VoiceThread for Universal Design: Addressing the needs of diverse learners

VOICETHREAD FOR UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Addressing the needs of diverse learners

Who are we?

Dr. Jaimie HoffmanAssistant Professor of Clinical Education

University of Southern Californiajaimie.hoffman@usc.edu

@jaimieLhoffman

Dr. Jaime HannansAssistant Professor of Nursing

CSU Channel Islandsjaime.hannans@csuci.edu

@jaimehannans

AUDIENCE QUESTION

Please introduce yourself by typing your name, position,

institution and one interesting fact about you in the chat box.

“

What are we covering today?

AUDIENCE QUESTION

How much have you already used VoiceThread?

a. Neverb. A few times

c. Oftend. We are besties

PRINCIPLES OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN

http://www.udlcenter.org/

ACTIVE LEARNING CREDO

What I hear, I forget.What I hear and see, I remember a little.

What I hear, see, and ask questions about or discuss with someone else, I begin to understand.What I hear, see, discuss, and do, I acquire

knowledge and skill.What I teach to another, I master.

Mel Silberman (1996)

A tour of examplesIn what ways can students use

VoiceThread to demonstrate learning?

GAIN CONFIDENCE IN EARLY

INTRODUCTIONS

CREATE AND PRESENT AN ARGUMENT

INTEGRATE ARTS AND SCIENCES WITH VISUAL THINKING

STRATEGIES

“We do not learn from experience…

we learn from reflecting on experience.”

-John Dewey

REFLECT ON QUESTIONS

COLLABORATE WITH PEERS NEAR AND FAR

RESEARCH & PRESENT CONTENT

FINDING CURRENT DATA

ROLE PLAY

SHARE SNAPSHOT OF LEARNING FOR

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

ANALYZE PEER WORK

‘Cultural’ Group Presentations with Peer (Individual) Feedback

STORYTELLING Part 1

STORYTELLING Part 2

AUDIENCE QUESTION

Other ideas for demonstrating student learning?

Please type your answers in the chat box.

MOBILE IDEAS!

● Collect and share data from the field

● Record sample demonstrations of work (e.g. student teaching, speaking another language, etc.)

● Peer-feedback via text or media● Student-led sessions around

artifacts or current resources related to class

● Weekly check-in’s to facilitate engagement

AUDIENCE QUESTION

What ideas do you have for mobile use?

Please type your answers in the chat box.

THE REASON

Guidelines for useRecommendations based on our experiences so far

ASSIGNMENT BUILDER

● VT works off of percentage● Only works with LTI● Students must press submit button (see

next slide)

SETTING EXPECTATIONS

Approach from the context of a conversation - much like a class discussion.

Set clear, minimal expectations (e.g. # of posts, # of minutes, # of responses, etc.)

● Set two due dates… one for initial response, one for responses to peers.

● Require students to mention other students’ names

AUDIENCE QUESTION

Which best represents your thoughts on setting

expectations for discussion?a. set specific # of minimums

b. approach from context of conversationc. other (explain in chat box)

YOUR ROLE

● Determine your role in advance● Share this role with the students

AUDIENCE QUESTION

What is one word that you would use to describe the role

you might play when facilitating a VoiceThread?

Click on the link to the Google Form in the chat box to enter your word

http://tiny.cc/VTUD

The Debate

VideoVoice Text

AUDIENCE QUESTION

Which approach will you take?a. require video comments from the start

b. eventually require videoc. never require video

d. it depends (explain in chat box)

BenefitsWhat are the positives?

AUDIENCE QUESTION

Share one benefit of VoiceThread (type your

response in the chat box)

OUR THOUGHTS

HUMANIZESHumanizes asynchronous online discussion

REFLECTIONAllows for reflection

ACTIVE LEARNINGFacilitates active (and deeper) learning

OPEN-ENDED CONTRIBUTIONSAbility to solicit unstructured and open-ended contributions

ALL VOICES HEARDAllows for every student in the class to be heard

ASSESSABLE RECORDAssessable record of student engagement/interactions

EASE OF USEEasy to use, low barrier for entry

MOBILEVoiceThread has an Android and iOS app

DrawbacksWhat are the challenges?

AUDIENCE QUESTION

Share one drawback of VoiceThread (type your

response in the chat box)

OUR THOUGHTS

NOT THREADEDNo threaded discussion can make it difficult to follow conversation

NO LIKE BUTTONCan’t quickly acknowledge a contribution with like button

OPEN-ENDED CONTRIBUTIONSAbility to solicit unstructured and open-ended contributions means there is lots to listen to

MOBILE APPMobile app is not always reliable, but it is better

ASSIGNMENT BUILDEROnly available with LTI and “submit assignment” button is problematic

FREE ACCOUNT ● Includes:

○ unlimited voice commenting

○ ability to create 5 VoiceThreads

● Does not include the ability to create groups*

VOICETHREAD COST

HIGHER EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR LICENSE ($99 per year)● Includes:

○ unlimited voice commenting

○ unlimited VoiceThread creation

○ ability to create groups*

*Creating a group and sharing a VT with that group is the only way to create a secure environment for VT

● Support documents● Support contact● VoiceThread and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

workshop

● VoiceThread YouTube Channel

VOICETHREAD SUPPORT

THANKS!

Any questions?