Bitmoji
Bitmoji is an app that allows users to create your avatars to enhance presentations, and give visual feedback on assignments and online learning materials.
First Steps
Getting Started:
Tool Guide to Getting Started - This is an excellent walk through of exactly what you’ll see and do the first time you use this tool.
User Communities and Sites:
Instagram: #bitmoji classroom
Twitter: #bitmojiclassroom
Technical Specifications:
Bitmoji is often used with the social media app, Snapchat. Bitmoji can be downloaded as its own app or added as an extension to a browser in Chrome. There are different versions, but it is compatible in some fashion on:
Computer
Tablet
Smartphone
The extension makes it easy to drop your avatar into MS Powerpoint, Google Slides, Choice Board, website or use in an email. When you create a Bitmoji, you retain the copyright for your image and can use it on public facing media.
Next Steps (Advanced Tips)
There are two key instructional features of Bimoji:
Creating an avatar to represent students as an extension to presentations, assignments, and student feedback
Designing a virtual Bitmoji classroom in which an educator embeds classroom links and materials into a virtual learning space (typically made in Google slides) that includes their Bitmoji character.
Designing a Bitmoji classroom requires access and knowledge of the use of other digital learning tools. It also requires instructional design to define what the virtual learning environment will look like and how it will function.
Tutorial on making a Bitmoji classroom
See also our Choice Board Guide.
Instructional Design
Like a real classroom, a curated Bitmoji classroom is a diverse space. The classroom will reflect the teacher’s personality, their subject content, what are considered essentials to their course, and other personal style elements.
There is no best practice for creating a Bitmoji classroom, other than a clear vision and reason for creating one. If you are making a classroom to disseminate documents, make sure the links are functional and easy to use.
If you are making a classroom to deliver assignments, use another formative methods to make sure students are able to find what they are looking for.
General Guides to Classroom Use:
How to create a culturally responsive Bitmoji classroom
Elementary Lessons and Application:
Use Bitmoji to connect to early learners by setting norms and values, hosting an open house, or creating a classroom library.
Additional Examples and Applications:
See 15 beautiful Bitmoji classrooms and borrow some of their templates
Management
Student Management:
Make clear classroom policies on when it is okay to use the Bitmoji app or extension - you don’t want a class full of Snapchatting students.
Student Engagement:
Have students create their own Bitmojis to add in comments and assignments. Encourage students to modify and change their avatar seasonally or thematically.
Student Privacy and Security:
Common Sense Education Review for Bitmoji
Bitmoji does not have a privacy policy - it shares one with Snapchat. Tread carefully if asking students to create their own; check with your district’s policy on having students create accounts and only create your own account if you feel comfortable doing so.
Differentiation and Adaptation
Diverse Learners:
Bitmoji is a great way for students to express themselves online
Bitmoji is a great alternative for families who don’t want their child’s face on screen
Bitmoji is a great tool for students who have poor internet access but want to “show” themselves in class
Bitmoji is a “safe” extension - it does not/cannot read or access your keyboard
Additional Notes and Best Features:
Social media or online communities of support
Many YouTube videos about how to personalize or make your Bitmoji classroom cute
Add a Bitmoji extension to your Google Chrome so that you can add what is essentially a clip art version of you (an avatar) to slide decks and other instructonal materials. A personable, fun, totally optional way to bring a bit of the “physical you” to your digital interactions
You must create a Bitmoji or Snapchat account to use this design tool
Use the Chrome extension to add your avatar to anything you create.
Knowledge of Canva or another platform is useful for constructing an aesthetically pleasing Bitmoji classroom