The upcoming academic year is going to look quite different from a typical school year where many teachers will be teaching virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to establish a small sense of normalcy for their students and add some fun to the teaching-learning process, several teachers are using the virtual bitmoji classroom. They are creatively decorating their classrooms with clickable elements that redirect students to the needed content.
Are you a teacher willing to create your own classroom and looking for ideas of what to include in it? Have a look at the below bitmoji classroom ideas beautifully created and developed by e-Tech Kits. Also, if you don’t know how to get started, check out a step-by-step tutorial hereor get a customized one here.
Bitmoji Classroom invaded the education community as several schools switched to distance learning to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers across the globe are spending time creatively developing theirs!
When embedded successfully in the school’s LMS, students will definitely love this rich classroom environment containing an avatar playing the teacher’s role. They will also enjoy the interactive elements allowing them to click through to see assignments, documents, videos, and websites.
Now it’s your turn to create a virual classroom to enhance your distance learning experience!
Download the bitmoji microsoft teams template here.
How to Create a Bitmoji Classroom in Microsoft Teams?
1. Design your avatar on Bitmoji
Download the Bitmoji app from the App Store or Play Store and create your Bitmoji by selecting physical features like hair, mouth, eye color, and an outfit. When you finish creating your character, you can cast it in a huge array of activities, such as reading, singing, or even eating.
A tutorial video by Elisabeth Peacock
2. Add the Bitmoji extension to Google Chrome
Download the Bitmoji Google Chrome extension, which allows you to choose an activity for your Bitmoji (reading, laughing, saying “hello”) to copy and paste into the PowerPoint document containing your virtual classroom.
A tutorial video by Elisabeth Peacock
3. Create a Bitmoji Classroom in Microsoft PowerPoint
Follow the steps mentioned in the tutorial video below to create a virtual classroom and decorate it. Choose the needed material from the resources below and then add the interactive elements that allow your students to click through to see assignments, documents, videos, and websites.
– Giant Bitmoji Library for Sharing:
– Everything to Build your Own Room:
A tutorial video by Elisabeth Peacock
4. Embed the Virtual Classroom in Microsoft Teams
Follow the steps mentioned in the tutorial video below to embed your virtual classroom in Microsoft Teams.
To fight the spread of COVID-19 and maintain healthy social distancing, schools have temporarily closed and quickly transitioned from on-campus to online learning. In line with this, Unesco shared 8 useful live-video platforms for distance learning.
Below is a list of the most used live-video platforms for distance learning!
Dingtalk
Dingtalkis a communication platform that supports video conferencing, task and calendar management, attendance tracking, and instant messaging.
Lark
Larkis a collaboration suite of interconnected tools that includes chat, calendar, creation and cloud storage, in Japanese, Korean, Italian and English.
Google Meet
Google Meetis a video call platform integrated with other Google’s G-Suite tools.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams contains chat, meetings, calls, and collaboration features integrated with Microsoft Office software.
Skype
Skypehas video and audio calls, chat, and collaboration features.
WeCom
WeComis a messaging, content sharing, and video/audio-conferencing tool with the possibility of including max. 300 participants, available in English and Chinese.
WhatsApp
WhatsAppis a mobile application with video and audio calls, messaging, and content sharing.
Zoom
Zoomis a cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, several schools & universities turned to online exam tools to manage their distance exams.
Respondus Lockdown Browser is a specially designed web browser for taking online exams. It prevents students from copying, pasting, taking screen captures, using instant messaging programs, accessing other applications, or accessing other websites (unless configured to allow access to specified external sites).
How Does Respondus LockDown Browser Work?
Assessments are displayed full-screen and cannot be minimized
Browser menu and toolbar options are removed, except for Back, Forward, Refresh and Stop
Prevents access to other applications including messaging, screen-sharing, virtual machines, and remote desktops
Printing and screen capture functions are disabled
Copying and pasting anything to or from an assessment is prevented
Right-click menu options, function keys, keyboard shortcuts, and task switching are disabled
An assessment cannot be exited until the student submits it for grading
Assessments that are set up for use with LockDown Browser cannot be accessed with other browsers
How to Host a Free Virtual Graduation Ceremony with Microsoft Teams?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students will, unfortunately, miss out on the chance to celebrate their accomplishments with a traditional graduation ceremony this year. However, a virtual graduation can still go ahead with Microsoft Teams.
From early May through July 1st, holders of a Microsoft Office 365 A1, which is free for educational institutions, will have the ability to host online live graduation with up to 20,000 attendees. A pre-recorded graduation and a celebration with “photos & videos” are also available.
Host a free virtual graduation ceremony with Microsoft Teams here:
How to Create a Virtual Graduation with Microsoft Teams Live Event?
As concerns around COVID-19 pandemic grew, several schools turned to Learning Management Systems (LMS) to manage their distance learning. Below is a list, shared by UNESCO, of the most used Learning Management Systems for distance learning around the world.
List of Learning Management Systems for Distance Learning
CenturyTech – addresses gaps in knowledge through personal learning pathways with micro-lessons while challenging students and promoting long-term memory retention.
ClassDojo – connects teachers with students and parents to build classroom communities.
Edmodo – manages classrooms and engages students remotely, through offering tools and resources backed with a variety of languages.
Edraak – offers online education with material and resources for school learners and teachers in Arabic.
EkStep– provides an open learning platform with a collection of learning resources to support literacy and numeracy.
Google Classroom – helps classes connect remotely, communicate, and stay organized.
Moodle– serves a community-driven and globally supported open learning platform.
Nafham– hosts an Arabic language online learning platform with educational video lessons that correspond with Egyptian and Syrian curricula.
Paper Airplanes – matches individuals with personal tutors for 12-16-week sessions conducted via video conferencing platforms.
Schoology– equips teachers with tools for instruction, learning, grading, collaboration, and assessment.
Seesaw– enables the creation of collaborative and sharable digital learning portfolios and learning resources.
Skooler– turns Microsoft Office suite into an education platform.