Avatars and Teaching?

Who would have ever thought that an avatar could be a teaching technique? I surely didn't; however today, we learned how to create avatars. The sub suggested a couple of different ways that avatars could be used in teaching. First, he showed us a tutoring type of scenario. This could be used in practice for student teachers with how students would react without using real students. Also, the sub suggested that new areas could be created and a teacher could make a place like Jamestown and teach history by using the avatar. The avatars could also be used while doing class plays. They could act out the play on the computer rather than the actual student being in front of the class. I don't think this is a way that I would teach unless I could get all the kinks out. (This class took a while to get all the avatars working and some didn't work at all.) I think that it is something that would engage students in the lesson. So, if it were to have fewer problems, I could see myself using it in the classroom.

Surveys

Today, we got to create our own surveys on google docs. To take my survey, you can go to

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDJobS1RLWRRT2NabGxOcWg3c1BDdEE6MA

So far, I have had a few take the survey, and I have greatly enjoyed their answers. This would be an excellent resource to use in the classroom for quizes because you can see what each individual answer is. This could also be a fun way to get to know the class a little better at the beginning of school by asking them things that they like to do in class, for fun, or anything else.

Excel and Polling

Today we listened to 2 more presentations (I was in one so technically, I only listened to 1 presentation). Then we struggled through learning how to make a gradebook on excel, but it finally worked. Thank goodness for trial and error. ;) We also learned about doing texting polls online. This way an anonymous voting can be done. The website is polleverywhere.com It's really cool! (I think it would be a neat way to have people guess for missions or such.