Matthew Farber is a middle school social studies teacher in Denville, New Jersey and author of Gamify Your Classroom: A Field Guide to Game-Based Learning (Peter Lang Academic, 2015). He is Voki’s lead ambassador and an active member of the ed tech community at large. His impressive roles include co-host of Ed Got Game on the BAM! Radio Network, contributing blogger to Edutopia, and BrainPOP Certified Educator. Farber’s essay is the first in an installment of guest blog posts written by our ambassador team. It highlights the personalization Voki gives students in creating their assignments as well as Voki’s engaging and lasting learning effects.

I frequently use Web 2.0 educational technology tools to engage my middle school social studies students’ learning. I try to imbue lessons with student voice, which Voki literally helps me achieve. In the past I have created a likeness of myself on my class webpage to welcome incoming students. This has served to whet student desires to make their own avatars.

Because I teach social studies, designing talking avatars often means having historical figures virtually deliver famous speeches. Student-created Patrick Henrys proclaiming, “Give me liberty or give me death!” has occurred often throughout the years!

Once students are comfortable using the Voki interface, I ask the class how they envision its use in assignments. Through project-based learning, students get a chance to author, publish, and share their Voki stories online, for others. When implementing project-based learning in a classroom, it is fundamental to include students’ interests and passions. By bringing students in on the learning conversation, they then have a voice in the experience. It is especially moving to observe quiet and shy students “speak” using avatars as their communication tool.

Students are the best lesson co-designers. When I introduce content as a design challenge, I always ask how they would make it interesting to the intended audience. This often involves brainstorming, testing, and iterating on concepts. We brainstorm ideas that would motivate and engage student learning.

Case Law Cartoons

One design challenge was to highlight important Supreme Court rulings, as well as to create an engaging presentation for others to learn from.  Each case was selected due to the impact they have to student’s everyday lives today.  The project was wrapped in a narrative shell, in which students are consultants to a new Web series for kids, similar BrainPOP or Flocabulary.  Then they are told, “Your animation company has been hired to create a short cartoon to illustrate real-life examples of how the cases affect students.”

The unit’s learning goal is to predict how Supreme Court rulings can have an affect on their everyday lives.  For example, the case of Tinker v Des Moines, in which students were suspended for wearing armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War, was a landmark ruling of freedom of expression.  Students’ freedoms and rights do not end when they arrive at school.  Students first read through 10 different Supreme Court cases on the New York Times Upfront webpage. After they select one case, they complete a planning sheet summarizing the case.  Then students brainstorm ways their cartoon can illustrate a real-life situation (example: at school, in the mall) of how that ruling affects children today. It is especially moving to observe quiet and shy students “speak” using avatars as their communication tool.

This project met social studies curriculum standards, as well as Common Core Standards that pertain to evidence-based argumentation. Students were highly engaged in the process. They had choice to select the case that interested them, as well as the unique avatar to represent them. Also, they remembered the project months later. Try that with a worksheet!

I am thrilled that Voki just released its mobile version. Using it is similar to the experience of the website version; however, it takes advantage of the touchscreen interface. Simply tap and swipe to design an avatar. Then hit the record button to give it a voice. My students now create presentations on the fly. The Voki for Education app is yet another instance of how teachers and students are supported with a technology tool.

Best of all, the Voki for Education app is free. I also like the fact that there are social sharing features. Instead of classwork being posted on a bulletin board, it is even easier to publish online for a global audience.

Student example, about Tinker v DesMoines and its affect of freedom of expression: http://www.voki.com/site/pickup?scid=12242471&width=575&height=323&chsm=19dea2b9e93e31a9aa38396ee7ea5a06

Every great brand starts with an idea and builds on it day after day. And like other great brands, Voki follows suit to this tradition. Voki sprung out of a desire to bring technology into the classroom and help teachers participate in the “spirit of the times”—a zeitgeist steered by innovation. It recognized that no longer was education bound by paper and pen and print textbooks, but that it was a dynamic field where technology can expand students’ minds and hone their skills. Voki was among the pioneers in the ed tech landscape, and it is still on its journey to make learning, in plain, better.

[Insert dramatic pause.]

Okay, as much as that might have sounded like a manifesto on the marriage of education and technology and Voki’s role in the whole process, it’s ALL TRUE. And although we’re serious about how we’ve helped engineer this learning experience, injecting fun into the classroom is what we’re all about.  Those handouts are so last century, and we know that. We also know that the majority of teachers in this day and age view technology as an essential component of the classroom curriculum, touting its engagement capabilities as a leading benefit. And guess what? There’s a recurring theme in our teachers’ testimonials on why they value Voki—because it engages students.

