VOICE+THREAD

 Description ** [|VoiceThread]   is an online  [|multimedia]  slide show tool that can hold essentially any type of media (images, documents, audio and video). VoiceThread is different from other presentation tools in that it is a collaborative tool that allows you to have dialogue with others, while remaining in complete control over who can see what you present. A key element of VoiceThread is that it allows for direct publication onto the [|World Wide Web]     and be asynchronously viewed and edited by you or others at virtually anytime, anywhere. The creator of a VoiceThread can tell his/her story, present a lecture or class, develop and present digital storybooks, facilitate a class or general discussion and be able to share them with anyone they wish. It allows asynchronous group conversations to be collected and shared in one place, from anywhere in the world with friends, students, and colleagues for them to record comments too. Conversations, dialogue and comments can done in 5 different ways using voice (with a microphone), phone commenting, text, audio file, or video (via a webcam)..  The technology is particularly accessible because viewers can comment using just about any technology -- including a good old landline. It is universal in access, if you don't have a microphone on your computer, you can use a telephone to comment. If you're in the classroom and don't have either, you can use text if you need to, or even webcam commenting. The comments are in the form of a back and forth conversation (”voice threads”) around the images. The participants or visitors are ordered in a strip along the left and right hand sides of the slides making VoiceThread’s group format different from other audio competitors. Compared to visual competitors on the market, VoiceThread’s advantage is its simpler interface. You grasp it immediately. It is easy to learn the basics of VoiceThread. Tutorials on the [|VoiceThread site] help newbies get started or explain more advanced features such as video doodling, pausing a video and drawing on the frozen image like a sportscaster commenting on a play. Other features include the use of multiple identities and pick which comments are shown through moderation. VoiceThread’s can even be embedding on web sites and exported to MP3 players or DVDs as archival movies. The key component is that this can all be done with no software to install.
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**Features of VoiceThread ** VoiceThread allows collaboration and expression with 5 innovative ways to comment. It can collect the voices of an entire group on a single page by computer microphone, telephone, text, audio file, and webcam. You do need to download any special software as voice and video commenting takes place right in your web browser . **
 * ** 5 ways to Comment **

Doodling  **     A neat feature is the Doodling tool, you can draw on top of the media as you record your comment (using a mic, webcam, or keyboard). VoiceThread's innovative Video Doodling feature allows you to control the playback of a video, while Doodling and commenting on specific video segments. Teachers will find this very useful especially for drawing attention to points in their presentations that want to point out. VoiceThread Doodles are synced to your comment, showing viewers your thoughts in action.  || ** Media ** VoiceThread supports more than a dozen standard file and image formats. Whether it's family home videos, business presentations, or vacation photos, VoiceThread's got you covered. VoiceThread supports PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (including the new Office 2007 format), images, and videos. Store your photos someplace else? VoiceThread even imports photos from [|Flickr], [|Facebook] , or from the web  **Embedding **  VoiceThread makes embedding easy, allowing you to add interactive group discussions to any website. Simply copy and paste the embed code to your web site and let the conversations begin. Whether it's feedback, critique, or group story-telling, collect it how, when, and where you want. For example the VoiceThreads posted at the bottom of this wiki entry. || The exporting and sharing features allow you to download an archival widescreen movie that is an exact replica of a VoiceThread, including all media, comments, and Doodles. You can then play these movies offline, store them on your computer, burn them to a DVD, or download to a video-enabled MP3 player or even your mobile phone. However you need to register and pay for a subscription that allows this feature to be activated. It is not available on the free version. ||  **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">Moderation ** VoiceThread's Comment Moderation allows the creator to pick which comments are shown to everyone else. The creator can easily choose the best 5 comments out of a selection of a 100 and fine turn the presentation so it meets the objectives set. This feature is particularly useful for on line instruction where it enables the instructor to be in control of the class and exercise classroom management. || One VoiceThread account can have many identities (commenting avatars) associated with it. A family, a class, or an interesting person can switch identities on-the-fly without having to sign in with a different account. The different subscriptions determine the number of identities that a member can have. || **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">Sharing ** VoiceThreads security comes in many forms, from private to public, and anywhere in between. Simple security settings allow creators to choose what the VoiceThread viewers can do. You are in control over adding, updateing, and removeing these settings as often as you like. || **__ONLINE VOICETHREAD TUTORIALS__**
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=== <span style="FONT-SIZE: 120%; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 120%; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">Practical Applications ** in Education   ===

