Voki

=Voki = =[|http://www.voki.com] =

**What is it? **
===Voki is a free service that allows you to [|create]  personalized speaking avatars and use them on your blog, profile, and in email messages. (from Voki website) **What's it for? **=== Voki enables users to express themselves on the web in their own voice using a talking character. You can customize your Voki to look like you or take on the identity of lots of other types of characters… animals, monsters, anime etc. Your Voki can speak with your own voice which is added via microphone, upload, or phone. Voki lives on your blog, social network profile and will soon be integrated in various instant messaging platforms. You will also be able to download it to most video supported phones. (from Voki website)

There are endless ways to use Voki in the classroom. Voki can be used for any subject at every level. Some teachers use it to greet students in the morning, some use it to record students reciting poems – the list is endless. Voki can be used as far as your imagination will take it. For ideas on how educators around the world are using Voki, visit the Voki [|Lesson Plan database]  and the [|Teachers' Corner] . (from Voki website)
 * How have I used it? **

You do not need to download anything to get started. Just go to the website get started. You (or your students) will need microphone access to record the voice for the voki.
 * Technical Stuff **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">From any page, click " <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Create] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">" (top left). We made Voki extremely user friendly, so just follow the steps. Customize your character, give it a voice (make sure to save by clicking DONE), choose a background and a player, and click Publish! Be sure to register for your free account. If you have any questions, we encourage you to visit the <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Teachers' Corner] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Many Voki savvy educators will be happy to guide you through your first steps with us. (from Voki website)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #006600; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Getting Started & Tutorials **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Voki." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Voki Home// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://www.voki.com/voki_faq.php>.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #006600; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Citations﻿ **