But Voki is not patting itself on its back because of all this (okay, maybe a little). Just kidding. We know that to be a leading brand in the ed tech community, we have to continuously innovate. And to do that, we have to answer the big thinking question: how can we better meet teachers’ needs?

As you know, a happy teacher comes along with happy students—students who walk into a classroom and want to learn. We realized that in order to optimize the benefits of Voki products (and hence increase everyone’s satisfaction), we needed to assign more power to students in the learning/teaching equation. This recognition ushered in the first big change we decided to make—not only to offer the option to create a Voki for free, but also to offer the option to make a Voki presentation for free (limited to five slides) too. This gratis addition allows students to explore the capabilities of Voki Presenter on their own, transferring personalized learning into their hands. And since synergy is the name of the game, we also repackaged Voki subscriptions—now, all paid subscribers will have access to Voki Classroom and Voki Presenter. Structured into levels, this subscription model leaves no Voki feature behind. Those who sign up for Level 3 also hold the keys to Voki Teach, a vault of lesson content that makes lesson planning a little easier.

We understand that teachers’ needs and requirements change, so we also came up with a flexible payment model that allows for monthly and annual subscriptions. Trust us, this is a commitment free of regret.

Okay, so how are we doing so far? Hopefully, we’re getting it right, but just in case you weren’t convinced that Voki 2.0 has taken it to the next level, we’re going to match your doubts—we are now truly an integrated cloud-based solution. Let us repeat: “integrated cloud-based solution.” It might sound techy, but we’ll translate it for you: it makes things easier. Everything is stored on the cloud, which means playback of your Voki presentations will now be available on your mobile devices. So stretch your legs, and turn off your computer monitor. You’re a teacher on-the-go.

As much as we love these upgrades, we’re just as equally happy with the new look of our site. Sleeker design, more user-friendly navigation, compatible color scheme. We’re trailblazing these modern times with you, teachers, and we must admit—we look good.

So that’s all we’ve got for you right now. But we promise, we have much, much more coming your way. We hope you’re joining us for the ride because we’re going places.

XO,

Voki

Maybe if the IRS lexicon was a little bit more “vernacular,” with less loopholes and less lines, we might be able to tolerate the looming mid-April Tax Day that preoccupies our minds until we pen our signature on our last form in a series of daunting forms. But as it stands, most of us brace ourselves for a tax filing process during which even professional CPAs have questions. You’re not alone, and educators, you’re in luck. We know that more goes into the classroom than what meets the budget, but as caring as you are for thinking of your students’ needs, you deserve a (tax) break. Below is a cheat sheet of how to take advantage of what the IRS has to offer on your tax return:

 Don’t let those paid-out-of-pocket supplies go unaccounted for.  

 Here’s the deal. If you work at least 900 hours in an elementary or secondary school for grades Kindergarten through Grade 12 and hold a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aid position, you are eligible to deduct up to $250 of any unreimbursed expenses if filing individually. These expenses include “books, supplies, computer equipment (including related software and services), other equipment, and supplementary materials that you use in the classroom” (irs.gov).  For those teaching health or phys ed classes, the only supplies that qualify for this deduction are those related to athletics.

If you are married and filing jointly and both you and your spouse are educators, then the deductible limit is $500, but no more than $250 each. So if you incurred $300 in expenses and your spouse only incurred $150, then you can only deduct $400.

Remember, these expenses must have been incurred during the tax year, not the school calendar year.

Why is this a win for teachers?

 In short? These expenses are not itemized, or they’re considered “above-the-line deductions” and so are not limited due to higher income. This means there’s less adjustable gross income to tax and therefore you have to give away less money : )

What about my other expenses that exceed $250?

Don’t fret.  Your expenses likely tip the $250 scale, but the overflow can be claimed as unreimbursed employee expenses under “Miscellaneous Items.” Because these are line items, they must adhere to the 2% rule; in other words, you can only deduct an expense amount that exceeds more than 2% of your AGI. So if your AGI is $50,000 and your additional expenses are $2,000, you can only deduct $1,000 of that amount.

How Can I Account for Qualified Expenses At Eligible Educational Institutions?

 Most of us are forever students of our professions, and with the growing opportunities for qualified continuing ed courses both online and in-class, we’re saying good-bye to the one-and-done education paths.  Lucky for us learners though, like the out-of-pocket supplies addressed earlier, these tuition expenses are above-line-line deductions. That’s right. No 2% rule here, but you bet your AGI is reduced. There is, like all things, a limit, however. You may only deduct up to $4,000 in class fees, and if you’re in a higher income bracket (more than $65,000 if single and $130,000 married filing jointly), the cap is lower. The deduction is eliminated if your income exceeds $80,000 ($160,000 married filing jointly).

