Using Vokis as a tool for visual learners

A Voki is simply a talking voice character. These animated characters or avatars enable users to express themselves on a computer with a voice but as 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, cartoon characters etc. There are also all sorts of different backgrounds and voices for every occasion!

You can even have your Voki speak with your own voice by adding your voice with a microphone, upload, or by phone.


Teachers are discovering some of the unique roles these speaking avatars can play in education particularly for those children that learn in a more visual way.

A Voki can add a more "human" element to a lesson and even introduce a "team teaching" dimension to the classroom. It is especially useful for those of us who may not be all that great with video taping or vodcasting.

Teachers can use a voki avatar to introduce an idea, topic or lesson. It can also be used to aid in instructing those who need reinforcement of an idea or repetition of instructions . A Voki is also a great way to get shy students involved or to share comments with students in other countries.

Drama - making literature accessible to all

Take a look at room 14's fantastic rendition of  Act 4, Scene 1 from Shakespeare's Macbeth:- http://muritairoom14.blogspot.com/2010/08/macbeth.html, I'm sure you will recognise it!
Well done room 14 and Mrs Allen, what a great way to make poetry and reading out loud accessible and enjoyable for all!

Sound of the Week - "er"

This week in The Learning Den we have been looking at the "er" spelling pattern. We looked at three different ways to make the sound.

 Then we made models of words using plasticine to help us remember which sound pattern to use. Can you read the words and pick out what spelling pattern is making the "er" sound? Have a go at word modeling at home, it's great fun!

Letters are Everywhere! The Alphabet in September

With a pencil in our hand we can let our imagination run wild but who'd have thought that you could do this? (click on the picture to make it bigger)

All of these alphabet letters have been carved out of the lead points of these pencils...amazing!  
Thanks to the parent reader of The Learning Den blog who sent these images in.
Look at these fantastic lead sculptures too:-

These incredible sculptures are by an artist called Dalton Ghetti and you can see some more of his work here:-     http://koikoikoi.com/2010/08/micro-sculptures-by-dalton-ghetti/