Voki: Using Avatars in the Classroom

What is Voki Voki is a free online virtual classroom tool that allows your learner to create personalized speaking avatars. Voki is a combination of "vox", which is Latin for voice, and "Loki", which, is a prankster character in Norse Mythology.

Strength of Voki User- and viewer- friendly Ability to share "voki-videos" with others (students, teachers, parents, other classes) Easy to embed, in a variety of ways embed to blogs, web pages (good for course pages/discussions), and social networking sites. For world language teachers, Voki is a great tool for recording auditory monologues. Content friendly - can be integrated in any curriculum area.

Strength of Voki Continue Students don’t need a microphone - they can use any telephone, including their personal cellphone. Voki recordings can be called in by phone, created with text-to-speech (typing), using a microphone, or by uploading an MP3 file. Able to download a Voki to your phone Provides a new method of student presentation (can be viewed outside the classroom)

Weakness The maximum recording time is 60 seconds. Time consuming When typing text you may need to type phonetically so that the voki pronounces the word correctly. This may take several tries

Voki Benefits Students can use Voki to create a class introduction and recording a message Foreign language students can use Voki to speak “in character” for different role-play assignments. Students can orally share their writing pieces. Voki can be used as an item in a student electronic portfolio.

How to use Voki in your Classroom

Math Class 1. Introduce a new concept by using a talking avatar. 2. Have your avatar give instructions for an assignment. 3. Have your avatar explain the steps to solving an equation. Teachers can create a Voki to remind students of the correct steps in solving a problem. Have students create word problems, using their Vokis.

Language Arts Ideas 1. Create an avatar to read a poem written by the student. 2. Have a student create their avatar and use it for digital storytelling. 3. Have students write and record a special message for someone. 4. Have the avatar introduce a discussion topic.

Social Studies 1. Students can create an avatar to share historic event information. 2. Create a historic figure avatar to give an autobiographic account of their life. 3. Have the avatar give clues to a location on the map and use Google Earth to find it. 4. Students could write a news report and have the avatar read it for them.

Science Ideas 1. The avatar could explain the scientific method. 2. Students could create their avatar and have it explain the results from an experiment. 3. Have an avatar introduce a new concept. Have the avatar introduce a Discovery Streaming video or science journal activity. Teachers can create a Voki that can give directions for steps in an experiment.

Speech Therapy: This is a great opportunity to provide a new way to practice articulation sounds. By recording their own voice, students with dysfluency have accurate feedback as to their progress. Students with language goals can practice conjunctions, figures of speech or expressing the main idea. Sharing the Voki with another student allows for peer feedback.

Foreign Language: What a fun way to practice new vocabulary! By recording their own voices, students get quick feedback on their pronunciation and accuracy. Through typing their responses, students get practice in the written aspects of the language. Remember, Vokis know 30 languages!

Activity 1 1. Use Voki to create avatar for your class. The avatar can be: an introduction for a lesson, an instruction activity a story 2. Embed your video in a PowerPoint presentation You can visit http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=114976

Getting Started with Voki

Go to www.voki.com and click Get Voki (not classroom voki)

Enter the following information to create an account Enter the following information to create an account. Regular Voki is free.

Login here

You will then see this screen once logged in You will then see this screen once logged in. It lists all options for your Voki…..

Customize your Character, then click “Done” tab

You can change the background by choosing one of Voki’s or you can upload one of your own.

You can also customize your avatar (character) by choosing the type of character he/she is, the clothing they wear, and the “bling” they come with (glasses, jewelry, etc…)

The “tweak” feature lets you adjust the size of the physical features on your avatar as well as the colors on the avatar and background.

To make it talk, click on “Give It A Voice” To make it talk, click on “Give It A Voice”. Once you do you will choose whether or not to call in the voice, type to give it a voice, use your microphone, or upload an audio file to give it a voice. The most common form used is type to voice.

To give it a voice you can A To give it a voice you can A. Type your text you want it to say and click green “Done” button

Or B. Select a previously recorded file by clicking the folder icon, browse and don’t forget to click “Upload.” Click green “Done” button.

Now that you have selected a voki and given it a voice, click “Publish”

Name your scene and click Save

Once you click “Publish” you will see the following screen with 2 options. You can embed your Voki in a website or PowerPoint OR you can email it to someone. Embed Code

When you choose the email option you will fill out the form below and click “Send” much like an email message.

You can add to your site by selecting the site icon you want to add it to (facebook, blogger, etc.)…or

You can copy the embed code and paste it onto your website, or…

You can copy and paste this link into an email, or post the link on your site

How to Embed Avatar in PowerPoint

Procedure 1 Direct Link to Voki Character 1. Click and copy your Voki embed code

Open word document and paste the embed code. Find the value code with a hyperlink.

Select and copy that hyperlink. Now, go into your PowerPoint and click on the Ribbon. The Ribbon opens the dropdown menu for PowerPoint.

Click on PowerPoint Options and a new menu will open up. Make sure that the option for Show Developer tab in the Ribbon is checked. If not, click on it and click OK. The Developer tab will be added to your Ribbon.

Click on the Developer tab. Click on the More Controls icon (the one with a hammer and a wrench) and a new menu will pop up.

Scroll down to find Shockwave Flash Objects and click OK.

You will see a + sign as your mouse cursor You will see a + sign as your mouse cursor. Click and drag on a blank PowerPoint slide. This will create a big box with an X in the middle.

Right-click on the box and click on Properties and a new menu will open.

Find the Movie line and paste the Voki hyperlink into the blank area Find the Movie line and paste the Voki hyperlink into the blank area. Then close the Properties window.

To preview, just hit F5 on your keyboard! Note: To play your Voki using the embed code you must be connected to the internet.

Procedure 2 Go to Screencast-o-matic (for example) and download the latest program; it’s free. Open the program and return to your Voki. Drag the box over your Voki and press Record.

Procedure 2 Conti. Play your Voki. Stop recording when finished. You can save your recording on your PC as a video file. You can then add it to a PowerPoint presentation, a website, or anywhere else for that matter.

References [PPT] Voki: Using Avatars in the Classroom www2.morgan.k12.ga.us/mces/video/Voki%20Tutorial.ppt http://kerwin.edu.glogster.com/voki-for-the-classroom/ http://www.esc4.net/users/0199/docs/Webinar%20handout%20voki.pdf  http://educatorstudio.com/lessons/using-vokicom-motivate-engage-students-using-multiplication