VoiceThread



=What is VoiceThread? =

VoiceThread is a website that allows users to create slideshows as well as comment on presentations using audio recordings with a microphone, calling the website to leave a recording, writing text comments, uploading an audio file, or uploading a video file. It provides an extremely easy way for people to hold asynchronous discussions all around the world. Users can share VoiceThreads with other users to create a broader group for collaboration. VoiceThread takes only minutes to sign up and the navigation is very user friendly- I actually didn’t need any instruction on how to use the site after joining! VoiceThread gives users the ability to export the thread to MP3 players and even has a free iPhone app shown below. (VoiceThread, 2012)



=media type="youtube" key="yW2nb7FO7p8" height="315" width="560" align="right" = =How can VoiceThread be used in a classroom? =

VoiceThread has a digital library of project ideas for teachers to use from K-12 and higher education across multiple content areas. Teachers can use the pre-made project ideas or create their own asynchronous discussion using the site. VoiceThread is similar to Skype in the Classroom because students can connect with other students across the world without any cost to the school district. The main difference is that VoiceThread provides a platform for asynchronous discussions whereas Skype is composed of synchronous discussions. To the right is a video on VoiceThread in the classroom. It is designed for Penn State students and faculty but really explains VoiceThread well and how it can be used in a classroom. (Psutlt, 2011)

=Advantages & Disadvantages =

Advantages
 * Free for individual accounts (not for the educational version)
 * Free iPhone app
 * Very easy to use
 * Provides a way for asynchronous discussions
 * Multiple ways for students to participate in discussions
 * Teachers can easily view individual student contributions

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Disadvantages
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Students cannot make presentations together on VoiceThread
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Not necessarily a secure environment for young children
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">VoiceThread has an educational version that is secure but is not free for individual educators or for multiple licenses for a school district

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> = =<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">How can teachers hold individual students accountable? =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Teachers can easily see student contributions to a discussion and can grade on the content and frequency of participation. Teachers can also view the presentations but cannot see which students completed each part of a presentation because users cannot work collaboratively on a presentation using VoiceThread. For K-12, it may be best for teachers to upload the initial presentation and then grade student responses or reflections to the presentation. Or, teachers could use one of the pre-made projects on VoiceThread but will have to pay for the educational subscription.

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Navigation =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Check out the next collaborative tool, Wiki Spaces.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Chapter 4 Introduction || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Bubbl.us || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Collaborize Classroom  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">CrocoDoc  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Edmodo  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Google Documents  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">KidBlog  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Skype  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">VoiceThread  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">WikiSpaces  || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Chapter 4 Conclusions ||

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">References =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Deubelbeiss, D. (2009, November 7). //VoiceThread Logo//. Retrieved January 28, 2012, from EFL Classroom 2.0: http://community.eflclassroom.com/profiles/blogs/using-voicethread-with-your

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">//Open clip art// (2011). Thumbs [picture]. Retrieved from Open clip art, @http://openclipart.org/

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Psutlt. (2011, September 8). //VoiceThread - Simply Speaking .// Retrieved March 18, 2012, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW2nb7FO7p8

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">VoiceThread. (2012, January 25). //VoiceThread iPhone App.// Retrieved March 18, 2012, from iTunes Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voicethread/id465159110?ls=1&mt=8