Voki

=Voki=
 * @http://www.voki.com

=What is Voki?=
 * Voki is a free service that enables teachers and students to express themselves on the Web in their own voice, using a talking character. Anyone can customize their Voki to resemble them or look like many types of characters, such as people, animals, historical figures, and many more. A Voki can speak using your own voice, an uploaded file, or by typing in a message (called text-to-speech). Your Vokis can be posted on your class blog, website, or anywhere online.

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=What do I need to know about Voki before using it with my students?=
 * Voki is a free service, but with ads. Voki will remain free to use, for all educators and students.
 * Currently, Voki scenes that you embed are also ad-free!
 * Extremely easy to use and teach. Can be used with primary students.
 * Several ways to create voices for Voki, including audio recording and text-to-speech.
 * Students over 13 may create their own account. Students under 13 must share teacher account.
 * Good teacher support area including lesson plans.

= = =Required Technical Skill and Equipment=
 * === Equipment ===
 * Computers with Internet Access
 * Audio recording equipment and headphones if utilizing record functions
 * === Technical Skill ===
 * Basic computer and Internet Navigation Skills
 * Basic keyboarding skills if utilizing text-to-speech functions
 * Advanced skill -- embedding Voki into Blog or other Website

=How can I use Voki as an assessment device?=
 * Since Voki recordings are limited to 90 seconds they make a great vehicle for presenting short summaries. Summarization is a skill that many students need practice and by utilizing Voki, they must boil information down to the very essential.

=Student Examples=
 * Biography Summaries

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