Web Base Site #1 - Voki Can Talk
Voki Can Talk
This first week, I would like to talk about a site called Voki. Voki is a site/app that both students and teachers can use to enhance learning and make it fun. It is a great way to capture students' attention in many different ways. There are a lot of learning tools that students can gain from using this app. Let's start with what the app can be used for. Well, the simple answer to that is anything, anything that be a "presentation" that is. As we know, there are different ways to present information to students whether it be through textbooks, presentations, slideshows, videos, pictures. However, don't you notice that sometimes your students start to lose interest about the topic? This is where Voki can come in handy. Voki allows you to present information on any topic in an animated way! To explain this better, lets talk about the animation, which will show you how and why students will be captivated by the site.
The animation for Voki is close to endless. Teachers and students can choose characters ranging from male and female, cultures and careers, animals, cartoon characters, punk rock people, fantasy creatures, Greek Gods, famous faces, aliens, and so much more. Once you pick a character, you can chose clothes and hair styles, which may vary depending on the character. Next, you can pick a background that would match the topic you are discussing. Again, depending on the character, you are able to change eye, hair, lip, and skin color. Once your character is made, you can start the text features. This comes with a variety of options as well. Starting with the text, there a bunch of different language options you can have your character speak in. After picking the language, you can choose the dialect you want it to sound. Once you type out your text, it can be changed to an adult, child's, or a computer/alien voice. But wait there's more! This is where the differentiation can be beneficial for the students. If a student is a slow typist or has academical accommodations, there is a text to speech option. This allows you to use your own voice to present the information.
As for teachers, you can manage a class by adding students, setting passwords/making things private, and accessing the site on your phone or computer. Once your lesson is created, it automatically creates a Web page that you and your students can access. There are also provided lessons that you can use or expand from.
There are two downsides I see to this site and that is that the students will probably fool around with the character animation for a bit longer than they should. Also that it is a paid subscription. There is a free trial that you can use, but it only gives you access to a limited number of things.
I have seen this site in action and the students love playing around with the character. Once their character is made, they find it more interesting gathering information and creating a presentation. They even seem more inclined to present their work, rather than doing an oral report in front of the class. The animated character grabs student's attention. The learning experience becomes more inviting. This site gets students engaged, while also providing other lessons. While using Voki, they are using computer and research skills that a child is learning, while also learning how to pick out the most important information, summarizing it, and finally presenting it.
What do you think? Is this a site you will use for and with your students? If you try it out, let me know how it went! What did you like and not like about it? What subjects will you use it for?
Below is the link to get to the site. You can make a project for free and have your students try it. If they really enjoy it, you can sign up for a trial and create a class group page to see all your students' progress on their work.
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