COMMENT PLEASE…..

USING VOICETHREAD

April L. Tincher

Walnut Creek Middle School

Web Tools for Learning 2009

I think….

Voicethread Web Tools For

Learning

DURING THIS SESSION...

Introduction to Voicethread Examples of teacher and student

created threads Browsing the library on your own Setting up free educator accounts Walking through commenting and

making your own thread

Voicethread Web Tools For Learning

WHAT IS A VOICETHREAD?Voicethread is a web resource that allows

you to share media and have viewers interact with it.

Types of media included:PicturesPowerpoints Video

Voicethread has their own introductory video which we’ll take a brief look at: http://voicethread.com/#q.b409

WHY VOICETHREAD WORKS It gets all three of your types of

learners- visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

By it’s nature it is interactive, dynamic and fun!

All learners in your class get a chance to participate.

With all the options it gives you a lot of flexibility for how you choose to use it!

EXAMPLES WITH PICTURES

Using pictures is an easy way to get started. Depending on your subject content the way you use the picture could vary.

Ideas: Using a picture to provoke discussionUsing a picture w/comment to explain class

procedure: In and Out BinHaving students identify parts of an object

and what they do: A Typical Bacteria CellUsing a picture to have students explain their

understanding of a concept: How the Great Lakes Were Formed

EXAMPLES WITH VIDEO Demonstration purpose: Phases of the Moon

Think about how you could use something like this…..

You could upload video from teachertube or even discovery streaming

As a starting point for discussion. For example in Social Studies class: Inauguration 09

Student created videos about what they learned: Cells Video by Middle Schoolers Any other video created by students can be

uploaded!

GROUP COLLABORATIONWith student accounts you can have

groups collaborating about their learning.

Group Fossil Dig Project

GETTING STARTED Go to the site, and browse

around. You don’t need an account to just browse.

http://www.voicethread.com

To comment you must register for an account. This is also true for your students.

Student options for sign up:• personal email account• use a service like gaggle to get them a free email

account to sign up with…. • Or there is even a way to use one gmail account to

sign up all your students under your account!!!

LET’S SETUP AN ACCOUNT….

Sign up for a free account. This will allow you to be able to try out the commenting feature.

After you do the initial registration you will then go on to register for a free educator account (if you choose)

FREE EDUCATOR ACCOUNT As an educator you get 2 GB of free

space and unlimited threads.

This is a great way to try it out for a bit. Maybe even get started over the weekend! It is sooooo quick and easy to use.

PRICING…. HOW TO GET A FREE EDUCATOR ACCOUNT…..

Click apply here.

Once you click submit you will need to go to your email to confirm your upgrade and this message will appear. You are ready to go!

COMMENTING…. There are several ways to comment:

TypeRecord your voice with a microphoneRecord a comment with your webcam Use your phone to comment

(there is a tutorial for this under the about link)

Commenting is simple, you just click on the comment button and then choose the type of comment you want to make….

http://voicethread.com/#q.b21651.i122786

COMMENTING OPTIONS Through commenting you can:

Have students record comments of something you want them to respond to.

You can record comments to go along with each image or screen your viewers see.

Create a discussion forum by having students listen to others comments and respond…

CREATING A VOICETHREAD: STEP 1THE CREATE TAB My username and avatar

Choose the create tab.

CREATING A VOICETHREAD: STEP 2CHOOSING THE FILE TO USE

Click Upload and the box below will appear:

1. Browse to the file or enter a URL to upload from a website.

CREATING A VOICETHREAD FROM MEDIA SOURCES

When you click on each option you get more info about that option.

The New York Public Library includes access to over 700,000 images that have been digitized for free and open access use!!!! What an amazing resource.

CREATING A VOICETHREAD- STEP 2.5- ORGANIZING AND LABELING PHOTOS

Once you have all your images uploaded they will appear like this.

You can drag pictures

around to change their

order.For each image you can add a title and a link.

Add a title and description for this thread by clicking this link.

CREATING A VOICETHREAD: STEP 3RECORDING COMMENTSOnce yourpictures areuploaded thenyou can startrecording yourcomments.

If you want todo voice, justplug in amicrophone,or you can typeyour textCommentinstead.

When you click the comment button the options will appear

CREATING A VOICETHREAD: STEP 3RECORDING COMMENTS

Using the doodler:http://voicethread.com/#e733724

Once you are finished with your comment:Typed comments automatically save (if you

don’t like it click on your image which will show the comment and click the garbage can to delete)

If you recorded a comment when finished it will automatically play back. You can either click save or cancel.

CREATING A VOICETHREAD: STEP 3RECORDING COMMENTS CONT.

To record a comment for the next picture just click the big right arrow.

Repeat the process until finished.

CREATING A VOICETHREAD- STEP 4SETTING THE OPTIONS

This is this options toolbar. We’ll look at this next.

CREATING A VOICETHREAD- STEP 4SETTING THE OPTIONS CONT.

CREATING A VOICETHREAD- STEP 4 SETTING THE OPTIONS CONT.

PRIVACY OPTIONS

Moderating comments means that you have to approve them before they will show. This is good when you want to use the thread for assessment.

CREATING A VOICETHREAD- SHARING THE THREAD

Under My Contacts you can click add and type the email of someone you want to share the thread with.

You can get a link which will copy and allow you to paste to your website or blog.

Investigationand

Q and AYou can contact me at apriltincher@wlcsd.org or find me online