When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe
and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and
demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical)
and virtual (i.e. online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The
combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online
learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will
describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction
and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post
we will discuss how the avatar creation web tool , DroppelMe, can be use to promote Judaic instruction
and to mentor/train Jewish educators.
What is a computer
avatar?
A computer avatar is a
graphic image or file that represents the person using the computer. Click here
to connect to a blogpost that elaborates on the definition of a computer
avatar.
In a previous blog post
we shared how avatars can be used to promote instruction in the blended
learning classroom. Click here to connect to that blog post.
Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has an interactive white board (i.e. SMART
Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a
computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD
projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access
to their own laptop computers or Ipads. Given parental and school
approval, and the development of specific guidelines, smartphones can be used
to enhance instruction as well.
Note: Although DroppelMe can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning
classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service
Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that
Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of
practice, a CoP, a group of people who share an interest, a craft,
and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of instruction and training of
Jewish educators. For example, here is a CoP you
might want to join.
Note: DroppelMe can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.
Where is DroppelMe located on the internet?
How DroppelMe, an avatar creation web tool, can be
used to promote Judaic instruction and to mentor/train Jewish educators
Below you will find an
avatar I made that I might use with my Judaic Studies students and those Jewish
pre-service and in-service teachers I mentor and train:
Below you will find two links showing how I made the avatar that appears above:
On the
next blog post we will explore another avatar creation web tool, Picasso Head.
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