VoiceThread: A Collaborative, Multimedia Slideshow



What is it?


VoiceThread is a highly engaging, collaborative tool. It’s main feature is the ability to comment on different slides that have pictures, videos, or documents on them. It’s very easy to create identities for each student so that they can leave their own comments on different slides. The best part about it is that you only need a link or the embed code to easily share with others and if your VoiceThread is public, anyone can add comments!

Video Tutorials


Below you’ll find three video tutorials. The first will show you how to sign up for a free educator account. The educator account will allow you to create up to 50 VoiceThreads or 250 MB of storage. The second video will teach about the MyVoice dashboard, how to create a VoiceThread, and how to use the comment feature. The last tutorial will show you how to create, change, and use different identities for your students.


Examples


The example below is a VoiceThread that I created with my class to share descriptive writing. Each student had to write a paragraph about an emotion or feeling but they couldn’t use the exact word. This forced them to try to describe what they felt to convey emotion.


After you’ve signed up for an account and have had an opportunity to play around with VoiceThread, come back here and add a comment to share either what you like about VoiceThread or how you plan to implement it in the classroom on the VT below!


Application in Class


VoiceThread has many great applications for the classroom. It can be used in every subject area from math to music. I’ve used it to have students practice inflection in speech. We’ve created a VoiceThread to share information about where we live. For math, you could have students create their own word problems and have other students comment with answers. You could share different art projects and have parents and students comment on one another’s work. You could have students do research projects on plants, animals, a continent, or country. They could find pictures and videos about their topic and then use a video or microphone comment to describe each slide. You could even collaborate with a class from another state or country by choosing a topic such as local weather and have different students share with comments. With VoiceThread, your possibilities are endless!

Resources and Links


  • Edublogs Teacher Challenge – VoiceThread
  • Cool Tools for Schools
  • Example of a VoiceThread – Happy Father’s Day (2KM and 2KJ Class Blog)
  • Example of a VoiceThread – Happy Birthday Mrs. Yollis (Mr. Avery’s Blog)
  • VoiceThread 4 Education Wiki

  • *What type of projects have you used VoiceThread for?*

    *If you’ve never used VoiceThread before, how do you envision using it in the classroom?*

    8 thoughts on “VoiceThread: A Collaborative, Multimedia Slideshow

    1. Hi Mr. Avery,

      I love VoiceThread. It’s such a simple tool, and the narration adds another dimension to the learning. When a student came and left responses for the class, it opened my eyes to the potential of collaboration. Quite honestly, before the student interacted with them by replying to the slides, I hadn’t thought of it as a Web2.0 tool. Here’s my example that I’m referencing.

      Kind regards,
      Tracy Watanabe

      • Hi Tracy,

        I agree. It’s definitely one of those tools that you can try out and then have mastered all within a day.

        I love the versatility of it. You can use it in so many different subject areas with so many different purposes.

        I love the VoiceThread you shared. It really shows how you’re able to use it with all age ranges.

        Thanks for your comment!

        Sincerely,
        Shawn

    2. Hi Shawn,

      Great work starting your own professional blog! You’ll enjoy the change from class blogging, although I know you’ll be starting that up tomorrow too!

      VoiceThread is a terrific tool and it’s one of the web 2.0 tools that I always mention to other teachers who are keen to expand their repertoire.

      We’ve used VoiceThread a number of times over the past couple of years and embedded them onto our blog. In fact, look out for a special post on the 2KM and 2KJ Blogtomorrow featuring VoiceThread!

      I look forward to following your posts on your new blog! 🙂

      Best wishes,
      Kelly

      • Hi Kelly,

        Thanks for visiting and thanks for the comment! I’ve added both yours and Kathleen’s blogs onto my blogroll.

        VoiceThread really is such a versatile tool. I love the fact that I can use it for so many different subjects in school but also be able to use it for something like Linda’s birthday. It’s perfect timing that you two just posted it on your blog! I’m going to add a resources and links section to each post so I’ll have to add your newest post!

        Thanks again!

        Sincerely,
        Shawn

    3. Hi, Mr. Avery,

      What a great post – and very handy for me.

      I recently created an educator account on VoiceThread, in anticipation of using it with my prep (5-6 year olds) class. I haven’t had the opportunity to try it out yet, but I’m hoping to incorporate it before the end of the current term (or early next term).

      With younger students, I would probably still use it for reflection on tasks (our school concert is coming up, so reflecting on the highlights of the night would be one possible topic), scanning in and reading their journal writing, recording share and learn sessions, etc. Ideally, I’d also like to use it to connect our classroom to others as well.

      Thanks,
      Stef Galvin

      • Hi Stefanie,

        I’m glad you’ll be trying out VoiceThread soon! The ability to have an educator account with extra storage space is such a nice benefit. I’m looking forward to using it in my own classroom this year.

        I think using it to reflect is a great idea! I know students would love something like that. I also feel that using it to give students a chance to read their own writing is such a great way to teach inflection in the voice.

        Maybe we can try to find a way this year to connect our classes through the use of VoiceThread. Let me know if you’d be interested!

        Regards,
        Shawn

    4. Pingback: Twitter Tuesday – Sept. 6th

    5. Pingback: Mr Lindsay » Blog Archive » Descriptive Writing

    Leave a Reply to Tracy Watanabe Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *