Voki: Speaking Avatar

Activity: Icebreaker Introduction

Objective: To make students comfortable and ready to participate.

Instructions:

• Begin with a simple icebreaker activity where students pair up and share three fun facts about themselves.
• Each pair then introduces their partner to the class with one of the facts shared.
   

Activity: Overview of Avatar Creation

Objective: To introduce the concept of avatars and how they can be used for self-introductions.

Instructions:

• Show a pre-made Voki avatar as an example and explain its features.
• Discuss how avatars can represent aspects of our personalities and interests with a partner and then share with the class.
   

Activity: Demonstration of Voki

Objective: To teach students how to create their own avatars using the Voki website.

Instructions: (See Voki directions)

• Walk through the process of creating an avatar on the Voki website, demonstrating each step.
• Highlight important features such as character selection, text-to-speech options, and recording capabilities.
• Explain the text-to-speech character limit and provide tips on phonetic typing.

Activity: Creating Personal Avatars

Objective: To have students apply what they learned by creating their own avatars.

Instructions:

• Have students write a brief paragraph about themselves, including their hobbies, interests, and any fun facts they want to share with their partner.
• Students provide feedback and corrections to ensure clarity and correctness.
• Students then use the Voki website to create their avatars, incorporating their paragraphs either through text-to-speech or by recording their own voices.

Activity: Sharing and Feedback

Objective: To evaluate students’ ability to create and share their avatars.

Instructions:

• Have students email their Voki avatars to the instructor or post them on an online platform for sharing.
• Conduct a class viewing session where each student presents their avatar.
• Provide constructive feedback on both the content and the technical aspects of the avatars.
   

Activity: Extended Uses of Avatars

Objective: To encourage students to use avatars for various creative purposes.

Instructions:

• With your partner, discuss additional ways avatars can be used, such as answering question prompts, creating alter egos, or imagining themselves in the future. Share with the class.
• Assign a follow-up project where students use avatars to complete one of these extended activities, sharing their creations with the class.