While at a conference in Hong Kong, I saw someone in the crowd whom I thought I recognized. But how could I know this person, I’d never been to Hong Kong before.
Suddenly I realized this person had been in my COETAIL online cohort. Here in front of me was a guy whom I’d had several conversations with online, but had only met for the first time.
We were able to recognize each other because both of us happen to use our real photos. Especially now that it is possible to meet online before you talk in person, knowing who you are talking to is critical. That profile picture, known as an avatar says a lot about you, and is the first impression you give when sending an email or creating a social media post. People want to put a face to a name. Let’s see how you can become a true digital citizen: learn how to create your avatar in Gmail and for the rest of the worldwide web with Gravatar.
Don’t Be the Invisible Man Online
Depending on the application, the little picture you have in social media or on your Gmail account is called an avatar or profile picture. Email is the first place for most to make first contact online and Gmail allows users to upload a profile picture that is attached to each email sent.
How to Create Your Avatar in Gmail
To change your profile picture in Gmail
- Click on the gear in the upper right hand corner
- Click on settings
- Scroll down to change picture
- Here you can upload your own picture and crop if necessary
How to Create Your Avatar for the Web
Gravatar is another tool for adding your profile picture to sites you use. Gravatar adds your picture to sites such as WordPress, DISCUS, and HootSuite.
To change your Gravatar
- Log into www.gravatar.com
- Click on My Gravatars
- Add or edit yours
Whether communicating with another teacher, a vendor, or a parent, it is best to put your face out there so people know with whom they are talking.
Recently on Share