From a relatively unknown technology invented in 2014, Bitmoji quickly grew in popularity among educators when they had to work with students exclusively online during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Bitmoji offered teachers a way to make online classrooms more engaging for students.
Teachers use the technology to create a Bitmoji avatar that serves as a digital teacher in a virtual classroom. The image-based digital app allows educators to create interactive classrooms that boost student engagement, a critical factor in successful online learning.
Pandemic-related closures and the transition to online learning resulted in teachers discovering new ways to enhance the digital learning experience. Using Bitmoji in the classroom “is one of the best of those ways.” according to Tech Learning.
What is Bitmoji?
Bitmoji is the term used to describe personalized emoji avatars that look like the person who created them (if they so choose) and can express various emotions and sentiments in digital environments. When creating their own Bitmoji, students can customize them with different facial features, hairstyles, clothing and accessories.
In the past few years, Bitmoji has become increasingly popular on social media and in texting, meaning many students are already familiar with the technology. Using Bitmoji in the classroom adds a personal touch to communication, something teachers found valuable during the height of the pandemic. Its popularity continues in online courses and digital classrooms.
What Is a Bitmoji Classroom?
A Bitmoji classroom is an online, virtual classroom that uses Bitmoji avatars for students (and often the teacher) in an environment that includes classroom-related graphics and images.
Teachers create the virtual classroom using Bitmoji graphics. These graphic elements can include desks, bookshelves, posters and other items related to the subject students are learning. A Bitmoji classroom incorporates interactive elements such as resource links, embedded videos and images. Students navigate the digital classroom by clicking on objects and links that lead to assignments or learning materials.
Benefits of Using Bitmoji in the Classroom
By creating a Bitmoji classroom, teachers can make their online learning environment much more interactive and engaging for students. The Bitmoji classroom also serves a practical purpose, providing one location for students to access everything from assignments and quizzes to educational YouTube videos.
- Personalization. Teachers and students can create a welcoming and familiar environment for an online classroom by creating individual avatars that represent themselves.
- Interactive. Bitmoji classrooms engage students by offering them links to various multimedia elements, supporting their active learning.
- Visually appealing. Many online classes have little visual appeal and can feel sterile. By creating a Bitmoji classroom with exciting designs and clickable assets, teachers can create a much more fun learning environment.
- Gamification. Teachers can use a Bitmoji classroom to create gamified elements for their courses, allowing students to earn trophies or digital badges for completing assignments. Research shows that gamification in the classroom can increase student motivation.
As with other creative endeavors, creating a Bitmoji and navigating a Bitmoji classroom are simply fun to do. That alone can keep students more engaged and even excited about learning.
How Can Teachers Learn to Create a Bitmoji Classroom?
Fresno Pacific University offers hundreds of online courses and certificate programs that allow teachers to expand their skills and earn professional development credit.
The Creating a Bitmoji Classroom course allows teachers to learn how to use the Google Slides application to create a personalized online classroom through the use of creative digital graphics. This includes linking animations, quizzes, GIFs, videos, libraries and bulletin boards to online resources, making the classroom more informative and engaging.
Teachers who complete the course can apply the three credits earned toward a Classroom Technology Integration Certificate. Other courses in the certificate program focus on educational applications for technology like Google Drive, Twitter, cloud computing, Pinterest, Google Earth and Google Maps, and more.