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VoiceThreads: Extending the Classroom with Interactive Multim...

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Saved by 78 people (-3 private), first by anonymouse user on 2008-04-16


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media albums

Highlighted by mcturner

media albums

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Multi

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media albums

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o when he discovered he could engage his kids online in a collaborative, multimedia slide show called a VoiceThread, he decided to see if he could use it to, as he puts it, "steal some of their online minutes."

"The answer was a resounding yes," says the teacher at Salem Middle School, in Salem, North Carolina.

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discovered he could engage his kids online in a collaborative, multimedia slide show called a VoiceThread,

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VoiceThreads might best be described as interactive media albums.

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They are essentially online slide shows of images, documents, or videos that enable viewers to comment on any slide (or at any point in the video) by typing, recording an audio or video comment, or drawing on the image itself.

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VoiceThreads might best be described as interactive media albums.

Highlighted by clairehertz

They are essentially online slide shows of images, documents, or videos that enable viewers to comment on any slide (or at any point in the video) by typing, recording an audio or video comment, or drawing on the image itself. Teachers have been early adopters of the easy-to-learn technology, which has led the company to launch Ed.VoiceThread.com, a secure site just for educators and their students, says VoiceThreads cofounder Ben Papell.

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Bill Ferriter knew his sixth-grade language arts and social studies students spent time online outside of class, surfing the Web and instant messaging. So when he discovered he could engage his kids online in a collaborative, multimedia slide show called a VoiceThread, he decided to see if he could use it to, as he puts it, "steal some of their online minutes."

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Teachers have been early adopters of the easy-to-learn technology, which has led the company to launch Ed.VoiceThread.com, a secure site just for educators and their students, says VoiceThreads cofounder Ben Papell.

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students

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"steal some of their online minutes."

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steal some of their online minutes

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Bill Ferriter knew his sixth-grade language arts and social studies students spent time online outside of class, surfing the Web and instant messaging.

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"steal some of their online minutes."

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In his inaugural attempt using the application, Ferriter posted VoiceThreads about a variety of topics online, encouraging students to comment on them voluntarily on their own time. He got dozens -- even hundreds -- of comments on each. It was a revelation. "I can basically extend my classroom," he says.

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collaborative, multimedia slide show called a VoiceThread,

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"steal some of their online minutes."

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They are essentially online slide shows of images, documents, or videos that enable viewers to comment on any slide (or at any point in the video) by typing, recording an audio or video comment, or drawing on the image itself

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described as interactive media albums

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VoiceThreads

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oiceThreads

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enable viewers to comment on any slide (or at any point in the video) by typing, recording an audio or video comment, or drawing on the image itself.

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resounding yes

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easy-to-learn technology

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Ed.VoiceThread.com, a secure site just for educators and their students, says VoiceThreads cofounder Ben Papell.

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launch Ed.VoiceThread.com, a secure site just for educators and their students,

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Each small box displays the chosen icon of a student (say, Big Bird or Homer Simpson) and represents a comment by that student.

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a temporary drawing appears superimposed on the main image

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Ferriter says more students participate more actively in digital discussions than in the classroom. "You don't have to be the loud one or the popular one," he points out.

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Ferriter says more students participate more actively in digital discussions than in the classroom. "You don't have to be the loud one or the popular one," he points out. When he asked his students about their online involvement, he said they cited the sense of safety: "They can think about their comments beforehand." They also liked the fact that any VoiceThread has multiple conversations going on at once. "In a classroom conversation, there's generally one strand of conversation going at any one time, and if you're bored by that particular strand, you're completely disengaged," says Ferriter.

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Ferriter says more students participate more actively in digital discussions than in the classroom. "You don't have to be the loud one or the popular one," he points out. When he asked his students about their online involvement, he said they cited the sense of safety: "They can think about their comments beforehand."

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posted cartoons about civil conflict in Darfur

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the students' comments evolved into a thoughtful discussion of values and international intervention.

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"I mean if we went to Darfur to try and stop the genocide wouldn't the Janjaweed think we want to go to war. then our troops would have to leave Iraq and go to Darfur," responded another, "but more importantly haven't enough people died in the genocide we really don't need anymore people to die."

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All VoiceThread participation is voluntary for Ferriter's students, but he links the topics to their classroom studies. Ferriter introduced VoiceThreads with lessons on how to comment effectively and thoughtfully, emphasizing what he calls "collaborative conversation."

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sense of safety

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more students participate more actively in digital discussions than in the classroom

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Ferriter introduced VoiceThreads with lessons on how to comment effectively and thoughtfully, emphasizing what he calls "collaborative conversation."

