Create an Avatar

In this activity students create an avatar for themselves and submit it online. They can start from scratch using Illustrator or Photoshop, or you can provide images that students can piece together like Mr. Potatohead. I use avatar generator sites, since in my class this is usually done on the first day and I have no idea of their skill levels. This activity works toward several goals I get to see how quickly the students can learn something newI learn a little about them from the choices they make in constructing the avatarThe artifact gives me something to talk about with the student right away on the first dayThe students learn how to submit work in our learning management system without the pressure of a gradeThe idea of privacy is introduced and students learn that I respect their decisions on anonymity