With a quick google search, I discover a teacher blog by J. Picardo. She had an excellent idea for using Voki in her classroom. She had her beginning Spanish students create a writing using new vocabulary. The students then had to deliver their writing verbally using Voki. Her goal was to encourage the quieter students in class to have an opportunity to speak. Students were able to prepare their work ahead of time, but still had to practice the pronunciation.
I particularly like that students have the freedom to create their own avatars. This brings out a student's individuality and creative expression. In my health class, many of our topics are somewhat controversial. Some of these topics include drug use, bullying, teen pregnancy, and obesity. Students are frequently hesitant to contribute to these types of discussions with their peers. In my classroom, I would use Voki as a way for students to have a sense of anonymity with their avatars, yet participate in discussions that may be very beneficial to their peers.
I also like that Voki gives a simple introduction into the world of avatar use. My students are not too computer savvy, so most all Web 2.0 tools are new to them. Because the world of education continues to grow into virtual spaces, I think it is important to expose students to these environments. My students would be overwhelmed with Second Life, so Voki is an excellent starting point for avatar creation. It is easy to use and lots of fun too.
Picardo, J. (2008, June 25). Using Voki and a blog in a sequence of three lessons. Message posted to http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=104
