PicLits, Scratch, and Voki all have educational potential. They’re very different from one another, but all could be used in the classroom to enhance material.
For instance, PicLits definitely sparks creativity. It hands you the picture and you can choose from a list of words or type in your own. You can be as specific or generic as you want. All of the pictures are clearly chosen to spark thought. I think this would be a great to tie in with a book or a vocabulary assignment.
Scratch was probably my least favorite. The games and everything were slightly confusing because they didn’t exactly have instructions. It is defintely broad and could be used for either personal enjoyment or educational gain. Students would probably enjoy this site more just because it’s really interactive and doesn’t really feel like your typical educational website.
Voki was cool because it immediately reminded me of all the things we’re warned against in school. Online teaching personas are just as important in today’s classroom as your physical self. I could see Voki being used in place of a picture. It’s far less personal. You do get to choose what the avatar looks like as well as record your own voice, so there is a little bit of room for creativity.
