the 6 basic functions. The files
are the characters introducing themselves to the
class. I am still working on embedding them into a
presentation tool (PowerPoint). I plan to use them
in my lessons to introduce the concepts in my
standard, and then weave the characters (voki
avatars) throughout my lessons about the 6 basic
functions and transformations of their graphs.
In terms of math teachers, I could see others using it in similar
ways that I did. There is a great deal of memorization in
mathematics, and using Voki to represent abstract concepts may
enable students to understand in a way that would not be possible
with traditional direct instruction. What comes to mind is the
book, “Sir Cumference and the First Round Table,” by Cindy
Neuschwander. Her book is used frequently by math teachers to
introduce geometry concepts such as circumference, diameter and
radius. A teacher could create Voki avatars to extend the story,
using it to build on prior knowledge when teaching about more
advanced concepts, such as arc measure.
Reading: I used the tool to create a short piece of
imagery about a beach and the ocean to create
mood, a visual image using words, and to
demonstrate figurative language devices that
include many of those required by the standards.
I could see it used as a demonstration of how to do something, a
way of offering a student to share his opinion about a concept on a
blog, a way for students to give a presentation without having to
be in front of a group if they are shy about performing in front of
an audience, and it can be used as a lead in for a lesson to draw
the students into a new topic for discussion. It could be used as an
intermediate activity to jumpstart a sleepy class at the beginning of
the day.
Any subject could use this tool as a great “hook” to get the
students interested in the topic you are about to discuss. I think
this would be great for a reading class. The students could create
an avatar based on a character from a book they are reading.
Advantages of this tool:
Disadvantages of this tool:
The voki avatars are very easy to create. There are many options to
choose from to customize your voki avatar, like hair, clothing, accessories
and jewelry (they call it bling!). I used the text-to-speech feature, which
allowed me to customize what type of accent I gave to their voices. All of
the customization lets you invent unique voki avatars that are more lifelike and don’t sound like robots. It is also free to use.
It is rather difficult to embed the voki
avatars into a presentation tool that I
would normally use for my lessons.
It requires the use of an email address and
the sending of the finished product to
email addresses. In order to access it, you
must create an account with an email
address.