The Upshot 

 The good news is that Congress has finally made the paid-out-of-pocket tax break a permanent policy, so you don’t have to hold your breath come every tax season.  The continuing ed deduction is also in effect through at least the 2016 tax year, and is another reason to feel some solace through this whole process.

How Can Voki Help with Your Tax Break (and Classroom, Of Course)?

Okay, cue shameless plug-in. Voki is a great educational tool that introduces tech into the classroom, engages students, and gives students a hands-on approach to their own learning experience. And, guess what? It falls under that $250 above-the-line unreimbursed expenses. We’re just saying…

Good luck filing, and treat yourself once it’s through.

XO,

Voki

Hey Voki Community!

My name is Catherine, and I’d like to introduce myself to you all. I’m a new(ish) member of the Voki team, and I’ll be sharing content with you across our social media platforms. Since we’re in a relationship of sorts, I want to tell you a little bit about myself.

I’m a New York City resident, and you can say I’m in a love affair with where I live (I know, spoken from a true Gothamite). I am originally from the suburbs, though, so I can appreciate all things small town.

I’m a word person. I studied English in college and have written for two magazine publications. But I’m also a business buff and believe brands must continually work to bring value into their customers’ lives (here’s looking at you Voki subscribers).

I sat in the front row through my entire education career. No, I was not trying to get brownie points—I was just so interested in learning.

Fun fact: You’ll never catch me standing still on the dance floor.

…Hope this gives you a glimpse into my world! I look forward to our conversations together!

*Also, please let me know what content interests you the most—and I’ll try my best to provide it for you : )

XO,

Catherine

Irish or not, most of us get our green on come St. Paddy’s Day. We must say, it’s our favorite time of the year to savor a plate of corned beef and cabbage. And ’tis the holiday we board Oprah’s bread band wagon because we can’t stop noshing on the soda bread sort. But food deliciousness aside, this holiday celebrates a whole lot of Irish heritage, from leprechauns to lucky four-leaf clovers. To help with the festivities, here’s our own pot o’ goodies to make your St. Patrick’s Day a memorable one.

First, a greeting from our very own Chatty Leprechaun !

Here’s a writing hook for your students to reflect on why they’re lucky. Have them share their writing with classmates in small groups or as a whole group presentation.

And of course, there wouldn’t be a St. PaTRICKS day without some fun and games. Here are some activities for the kids.

Finally, we present St.Paddy’s Day-stamped recipes for you to get creative in the kitchen. We suggest the Spinach Pancakes (#7), the Chocolate Stout Cupcakes (#9), and the Watercress Soup with Whiskey Cream (#20).

Enjoy!

Cheers,

The Voki Team

The snow is melting—even though for some areas, that’s more figurative than not—and the awakening nods to spring are upon us: the air is refreshing and cool, while the sun is staying around a little longer each day. With the impending changing of seasons, we too emerge from our hibernating ways and experience a rebirth of sorts. So ditch the dark and dreary, and say hello to warmer weather with these 7 ways to get ready for spring in the classroom.

1.) Buy a plant.

It’s time to replace the pine with the bright hues of tulips (or whatever your choice of flowers may be). The winter is a largely bare botanical season, so celebrate the blossoming of new plant life with some pretty petals. Visual reminders like this on your windowsill or desk will exude cheeriness for you and your students to enjoy throughout the school day.

2.) Wear bright colors and prints.

Hang up the holiday sweaters, and relax on the monochromatic grays and blacks you’ve been buttoned in all winter. If fashion is any indicator of mood, then express some optimism with color. Go ahead, give bold prints a shot. Break out your very own spring collection, and faculty and students alike will respect the style star you are.

3.) Teach a spring poem.

Robert Frost is the lyrical king of nature-themed poems, but it’s a favorite topic of many a writer (carpe diem authors, anyone?). Depending on the grade level of your class, pick a poem that captures the elements of spring (whether it be rebirth or rainbows) and rhyme your way into the season. Poetry, especially the more sophisticated kind, is a perfect reflection of the physical and emotional changes that come about with the cyclical times of year.

4.) Play a spring song.

Music always boosts a celebration, so why not usher in the warmer months with some seasonal tunes? Like the poem selection, gauge your choice of ballad on the sophistication of the ears in your classroom—classical for the older crowd, and crowd pleasers for the younger (Hint: “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” never disappoints).

