This document discusses using VoiceThread to build community, reinforce instructor presence, provide opportunities for small group collaboration, and increase learning engagement. It provides examples of using VoiceThread for student presentations, searching for presentations on course topics, and instructor-created presentations for class discussion. Tips are given on uploading materials, making presentations available, embedding presentations, considering FERPA, and ensuring accessibility.

1. Do you want to . . .
Build community?
Reinforce instructor presence?
Provide opportunity for small-group
collaboration?
Increase learning engagement?
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2. Conversations
in the Cloud:
VoiceThread
Carla Bradley
bradleyc@otc.edu
https://twitter.com/carlabradley1

3. Online Course Development
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4. Online Course Delivery
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5. What Is VoiceThread?
• “Tools for Conversations around media”
• Media aggregator that creates Flash-
based animation with original artifact and
commentary
• Developed at University of North Carolina
Educause: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7050.pdf
VoiceThread:
http://voicethread.com/support/resources/publications/highered/
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6. Explore 3 Uses
1. Presentation search in subject area
2. Student presentations
3. Instructor-created presentations for class
discussion
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7. Search for Presentations
Search for presentations in subject area:
https://voicethread.com/#q
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8. Comments
1. Typed
2. Voice (mic , 3 minutes via phone , or
audio file )
3. Webcam
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9. Student Presentations
• Clear instructions
• Examples
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10. Share Student Examples
• Get permission
• Share a variety
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11. Instructor-created Presentations
• Instructions
• Scoring criteria for participation
• Uses (science, language, digital
storytelling, music, art, online
lecture, tutoring)
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12. Michelle Pacansky-Brock
• Visual literacy
• Online community
• Instructor presence
– Voice- 94% strongly agreed that hearing voice
increased sense of instructor/facilitator
presence in learning experience (vs. text-only)
– Video- 98%
Michelle Pacansky-Brock http://voicethread.com/?#q.b908650.i4836718
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13. Uploading
• PDF
• 4:3 aspect ratio and 1024x768 or larger
• Settings- public vs. private
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14. Making Available
• Groups:
http://voicethread.com/media/misc/Higher
EdProfessorQuickStartGuide.pdf
• Sharing (making available):
http://voicethread.com/media/misc/sharing
_voicethreads.pdf
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15. How to Embed?
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16. FERPA
• Be aware of student privacy
• Remove student comments if using from
one course copy to another.
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17. Accessibility
• Section 508
• Dyslexia and ADHD
http://voicethread.com/about/features/accessibility/
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18. Important Reminder
• Availability and Share options (check
settings)
• Publishing options, link, embed
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