Richard D. Solomon's Blog on Mentoring Jewish Students and Teachers: Introduction to Picasso Head an avatar creation web tool

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Introduction to Picasso Head an avatar creation web tool

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 begin our discussion on how the avatar creation web tool, Picasso Head, can be used for Judaic instruction and the mentoring/teaching of pre-service and in-service 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 Picasso Head 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: Picasso Head can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.

Where is Picasso Head located on the internet?

http://www.picassohead.com/

Where can I find tutorials demonstrating how to use Picasso Head?

Click on the links below to find tutorials on using Picasso Head:

On the next blog post we will discuss how Picasso Head, an avatar creation web tool, can be used to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom.