Silvia d’ApolloniaDecember 12, 2008

AvatarAvatarA graphic identity you either select from a group of A graphic identity you either select from a group of

choices or create on your own to represent yourself to choices or create on your own to represent yourself to the other party in a chat, instant messaging or the other party in a chat, instant messaging or multiplayer gaming session. multiplayer gaming session.

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

natural human interactionnatural human interaction voice communicationvoice communication instant, communication using nuance of voiceinstant, communication using nuance of voice a face to the students and to the teacher a face to the students and to the teacher

They provide the They provide the humanhuman element to online teaching. element to online teaching.

First ContactFirst Contact At the International Conference of the At the International Conference of the

Learning SciencesLearning Sciences Sasha Barab from Indiana University, Sasha Barab from Indiana University,

in response to shooting at Columbine in response to shooting at Columbine High School, promoted socially High School, promoted socially responsive designresponsive design Both fun and educational,Both fun and educational, Based on both learning theories Based on both learning theories

and the entertainment industry,and the entertainment industry, Helps children construct identities Helps children construct identities

in which they are active agents, in which they are active agents, solving important personal, social, solving important personal, social, ethical, and environmental issues,ethical, and environmental issues,

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

Kids send Avatars to Kids send Avatars to explore and act in 6 explore and act in 6 different Worldsdifferent Worlds

STUDENTSTUDENT COMMENTS COMMENTS

Positive Self Talk !!!Positive Self Talk !!!

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

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

~ Thomas Jefferson~ Thomas Jefferson

Self Talk in two situationSelf Talk in two situationss

Possible Uses of AvatarsPossible Uses of Avatars

Teacher-DirectedTeacher-Directed To introduce courseTo introduce course To summarize classTo summarize class To describe assignmentTo describe assignment To provide individualized feedbackTo provide individualized feedback To ensure assessabilityTo ensure assessability

Student-DirectedStudent-Directed To introduce oneselfTo introduce oneself To practice language skillTo practice language skill To debate issueTo debate issue

Examples of Avitars in Examples of Avitars in EducationEducation

My Intentions Next My Intentions Next SemesterSemester

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

Students will be placed in 6-member teams.Students will be placed in 6-member teams. Each team member will create a personal identity Each team member will create a personal identity

which will be posted on team web page. These can be which will be posted on team web page. These can be changed at will and may show some interesting changed at will and may show some interesting “evolution”“evolution”

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

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

ExamplesExamples

Learning a second Learning a second languagelanguage

Social NetworksSocial Networks Communicating Communicating

vocally via web or vocally via web or emailemail

Constructing IdentitiesConstructing Identities

VokiVoki SitePalSitePal WeblinWeblin GizmozGizmoz IMVUIMVU MojiKanMojiKan

References and LinksReferences and Links

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

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