//bySharayah Lynn Grattan
Bitmoji's are a fun addition to any virtual classroom. It allows you as a teacher to create an animated version of yourself that can move around the screen and interact with your classroom backdrop.
For the last couple of years, a lot of our education has had to switch to remote learning. Since this change has been initiated, there are some resources we can use as teachers to make this new method of learning as engaging and effective as possible for our students.
One way we can spice up our online classes is to hop on the bitmoji classroom bandwagon and use emoji images to lead discussions, share content, walk students through assignments and monitor classroom etiquette/participation.
By creating your own bitmoji classroom, remote learning can maintain personal touches and help you provide your students with engaging lessons via their computers.
This article will explain how you can create and use bitmoji avatar versions of yourself to walk your students through google slides, interactive links, and any methods of computer-based lessons.
How to Create Customizable Content
- First, you will need to create your own personal emoji. This can be done using the bitmoji app downloaded from their website.
- You can personalize your bitmoji using filter tools and accessories so it's a spot-on representation of yourself, or you can be creative and quirky and give your teaching avatar its own unique look.
- Now to transfer your bitmoji from your smartphone to your computer, you'll need to use a Chrome extension, and the link to do so is here.
- After you add the bitmoji extension to your computer, you will see the little icon at the top of your browser on the right-hand side. There you can access all the bitmojis you need to create your one-of-a-kind virtual classroom universe.
For the best results, you should use Google Chrome as your web browser since it is run by Google and works best with apps downloaded from Google Play. Also, many components of the digital learning platform classroom are owned by Google as well, such as Google Slides, Google Drive, and Google Meet.
- Once you have your bitmoji avatar created and ready to use, you can decorate your virtual classroom from scratch.
- For some classroom examples to get inspiration, check out this link!
- Now it is time to start creating your classroom setting. You can begin by opening up a new Google Slide and clicking on the tab that says background. Here you can click the option to upload a link, search for a background image you prefer by typing in "floor and wall background" in your search engine.
- Next, you can start personalizing your classroom walls with meaningful objects, images of books, a virtual bookshelf, and whatever else you think will inspire your students.
- You can do this by clicking on the insert tab in Google Slides and then under the image button there is an option to search the web.
- Tip: Type the word "Transparent" before anything you search so your images will not have any background and they can faze seamlessly into your virtual classroom.
- Tip: For more help and guidance regarding the placement and arrangement of classroom objects such as furniture, plants, and wall decoration, watch this useful video tutorial showing you how to design your bitmoji classroom.
- You can do this by clicking on the insert tab in Google Slides and then under the image button there is an option to search the web.
- After, it's time to make your virtual classroom interactive. You can do this by adding links to images, videos, and other clickable icons.
- To add an image from a video you've previously uploaded or created, you can screenshot the image, upload it onto your Google Slide, and size/crop it to fit into your virtual classroom whiteboard or projector screen.
- To add a link to a video image, you can go to insert and paste the link to the video over the image so when your students move their mouse over the image they can click on the link.
- You can prompt your students on what to do regarding images and where to find links by creating instructional slides before you switch to your animated image slide.
- Finally, once you have finished making your classroom slide exactly how you like it, you can copy the screen image and paste it into multiple slides so as you click through, the background will stay the same (also, the students cannot move or change any of the images/props) and you can switch the content, links, and any other images as you move through your lesson.
Once you have your bitmoji classroom ready, you can move your avatar around to prompt students on what to do next, click on links, share announcements, facilitate discussions, and basically everything necessary for a functioning and homey classroom experience.
Some ideas for slides are:
- Reminders
- Homework
- Video Links
- Links to Assignments
- Discussion Forums
- Google Forms
Once you have your bitmoji classroom ready, you can move your avatar around to prompt students on what to do next, click on links, share announcements, facilitate discussions, and basically everything necessary for a functioning and homey classroom experience.
