One thing that I really liked about this web tool is the ease of use. There is no login required and the second that you get onto the website, the website walks you through step by step on how to change each feature of your avatar. Granted there aren't features for everything, for example, I have freckles on my face and I was unable to add it to my avatar but I was still able to add glasses, my hair color and eye color! The versatility of this web tool are also endless! Since it is a downloaded avatar you or the students can add it to anything! There is also the ability to print out the avatar and use it as a hard copy on something. I personally would use this tool in my future classroom. I could see this being a fun icebreaker for the students to get to explore how they view themselves and to get to know one another. For younger grades, like kindergarten or 1st grade, I would even print out their avatars and put it on their cubbies or desks so they can identify which space is theirs. Not only can the students use it on everything but so can I as a teacher. I would use my avatar on weekly news letters or to make posters for my room. The possibilities are endless!
As I was reading your post I was wondering how creating avatars would be useful in a classroom. Well, I think you've convinced me to give it a shot! I like how you could use this as a get to know you type of an exercise for the students at the beginning of the year!
ReplyDeleteDo you know if students can custom make info linked to their avatar? Like how business cards have information about the person.
Hi Jacob,
DeleteThat is honestly a great question! From what I got out of the avatar maker website is that it is strictly a place to create a character. I didn't see other functions such as being able to make a link to additional info about who created the character. However, if the website did an update, that would be something for them to consider to add!
Hi Cathryn,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like an awesome tool! Using it as an icebreaker is a great idea, especially for younger kids. I was thinking I could use this in a French class when we learn about the family and create family trees - this could be especially good for students who might not live with their families because it gives them the ability to be creative and make up family members! Can you give the avatars little talking bubbles in the program, or would you have to do that after you've downloaded/printed them?
Hi Jessica,
DeleteFrom what I got through my exploration you can't provide them with speech bubbles, however, like your suggestion you can easily add on to it after you print them! I wonder if there is another web tool that you could add speech bubbles onto.
Cathryn,
ReplyDeleteCool tool, thanks for sharing! I can also see this as being a way for students to label their cubbies or desk. Can you attach a name to the avatar? I can see this feature being handy especially if students create avatars that don't look like themselves.
Hi Joe,
DeleteI don't think you are able to attach a name to them, however you bring up a valid point if they create an avatar that doesn't look like them! Maybe if the web tool updates that could be something to add!
Hi Cathryn,
ReplyDeleteMy kindergarten students made their avatars and used them in their end of the year classroom yearbooks. The website used was Pixton. It seems pretty similar!
Do you think you could use this in a way that students can learn? Do you think you could implement this into a lesson plan? If so, what do you have in mind? It seems fun and easy and I like your idea of labeling things with them.
Thank you for sharing!
Hi Alyse,
DeleteThat is a great question! I could imagine using this web tool during an ELA/SEL lesson. We could read a book about personalities or physical features and have a discussion about some similarities or differences they notice within their class or their families. Then the students could create their own characters!
Thanks for the great post on avatars. I think that this would be fun for students, and I like your idea of using it as an icebreaker. At first, I was not sure how these could be used so thank you for giving such great examples.
ReplyDelete