Voklog - An innovative Literacy Project

                                                                    Students Voki

Thinking about using a Voki for the literacy project did not make sense to me at first. I was not sure how a talking avatar could help with the continued development of literacy skills for students. I then began to think of what other tools I could use for the project. I went right to the obvious, a blog. A blog allows students to write about what they have learned, and apply their understanding through words. I began to pursue this route only to realize that verbal content plays an important role in how students are able to process the information they have learned. The avatar was a connection to the creativity students could have toward developing a verbal understanding of their comprehension of the topic. The Voki and blog allowed the students to convey through technology their learning. Thus the Voklog was born. (The name Voklog actually was created by the students because I kept trying to say Voki blog and would stumble over them.)

This project turned out to be fun for all of us. For me it was a pleasure to experience the level of engagement the students had toward the assignment. It also was a rewarding moment for me when I read their blogs and heard their Vokis and got the understanding that they “got it.” Also the whole process required minimal work on my part.

The students expressed verbally their enjoyment of the project on several occasions. But as a bystander, the students did not have to because it was evident that they were engaged by their actions. The students would come into class and immediately sit down at the computers and get to work on the assignment. I did not have to encourage them at all. And that was with every single student in the class.

The results of the literacy project proved once again to me that technology can play a key part in the continued development of literacy skills. The Voki allowed students to hear their organization, use of words and the clarity of conveying what they want to say. The blog allowed them to enhance their written words. Students evaluated each other’s work which guided students toward an understanding of their own writing, aided in the development of their peers writing, and created collaboration for the whole project in general.

                                                                     Student Voki

Again I see the benefits of incorporating technology into the learning and look forward to using this literacy lesson for my future classes.

What is your reaction toward a Voki being used as a literacy skill? Would you or do you use Vokis in your class? What technology tools do you use for your students to develop literacy skills? Have you used a blog? Why or why not have you used a blog in your curriculum?