Using Bitmoji in the Classroom

First of all, for those who have never heard of Bitmoji it is an avatar you can create of yourself. Similar to an emoji you may be familiar with. People are using these adorable avatars to communicate everywhere! I have found bitmojis a fun and engaging way to excite my students and bring smiles to their faces during a lesson. Millions of people are using the app every single day and the numbers are steadily growing.

In order to get Bitmoji, you can download the app on your iPhone or Android. You may also install the add on using google chrome. It’s free and is simply one click away.

After adding the Bitmoji app to your google chrome task bar, you are ready to create your bitmoji. You can choose from different hair colors, to the shape of your nose and face to the color of your eyes. Personalize your bitmoji to look just like you!

There are so many different options you can choose to use to express your emotions. There are several categories such as most popular, most recently used, friendship, happiness, sadness or anger, or celebration. If there’s an emotion you have, odds are there’s a bitmoji that expresses it. Humans need more than just text to communicate with each other in the digital era. And people were searching for a digital identity that shows their best self to the world around them.

I use Bitmoji in many ways as a teacher, but always for the sole purpose of spreading happiness and laughter to my students and colleagues. Most recently, I posted exit slips on a Google Slide where I pasted a Bitmoji on each slide with a positive, motivational phrase to keep student morale high. They feel empowered and confident when answering their exit slips knowing, not only me, but my avatar is cheering them on.

I also send Bitmojis in emails to my colleagues. This simple action builds relationships between my colleagues and I. Being teacher is very strenuous and sometimes taking the extra 30 seconds to find a funny bitmoji to cheer up a friends day is worth it. Your Bitmoji avatar is your digital identity. We are moving into the future where the division between your life and your digital life is going out the window; they are merging together. And in our new world, your digital representation of yourself becomes increasingly important and your ability to represent yourself and express yourself and interact with people becomes more and more important.