Hello Voki!

This post is about Voki, a free software designed to create and implement a speaking character to help introduce yourself, narrate a presentation, or any other use you can think of! I've seen plenty of these, but never knew they were this easy to access and create.These things usually give me the creeps, but the Voki characters were not so lifelike that they look like robots or androids. When I first clicked on the characters, there was a more Anime-style one that I was disappointed in not being able to locate once I started to create my own character.  I also found it amusing to try and spell my name differently to force proper pronunciation of it! I ended up having to hyphenate it to get the proper pronunciation-I was also searching for voices that did it justice too!  Hotard is a common Louisiana name and is pronounced with long vowels. After moving up to the Mid-Atlantic, I get Howard or Hot-tard. I should just start spelling it Autard, which is the French spelling it comes from. I just spent time with a friend of mine form Louisiana who have been living in Boston. I was devastated to find he had been pronouncing his very Frenchy name, Hebert as Hee-bert rather than A-bere to cut down on miscommunication. Fortunately, his wife urged him to take up the proper pronunciation again!

Here is my Voki avatar!

So, Voki has made me think about how different text and talking can be, or simple interpretations of text. The inflections and natural diction of the human voice is something that I don't think science has mastered. But, I also don't have an iPhone 4s with good ole Siri-yet.

Personally, I think I would use Voki. I am considering using this tool as an introduction to my online course. It is a cool icebreaker and can reach other learning types, such as auditory learners in an arena what is incredibly visually driven. 

The NETS T standards that could be associated with Voki would be:
1) Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.
2) Design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.

For me, Voki is first and foremost fun. It is a fun and easy way for students to be creative and have Free reign over their digital selves. Always wanted blond hair? Your avatar can be blond! Always wanted to be a robot, or a space alien? Voki can help! It give students creative free reign while enforcing a digital tool. Voki is so fun that students will forget they are learning valuable lessons in digital initiatives, creating an online presence, and introducing different ways to be heard and learn.  I spent a lot of time learning about different ways students can learn, and teachers often forget the auditory learners in an age of power point and digital lecture. With the advent of easy tools like Voki, teachers can take an easy step to reach out to the auditory group. I like the mystery example too. Throw in a Voki -voiced question in on a test! Make children narrate a story step by step through their avatars. The possibilities are endless and the great thing is that it is free and easy! Voki also helps develop digital-age learning experiences and help put a lot of control into the hands of the student. I've found that many students learn best by doing, and Voki is a great tool for that. By showing students how easy and fun Voki is, you are fostering the kind of initiative and fearlessness students need to develop in the fast-paced 21st century world of the cutting edge. Voki will help them keep pace and eventually pull ahead of the norm.