Voicethread1



Voicethread is a multi-media slide show site that allows people to show images, documents, and videos and it also gives people the opportunity to post comments about it. A person can upload PDF files, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Power Point, and even photos from [|Flikr] and [|Facebook]. After a person uploads a file they invite people to view the file by sending an invitation via e-mail. When the invitee opens their e-mail they will be directed to the page their friend sent them. From here they can comment about the picture or file. There are five ways to comment-using a microphone through the computer or through the telephone, typing a text, through an audio file, or through the use of a webcam. After they are done commenting they can hear or read other people’s comments.
 * Description**

Voicethread offers four [|packages] if you want to participate. There is a pro package with two options for purchase, the K-12 package with three options, the higher education package with three options, and the last package is the business package which has three options for buying. If you are a teacher, they offer free educator, pro educator, and a class subscription. The class subscription costs $60 for the whole year or for $10 a month. With this subscription you can create accounts for up to 100 students. Each student will have their own e-mail and password to have access to the Voicethreads. With this account they can participate in your lessons by commenting on them.


 * Impact on Teaching and Learning**

Voicethread promotes a collaborative environment for teaching and learning. There is a lot of teamwork and students need to use their critical thinking skills when engaged in Voicethread. Teachers can individualize instruction more and create a small group discussion. Unlike in the classroom sometimes some students get chosen a lot to answer a question and some hardly at all, students get to state their opinion. They get to hear other opinions and it helps them to get a deeper understanding of the concepts. They can understand it better by having to explain their thought process and by also listening back to what they said. Students also learn in a different ways from traditional ways. They will learn through dialogue, demonstration, and conversation. Voicethread is a great tool for educators because teachers can revisit past discussions with their students. Currently teachers talk with their students and there is no record of it, so when the teacher tries to reference it back to the students, they have forgotten. But with Voicethread you can show them the discussion and they will remember. Teachers can also use Voicethread as a discussion forum among other teachers. Teachers can ask questions to other colleagues, share links, and talk about projects they are doing.


 * Practical Applications**

People can use Voicethread to share photos with family and friends who are far away. Some examples of what you could share would be pictures of your new baby, your last vacation, or your graduation. People get to view the pictures as if they were actually there with you and they can also add comments. Voicethread can also be used in a class by showing a picture of a photograph of a historical figure that the class is studying. An example would be if the class is studying about George Washington. The teacher can have the class comment on some things that they remember about George Washington. The teacher can use it as a way to assess whether or not their lessons met the objectives they were trying to meet. For language arts teachers Voicethread could be used to do a book report. Each student can log onto their account and tell about their book. It could be like a Reading Rainbow kind of show where they tell what the story was about and give their recommendations. After the student records their book report then other students can view it and make comments after they too have enjoyed the book. After the whole class has made it there will be a whole collection of book reports to share.

Voicethread can also be used in doing read alouds. Teachers can posts their Voicethread about how to do a read aloud online for parents. Within this Voicethread would be some sample comprehension questions that they could ask their child while reading. It will give parents a tutorial about how to make their child a more fluent reader and a better reader at comprehension.

Voicethread is a great way to communicate with parents. With the class subscription, each class has their own website. Parents can view the website and see what kind of activities the class is doing, which could in turn lead to some conversations with their child about their work. Parents can ask their child about the topic they are learning and how they created their Voicethread. It will build awareness with the parents and students will feel excited about their learning.

Examples Voicethread tutorial media type="custom" key="4463685"

Twilight book review using Voicethread media type="custom" key="4463677"

This is an example of a Voicethread that you can make with pictures from the past. [|Archival Voicethread example]

This is an example of a third grade class using Voicethread with English as a second language students [|Grade 3 Voicethread example]

This next example comes from a 7th grade class and it focuses on teaching students Spanish. [|Grade 7 Voicethread example]

References

Horizon Report- This report talk about how Voicethread has been influential in teaching and learning. [|Horizon report]

This next reference is a audio file of a woman named Michelle Pacansky-Brock talking about how Voicethread has made a difference in her teaching. [|Interview]

The next reference is a blog written by Brenda Dyck. She gives some creative ideas about how teachers can use Voicethread in their class. [|Ideas for teaching]

External links

This is an external link about a sixth grade teacher named Bill Ferriter and his experiences with Voicethread. [|Voicethread article]

This as another article that tells how to use Voicethread and it also gives a description of the different things that Voicethread offers. [|Voicethread information]

Author Serena Muranaka, University of Hawaii, Master's of Educational Technology Student