Introduction
VoiceThread is an online platform that allows you to put digital media such as images, videos, and documents at the center of an asynchronous conversation. VoiceThread allows people to contribute to discussions using a keyboard, microphone, webcam, telephone, or uploaded audio file. VoiceThreads can be graded or ungraded depending on the use case.
Explanation
Uses:
- Deliver a recorded online lecture that features slides with audio. Students can ask questions or comment on the content (asynchronously) throughout the presentation, via microphone or text.
- Foster community within an online course by having students introduce themselves to one another by creating an original VoiceThread with images of themselves or of things or places they connect with.
- Create opportunities for students to have a discussion that takes place around a digital artifact or series of digital artifacts, such as an image, a video, a piece of text, and so on. You could also do this with a discussion forum, but VoiceThread allows for the media to be at the center of the discussion, and permits audio in addition to text discussion.
- Provide a space for students to deliver a group presentation by uploading their slide deck ahead of time and commenting with their audio. It also give students the ability to practice public speaking.
- Share an image and have students mark it up and comment on it.
Examples:
See the following for more information on Creating a VoiceThread in Your Blackboard Course.
Note: VoiceThread is configured to be used from within Blackboard. Faculty will need to login into Blackboard and go to a specific course and create a VoiceThread. A group is automatically created for all students registered for the course and students can access all VoiceThreads shared by their instructor and other students in the course. Faculty and students can also access VoiceThread from the Web and via an iPad VoiceThread App.