Character builder

The character builder lets children create their own chatbot character and then chat with it. They choose what kind of creature it is, for example a dragon, a robot, a fox or an alien, its gender, a few personality traits such as shy, curious or funny, and its job, such as baker, pilot or detective. The character introduces itself with a name that fits, a playful first message and a question to get the conversation going.

It is built for ages 7 to 13 and talks in simple, friendly language with a few emojis. The character keeps to conversations about friendship, learning and hobbies, avoids anything harmful or dangerous, and never asks for personal information. The language and difficulty follow the year group you choose.

Teachers use it for creative writing and storytelling, to practise reading and conversation in a second language, and to start a class discussion about how a character's traits shape the way it speaks and acts. Pupils can also create a character and write a story about it afterwards. Because the character always reacts to what the pupil writes, it works best as a starting point for the pupil's own imagination.