Academic avatars are getting more and more popular as the academic faculty becomes younger, more Internet savvy and avatar-ish. I'll also get my avatar asap!
"Delivering Performance Feedback to Teachers" is an interactive and conversation-based training simulation that lets principals practice giving feedback to virtual teacher (avatars). I think the game is beyond helpful due to the fact as school leaders, it's hard to give a neutral feedback to the teachers from time to time, which may deter the leaders from giving it at all.
Avatars can be used by classroom teachers when designing digital stories or delivering content. Avatars can represent a tour guide explaining travels along the Silk Road, or represent real life characters like Mark Twain giving a lecture on his home or Einstein introducing the solar system.
Avator tools are like the comic tools I have covered in an earlier post before, they both involve the use of images but in a funny and joyful way. Of course these tools can be used for a variety of educational purposes with our students in the classroom.