Voki

media type="custom" key="7383521"media type="custom" key="6547383" align="right" =Voki= Voki allows teachers and students to create personalized speaking avatars. This free Web 2.0 tool accepts text, as well as recordings using your built-in computer microphone and/or audio files. Voki provides several HTML code options for your finished avatar that can be embedded into most classroom wikis, websites or blogs.

** How can I use Voki? **

 * Short speaking assessment/directions for activity **for up to 90 seconds**!
 * Spice up a blog, web page, or wiki.
 * Communicate with students and parents outside of the classroom.
 * Practice writing and listening to speech.
 * Provide additional scaffolding for lessons.
 * Provide directions in Spanish (or other language) for ELL students.
 * Alternative assessment (e.g. Students can create an avatar that resembles a character from a story, add a setting and give it speech, etc.)

Learning Objectives

 * Sign up for and use Voki.
 * Design and construct an instructional activity for the effective use of Voki to support learner outcomes associated with ELA NCSCOS.

** Step 1. Get to Know Voki **

 * Sign-up for Voki, go to @http://www.voki.com/
 * Register (top right).
 * Fill in the required information.
 * You need an email account to confirm your registration. An activation email will be sent to the email address used.

media type="custom" key="6548031"
 * I will put tutorial here. **


 * ~Lisa **


 * Customize your avatar: **
 * Select type, change hair, eyes, and "BLING!"
 * Give it a voice, select gender and accent.
 * Choose a background.
 * Pick a player color.
 * Publish it to email or get the code to put it on a website, wiki or blog.

Step 2: Design an Instructional Activity Using Voki
Consider how to support and enhance students’ understanding of ELA while leveraging the power of Voki. //Be prepared to://
 * Provide a brief description of an instructional activity you have designed using Voki to enhance your students’ learning for ELA in your 1:1 classroom.
 * Include NCSCOS learner objectives, sequence of instructional activity, related text, teacher actions, student actions, associated questions, anticipated informative assessment or anything else necessary to illuminate the essence of the activity.

**Step 3:** **Post Instructional Activity Description and URL Link/Embeddable Code**
When you are ready to post the URL/code and an overview of your instructional use of Voki, go to the ELA Tool Showcase (see left navigation bar) and follow the directions found there.

How you will be evaluated
Successful completion of this activity will be based on the Instructional Activity Rubric. Post to the wiki **by the end** of this session.


 * ~ YES ||~ NO ||~ Does your assignment/activity meet the following criteria? ||
 * ||  || Provides a WORKING URL/Embeddable code. ||
 * ||  || Instructional activity overview is provided that integrates ELA tool into instructional activities. ||
 * ||  || Student learning objectives are clearly stated and are aligned to the English NCSCOS. ||

What to Do Next
Complete this assignment, if you choose Voki as one of your tools, then go to Flickr**.**


 * Bonus! How could you use Voki for ESL students? **
 * Go to [] or http://www.google.com/ig
 * Type/paste in text into translator box.
 * Selected to have it translated from English to Spanish (or language of choice).
 * Copy the translation.
 * Select the text option in Voki.
 * Paste the translation into the box in Voki
 * Selected a matching accent (e.g. Spanish) and voice (e.g.Isabella).

Here is my Voki speaking in Spanish! media type="custom" key="6336365" Think about the possibilities! media type="custom" key="7383547"