Voicethread creates online slideshows of images, which can include music and video. The main pointof Voicethread is not so much the immediate show of images themselves, but the commenting about each slide. Therefore, it is a collaborative/reflective type of presentation with interactive potential. Comments can be made as text, through an uploaded mp3 file, and/or directly recorded on the site itself. (There is a telephone option, but this only works within the US/Canada.) There is also the option to do a video comment as well - I haven't tried this, but it is possible.
Comments are generally public (for regular Voicethread) but through the $10/month subscription for class use the teacher is able to review the comments and approve them before they are posted onto the presentation. The subscription version also has good management features for organizing and finding student work.
SAMPLER
(On left) Works better if you open it full screen:
My G7 students created speeches about how to "save the world" from one problem. The concept was to then create image slides for each issue, have them record their speech, and then have the others record/type their comments.
However, it's unfinished - some slides don't have the speeches or comments (you'll have to forward to find them). We had microphone/connection issues, as Voicethread alternatively took against our Firefox browser and then our Safari browser. It is something to watch out for ...!
(On right)
My G6 students wrote "book blurbs" about a book they enjoyed over the semester. They sent me an image of their book's cover, and then had to go on to record their blurb.
Did this one the same time as the one above ... so, similar issues caused it to be shelved.
When the technology fails, there is the problem that the project fizzles. The students like things that can be done, seen, played around with, and reviewed within a relatively short time span.
(On left)
My G8 students did a project on things which inspired them.
This student had a brief but book-related inspiration!
(On right)
It may only be accessible to registered Voicethread users (regular, not edu subscription)
This is a real, collaborative Voicethread in action:
Educators talk about Voicethread and how they have used it in their classes.
Join the discussion!
GENERAL PLANNER
a) Consider TOPIC and FOCUS (presentation, discussion, reflection, forum ...?)
b) Select images and/or create these
c) Create or logon to Voicethread (if you are doing a classroom set, be prepared to create an account for each kid. It is fairly quick and painless) This also involves getting a unique "viewable" name for each student, and they like to upload or find images for their avatar
d) Upload images - organize the order -
e) Add comments: author usually goes first. Microphone or built-in microphone is needed (or built in videocamera). This can take a day or two, depending on your access to computers, etc.
f) Review the thread together & enjoy.
g) I believe you can download Voicethreads; it may be for-pay ... Haven't done this myself.
**Disclaimer: Where possible examples of our student work have been included and reasonable attempts to contact the creators of the presentations and documents included here have been made, for permission, when items have not been made available to the public at large. This wiki is a collaborative synthesis of available resources for educational purposes.**
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