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VoiceThread has multiple conversations going on at once. "In a classroom conversation, there's generally one strand of conversation going at any one time, and if you're bored by that particular strand, you're completely disengaged,"

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writing

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more students participate more actively in digital discussions than in the classroom

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The teacher exploits the students' enthusiasm by pushing them to engage in free writing, an activity he thinks is too often overlooked.

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more students participate more actively in digital discussions than in the classroom.

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on 2009-10-14 by aliceshrader

I have students who are so timid that they are willing to forego a grade on an oral activity. With this component, they can still participate without the stress.

on 2009-10-14 by ehinson

Reminds me of the country song where the guy changes his whole identity when he "fires up his mac ..... says he's 6ft. 2 and looks darn good". Everyone gains a little convidence once they're online and don't mind speaking up/out.

more students participate more actively in digital discussions than in the classroom.

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on 2009-06-06 by quirkytech

It seems much easier to participate in discussions online - this may be one instance when f2f doesn't benefit us.

on 2009-10-11 by cossmith73

I agree. I myself find it easier to join in when I do not feel put on the spot. It's like having a small group of just you and the computer.

VoiceThread has multiple conversations going on at once. "In a classroom conversation, there's generally one strand of conversation going at any one time, and if you're bored by that particular strand, you're completely disengaged,"

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on 2009-06-06 by quirkytech

Interesting point - so learners engaged with a VT may make entirely different connections than other learners so the multiple conversations let them consider the presentation from different points of view

on 2009-08-15 by plugusin

This is definitely one of the real strengths of online conversations: Participants aren't trapped into strands of conversation that are unmotivating to them. You can self-select the threads of conversation that are engaging to you and spend your time monitoring and responding to that thread. Is this an aspect of digital learning that appeals to you? Why?

on 2009-09-19 by kerriedwards

This also is more what they are used to in their lives. They text and chat constantly to many people at once. This is what they are used to and why many of them are tuning out in the classroom.

on 2009-10-14 by ehinson

Makes classroom discussions seem a little primitive doesn't it??? I'm not much into tweeting/facebook/online sharing yet. I guess I am too cautious. Just a few years ago weren't we all cautious about myspace, online chats, etc.??? However this opens my eyes to the possibilities of student participation and I see how it could engage students that might ohterwise be too shy to speak out. But still I wonder, where has our caution gone? Have we "thrown caution to the wind?"

on 2009-10-15 by tommoncrief

This is the key to many of the 2.0 technologies. Information is not uni-directional anylonger--it is omni-directional!!!

on 2009-10-18 by janderson138

I like what tommoncrief said in his post, "omni-directional"---there are no boundaries!

For educators new to VoiceThread, it's a good idea to experiment a bit before starting with students. VoiceThread offers free educator accounts on its public site. Teachers can begin there, commenting on others' threads and creating their own practice threads.

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Ferriter introduced VoiceThreads with lessons on how to comment effectively and thoughtfully, emphasizing what he calls "collaborative conversation."

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on 2009-06-06 by quirkytech

I like this term "collaborative conversation".

on 2009-08-15 by plugusin

Thanks, Diane---it's definitely a style of conversation that seems to be disappearing in America, huh? Instead, we see competitive dialogue everywhere---and while competitive dialogue has its place (being persuasive isn't a bad thing), successful participation in the workplace is going to require collaborative dialogue too. Does this make sense?

on 2009-10-14 by aliceshrader

I like the ability to give immediate feedback!

f you're in the classroom and don't have either, y

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The technology is particularly accessible because viewers can comment using just about any technology -- including a good old landline. "We've tried to make it fairly universal in access," says Ben Papell. "If you don't have a microphone on your computer, you can use a telephone to comment. If you're in the classroom and don't have either, you can use text if you need to, or webcam commenting."

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"We've tried to make it fairly universal in access," says Ben Papell. "If you don't have a microphone on your computer, you can use a telephone to comment. If you're in the classroom and don't have either, you can use text if you need to, or webcam commenting."

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"Take it slow -- don't upload 600 images and try to get fifty people to comment on each and every one," he says. "One of the great things is that it will take off on its own."

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"If you don't have a microphone on your computer, you can use a telephone to comment.

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it's a good idea to experiment a bit before starting with students. VoiceThread offers free educator accounts on its public site.

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"Take it slow -- don't upload 600 images and try to get fifty people to comment on each and every one," he says. "One of the great things is that it will take off on its own."

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The educator site costs money

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"Take it slow -- don't upload 600 images and try to get fifty people to comment on each and every one," he says.

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When a teacher is ready, he or she can use a free account to create VoiceThreads

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on 2009-06-06 by quirkytech

We'll have the accounts set up for the teachers and will teach them how to use it. But we'll begin with what's important about VT for the LEARNER - what "brain rules" or brain research supports the use of this tool with students?