5.) Conduct a baseball-related activity.

Play ball! Well, maybe not exactly, but baseball time is approaching and there’s lots you can do with this in the classroom. One option is teaching the history of your city’s great baseball players. For example, New York schools can discuss Jackie Robinson and how the Dodgers helped shape the borough of Brooklyn. Or play a math game involving the different positions of the field and organize order-of-operations equations based on this to see how the ball will travel. It’ll be a homerun either way.

6.) Plan a lesson outside.

There’s something to be said about conducting a class outside. This mini adventure beyond the walls of your school building is sure to energize your students and can result in an invigorating lesson. Whether it be teaching the science of germination or discussing a Jane Austin novel, the fresh air will go a long way.

7.) Bring in a seasonal fruit or vegetable snack.

Who can say “no” to an unexpected snack surprise? Well, spring is the time to capitalize on fresh fruits and vegetables and educate your students on their nutritional value. Treat your students to a seasonal plant-based snack, and start a healthy eating trend.

Hope this helps, and Happy *almost* Spring : )

At last—the hands of the school year have struck break-o-clock, and it’s time to taste glorious freedom.  Put down the lesson planner and step away from the smart board.  This vacation, the curriculum is all about you.  Here are ten ways you can maximize YOU time when school’s out.

1.) Relish in a good read.

There’s a noticeable difference in reading for pleasure, and well, “other” reading—the kind that takes a little more brain power or has more of an objective to it, like teaching it to a class.  But here’s the opportunity to dive into a novel that can truly take you away, that can connect you to characters who are going through situations similar to the ones you’ve gone through.  Peruse the The New York Times “Book” section for best sellers and reviews or get lost in the shelves of your favorite book shop to discover your next page turner.

Tip: Check the bio of the author you’re considering reading. Many authors write about where they’re from, and identifying with familiar towns, cities, and haunts can really boost the reader experience!

2.) Spend time in the kitchen.

Tie your apron and put on your toque! Kitchen time can get crunched with busy work schedules, so here’s your chance to get creative with your dishes. Cater to your sweet tooth—it’s okay to indulge!, you’re on break—or impress someone with a Michelin star-worthy plate. Don’t worry if you’re not a seasoned chef—the Internet is flooding with recipes to help you through the process.

3.) Sign up for a workout class.

 Physical activity is yet another priority that can get kicked to the curb when our work lives get hectic. Exercise is not only important for our physical health but also for our mental health, so now’s the time to get back into the gym or the yoga studio or wherever you like to go to boost your body. Hop on a bike and spin the stress away or stretch out with poses that will leave your muscles and mind feeling relaxed. Class Pass is growing in popularity in major cities nationwide.  It allows you to choose a variety of classes at different fitness studios as part of your subscription plan.

4.) Go on a mini adventure.

 Adventure comes in all forms. Flying across continents has it’s time and place, but sometimes thrill is closer than you think. The open road awaits you, so grab the wheel and cruise to a new town or city and spend the day exploring. Shop, eat, take pictures. If you’re looking for more of an extended vacation, book a stay at a local inn.

 5.) Treat yourself.

 Everyone needs some R&R, so teachers, treat yourselves! Book that massage you’ve been dreaming about or that mani and pedi that’s long overdue. Been eyeing that same dress for weeks now? Maybe it’s time to let go of the guilt and make it yours. You deserve it.

6.) Try something new.

 Routine can get, well, boring.  Spice up the quotidian by dabbling in something different. Not a nature person? Go for a hike and take in the outdoors. Feeling like you’ve been missing out on your city’s culture? Sign up to listen to a lecture that appeals to you. Take a new route on your run. The possibilities are endless.

7.) Disconnect

 We all get a little hyper-connected sometimes, but many of us wish we didn’t. School break gives you the opportunity to loosen the reins on your digital duties. E-mails can wait.

8.) Be mindful.

 Tacking on to #7, practice mindfulness. Be present. Participate. Observe and describe with your senses. Do everything as if it’s your first time doing it, and exercise each role of your day as best you could.

9.) Meet up with friends.

 Been too swamped or just plain exhausted to see your friends? Well, time is on your side now so pencil in that coffee date you’ve been putting off. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, host a dinner party and catch up with the whole group.

10.) Get organized.

Okay, this one isn’t as fun, but just as necessary when you have down time. You will feel 100 times better if you finally tackle those projects that have been at the bottom of your laundry list. Toss the piles of magazines from 2007, change the bulbs that have been out for months, and face the mail that’s been slowly eating your desk space.

Hope this helps! Happy Break!