Silvia d’Apollonia December 12, 2008

Avatar A graphic identity you either select from a group of choices or create on your own to represent yourself to the other party in a chat, instant messaging or multiplayer gaming session. An avatar is a caricature, not a realistic photo and can be a simple image or a bizarre fantasy figure. They provide natural human interaction voice communication instant, communication using nuance of voice a face to the students and to the teacher They provide the human element to online teaching.

A graphic identity you either select from a group of choices or create on your own to represent yourself to the other party in a chat, instant messaging or multiplayer gaming session.

An avatar is a caricature, not a realistic photo and can be a simple image or a bizarre fantasy figure. They provide

natural human interaction

voice communication

instant, communication using nuance of voice

a face to the students and to the teacher

They provide the human element to online teaching.

First Contact At the International Conference of the Learning Sciences Sasha Barab from Indiana University, in response to shooting at Columbine High School, promoted socially responsive design Both fun and educational, Based on both learning theories and the entertainment industry, Helps children construct identities in which they are active agents, solving important personal, social, ethical, and environmental issues, Creates a 3-D Simulated World in which personally created identities act.

At the International Conference of the Learning Sciences

Sasha Barab from Indiana University, in response to shooting at Columbine High School, promoted socially responsive design

Both fun and educational,

Based on both learning theories and the entertainment industry,

Helps children construct identities in which they are active agents, solving important personal, social, ethical, and environmental issues,

Creates a 3-D Simulated World in which personally created identities act.

Kids send Avatars to explore and act in 6 different Worlds

STUDENT COMMENTS

Positive Self Talk !!! Dr. Na'ilah Nasir is an assistant professor at Stanford University's School of Education who draws on socio-cultural theory to explore the relation between learning, development, and culture. Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Dr. Na'ilah Nasir is an assistant professor at Stanford University's School of Education who draws on socio-cultural theory to explore the relation between learning, development, and culture.

Self Talk in two situations

Possible Uses of Avatars Teacher-Directed To introduce course To summarize class To describe assignment To provide individualized feedback To ensure assessability Student-Directed To introduce oneself To practice language skill To debate issue

Teacher-Directed

To introduce course

To summarize class

To describe assignment

To provide individualized feedback

To ensure assessability

Student-Directed

To introduce oneself

To practice language skill

To debate issue

Examples of Avitars in Education

My Intentions Next Semester I will use an avatar to introduce some guiding questions for each class . Students will be placed in 6-member teams. Each team member will create a personal identity which will be posted on team web page. These can be changed at will and may show some interesting “evolution” Team members will take turns, summarizing a topic, by sending a messenger to the team compound with the summary. Each team will create a Champion. Each team will participate in four debates, of their choice.

I will use an avatar to introduce some guiding questions for each class .

Students will be placed in 6-member teams.

Each team member will create a personal identity which will be posted on team web page. These can be changed at will and may show some interesting “evolution”

Team members will take turns, summarizing a topic, by sending a messenger to the team compound with the summary.

Each team will create a Champion. Each team will participate in four debates, of their choice.

Examples Learning a second language Social Networks Communicating vocally via web or email

Learning a second language

Social Networks

Communicating vocally via web or email

Constructing Identities Voki SitePal Weblin Gizmoz IMVU MojiKan

Voki

SitePal

Weblin

Gizmoz

IMVU

MojiKan

References and Links http://inkido.indiana.edu/research/onlinemanu/papers/QA_ETRD.pdf http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=104 Nasir, N. (under review). "Average and Percent on the Court: The Mathematics of African- American Middle and High School Basketball Players." Submitted to Cognition and Instruction . http://web.mit.edu/sturkle/www/

http://inkido.indiana.edu/research/onlinemanu/papers/QA_ETRD.pdf

http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=104

Nasir, N. (under review). "Average and Percent on the Court: The Mathematics of African- American Middle and High School Basketball Players." Submitted to Cognition and Instruction .

http://web.mit.edu/sturkle/www/