Are web 2 apps educational?

   

PRESS PLAY ABOVE!

There are many web 2 apps being used in education today to help children have fun while learning. I have been exploring VOKI. Voki is a web 2 app where you can create an avatar and then add a voice to it.

Creating an avatar:

• make an animal/monster/anime/3d avatar
• upload a photo of yourself

Adding a voice:

• Choose an accent/language/sound effect
• Record a message

Ok so this sounds like a lot of fun but how can it be used in an educational way you ask?

Most children get bored when the teacher reads aloud and they have to copy it down but by adding a different voice/ sound effect may make a difference.

By using this web 2 app the teacher can put up a 3d image of themselves or an avatar and put their voice to it. They can then record a message and just press play. They can make things more fun by adding sound effects to the voice. The children can get involved and make their own.

I think this would be a brilliant, exciting way for children to learn in a Primary School but I don't think older children would listen to a talking cartoon head.