Oct 21 2008
Using Avatars for pupils
Today I am using Cyber Cafe to teach a P6 class more about internet security. We will be looking at how to keep ourselves safe from anyone who has malintent in anyway. I want to encourage the pupils to use the internet without fear and without identifying themselves by givng away too much information. Earlier I tried to see if there were any good sites where the pupils could build themselves a suitable avatar to use when posting. I found one called doppelme which seems safe and I include my avatar for your amusement.
I was wondering if anyone has used avatars for pupils in school instead of using either their real image or none at all. Not using any seems a bit boring and as long as the pupils are not identified it adds a bit when you read their work or see their efforts on-line. After attending a course by Ollie Bray on internet safety I have become much more mindful but want to temper it with the pupils having the ability ,through the use of an avatar, to personalise their presentations. I supppose that if they choose a (suitable!) psuedonym to fit their avatar that should be OK. Or, has Ollie made me paranoid and just use pictures instead?
