Tech Talk: Bitmoji

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Turning yourself into an avatar may not seem like it has anything to do with teaching, but it‘s one more tool educators are using to help communicate and connect with Other Ideas their students. • Ask students to create their create bitmojis of fictional How to create your Avatar own Bitmoji and use it as a profile photo online for • or historical characters. Use Bitmojis to Download the app called Bitmoji. It’s free and you will instantly become a cartoon emoji. You have the option to pick everything from your skin tone, face shape, even your eyebrows and hairstyle and body shape. You even choose your clothes (there are some great options!) Once you’ve built your avatar, Bitmoji creates different scenes and sayings your avatar can portray. These images can be sent through text message or social media, or you can save them and add them to documents/assignments/presentations. By adding a Bitmoji Chrome extension, you can easily add your • any websites you use in class—this keeps students’ identity protected. Studying a certain time in history, or reading a book with interesting characters? Create an assignment where students work together to • • communicate feelings and key words with those students who may struggle to express themselves. Ask students to summarize, using Bitmojis to write their own story or comic. Create classroom signs or handouts. Bitmoji to your Gmail or Slack.

Fun ways to use Bitmoji

Highlight Something Important

Instead of using a big red arrow to point to an idea or key issue use a Bitmoji. It’s colorful and will get your students’ attention for sure!

Celebrate Success

Bitmojis are the scratch and sniff stickers of the 80’s and 90’s. Your avatar can be turned into a variety of fun and interesting ways to help your students know how you feel about their work.

Open a Discussion

Post this image (there are other discussion ones too) to encourage students to have an open discussion on a topic. It’s fun and may help those who are less likely to share participate.