All about Technology: Using Voki Avatar in the classroom Nyla Louza I.D.#: F1757 Lecturer: Okunsanya Smith

What is a Voki? Voki is simply a talking voice character. These animated characters or avatars enable users to express themselves on the web with a voice but as a talking character. You can customize your Voki to look like you or take on the identity of lots of other types of characters--animals, monsters, etc. You can even have your Voki speak with your own voice by adding your voice with a microphone, upload, or by phone.

Using Speaking Avatar in the online Education Avatars are excellent for online education. They provide the human interaction that is natural in classrooms and in the traditional learning environment. Message boards, email, and instant messaging are great tools for writing. But what about voice communication! Posting a question on a message board is useful but many times asking the question is better. It is instant, direct, and uses the nuance of voice. Skype works well but avatars are better.

Cont’d Avatars provide a face to the students and a face to the teacher. They provide the human element to online teaching.

How to create a Voki/Avatar? Creating an Voki Avatar is easy and fun to do. There are simple steps to be followed in making a Voki, once you logged on to www.voki.com

Creating a Voki 1.Create your own Voki account at www.voki.com 5. An activation email will be sent to the email address used. 2.Select Register (top right) 3. Fill in the required information 4.You need an email account to confirm your registration. 1.Create your own Voki account at www.voki.com

Steps Cont’d 6. Check your email in order to confirm registration. 7. Login and Click on : “Create a new Voki”. 8. Click on: :Customize your character” and Play.

9. Click on “DONE” when you have your character. 10. Click on “Backgrounds”. ( you can even ‘upload’ your own background).

12. Click on “DONE” when you have your character. 13. Click on “Give it a Voice”. Add your own voice via phone, microphone, text to speech or upload a file.

14. After deciding on what format, click on “record” 14. After deciding on what format, click on “record”. Click on “Save” when done. 15. Save it and give your Voki Avatar a title. Share it by embedding on a blog or Wiki or provide a link. 16. Before getting the code you need to follow two steps to pick where the voki will be embedded and the size that you want:

2. Size: Large (300 X 400) Small (200 x 267) Custom Dimensions 1. Embedded in: Standard Web Page (Voki) Facebook Blogger Other (Java Script) 2. Size: Large (300 X 400) Small (200 x 267) Custom Dimensions

17. Copy and paste the code into your webpage 18. Embed your voki on your webpage.

View an example of a voki that I created and put on my blogspot website. http://nylalouza.blogspot.com/

References http://www.google.com.jm/search?hl=en&site=i mghp&tbm=isch&source http://www.slideshare.net/RhajTheWonder/a- guide-on-how-to-create-a-voki