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There are various practical applications of VoiceThread in the Education feild. **Higher Education applications**:

As an educational tool, whether it's distance learning or online forums, VoiceThread provides an avenure for instructors to produce high quality, educational multimedia presentations. U sing a single tool to host secure conversations around almost any type of media, whether it's videos, documents, images, or presentations students can voice their discussions and collaborate with their colleges and instructors, respond to lectures and receive feedback all at the same time. In doing so presenting course materials within a rich, online environment that fosters a warmer and more engaging dialogue around ideas and concepts.A great advantage of using VoiceThread is that although the commentary is recorded, the presentation is continously broadcast live on the Internet.
 * K-12 Education applications: **

The [|K-12 Subscription] that VoiceThread offers is called [|Ed.VoiceThread] and it is a web-based communications network restricted to K-12 students and educators. Simple, powerful and safe, Ed.VoiceThread has many practical applications in the classroom. It is a place for creating and collaborating on digital stories and documentaries, practicing and documenting language skills, exploring geography and culture, solving math problems, or simply finding and honoring student voices. [|Click here] to watch an overview or you can download the K-12 brochure [|here]. For Example: Digital Storytelling at all levels <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri"> Digital storytelling is a pedagogically sound activity for learners at all levels in all content areas. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri"> VoiceThread is simple, focusing on still digital images or video and recorded audio narration. The great thing about this is that it allows for celebrating the students own voice as they can publish their own work/ <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri"> stories and have them immediately web-accessible via a link or HTML code which can be embedded on another webpage. For the instructor, one great feature is that  <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri">  VoiceThread permits Moderated feedback, so teachers can control text and audio feedback to their students’ shared digital stories. Students participate in Ed.VoiceThread only after being added by an educator or administrator with an Ed.VoiceThread class or school subscription. Students are added via the online Administration Tool, one-by-one or by importing contact files. All VoiceThread’s are private by default and creators can easily control who can view, edit and comment on content. Within this private state, educators can collaborate with students, students with each other, and entire classes with other classes around the world. The act of publishing content, that can be seen by anyone anywhere, reinforces the idea that student work is unique, valuable, and worthy of the world's attention.

Other Subscriptions that VoiceThread Offers are: · [|Higher Ed Manager subscription and] · [|Custom School Integration] · [|Business Solutions - Business Manager and Enterprise Solutions] · [|VoiceThread Pro]

**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 120%; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">Examples & Demonstrations **


 * YouTube Video describing the interface of VoiceThread **

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 * Below is a Tutorial on how to make presentations using VoiceThread

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 * Example of using VoiceThread in Education

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**VoiceThread http://voicethread.com/ YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XGpdy7c8DQ Wikispaces - Grazing for Digital natives http://jdorman.wikispaces.com/Voicethread Ed.VoiceThread.com http://ed.voicethread.com/
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"> References

=**External Links**= Moving at the Speed of Creativitvity – Wesley Fryer Weblog http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/09/05/instructionally-investing-in-voicethread/ Webware http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9699117-2.html TechLearning Blog http://www.techlearning.com/blog/2008/07/assistive_technology_goes_main.php EduTopia http://www.edutopia.org/voicethread-interactive-multimedia-albums Downloadsquad http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/12/18/voicethread-oral-tradition-goes-web-2-0/

**About the Author** Evelyn Pusal, Graduate Student - Masters Education Technology, College of Education, University of Hawaii