VoiceThread+Extends+the+Classroom+with+Interactive+Multimedia+Albums

By: Donna Leach

http://www.edutopia.org/voicethread-interactive-multimedia-albums

VoiceThread is an interactive multimedia album. A student can create a slide show online which could consist of text, video, audio, or images. Viewers can comment on the slide by audio, video, or simply typing a comment. If anyone is familiar with [|www.glogster.com], which is another great web 2.0 tool, you probably know that Glogster is blocked on many school servers; however, [|www.glogster.edu] is set up for educators and students and allows access on school premises. VoiceThread also has launched [|www.ed.voicethread.com] which serves the same purpose. This article states the importance of starting small when first beginning with VoiceThread—possibly creating a slide with a quote and allow the students to respond—and then gradually move on from there.
 * Basically, VoiceThread gives every student a chance to participate in a class discussion. Not every student is comfortable speaking out in class, but by using VoiceThread, a student can type their comment on the slide.
 * Students have stated that they feel more confident responding to material when they have time to think about their answer and post it when they are ready.

Although I have not used VoiceThread in my classroom, I have used it for my graduate classes and I have to say it is growing on me. When I first used it, I was frustrated, but now that I am more comfortable with how to post my comments, I realize the potential this could have in the middle school classroom. VoiceThread gives __all__ students a chance to have their voices heard, and their voices can be heard through audio, video, or text; it is their choice.

As a reading teacher and someone who has had a bit of experience with VoiceThread, I can see how I would utilize this tool in my class. The students can respond to literature, quotes, or images from a text. This tool is an opportunity for the students who sit idly in the classroom to have a chance to be heard. Of course there is always going to be an issue with certain students if they do not have computer access at home, but they can always contribute to the VoiceThread when they first get to school in the morning.

Below are some sites that give great examples of using VoiceThread in the classroom and additional facts we need to know about using VoiceThread in the classroom: http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/ []