Connecting with Students Online is Easy Using VoiceThread CSLA Conference November 20, 2008 Jane Lofton Teacher Librarian Lindero Canyon Middle School Agoura Hills, CA

What’s a An interactive, collaborative, online multimedia tool that that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to add oral, text, or video comments. ?

Lots of media options… Media types Comment methods

Some Great Uses Booktalks Tutorials Presentations Slideshows Online conversations Collaborative class projects Telling a story Practicing speaking

Some Examples … Booktalks… Created by Jane Lofton & student Julia M.

Tutorials or Presentations… created by Jane Lofton

Online Conversations… by Bill Ferriter on his Digitally Speaking wiki at

Another Online Conversation… by Michelle Pacansky-Brock, Art History Professor, Sierra College Embedded at

What Equipment Do You Need?... Very Little! Important: A microphone (built in on many computers) Optional: A better microphone Camera Scanner Webcam Audacity software Mike and camera clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

How to Create a VoiceThread 1. Set up an account (more on that later) 2. Click Create

Click Upload

Upload a file or files

Sort files as needed and add titles Then, click Comment

Click Comment

Choose a comment option, then record, check, and save the comment. Comment on as many screens as you like. Have VoiceThrea d call you Record with your webcam Recor d with your mike Type your comme nt Upload a file

Sharing Your VoiceThread Click Share. Choos e sharing options.

Embedding Your VoiceThread To embed, click here or here. Then…

Embedding Your VoiceThread (cont’d) Choos e any of these options.

Finding VoiceThreads on the voicethread.com site Keyword search Mouse over a thread for a description Browse

Account Options for Creating VoiceThreads: Free Free educator (that’s what I have) Pro Ed.voicethread

Educators Get “Pro” Features Free of Charge Free

Options for Students Adding Comments: Use your identities Create their own free account (if they are 13 or older, or their parents register) Use an ed.voicethread account you set up

Sharing a VoiceThread Share with individuals ( from the voicethread) Link to your VoiceThread from a website, , etc. Embed it in a website, blog, or wiki*websiteblogwiki Make it public for browsing and keyword access at voicethread.com *Examples at and

Creating a Free Educator Account 1. Click Sign In

2. Click Register.

3. Enter your name, school and a password. 4. Click Register.

5. Click Apply.

6. Complete this form. 7. Click Apply. For more explanation of how to get the free educator account, watch this VoiceThread:

Now, you will see a message like this. Then, you will receive an with a confirmation link. Click the link in your , and your account will be active!

Features Review… Accepts many file types for uploads Offers a variety of commenting options Doodling option Comment moderation option Easy embedding in webpages, blogs, & wikis Zoom option Sharing options No software to install

Some Benefits Over Other Podcast Tools You can record audio in segments Both graphics & comments can be added & changed easily, at any time You can easily pinpoint areas of the screen with the doodler You don’t need fancy equipment It’s asynchronous, allowing for participation at different times & from different places

Some Tips for Uploading images….pdfs are recommended format for uploads of presentations Images work best at a 4:3 ratio and 1024 X 768 or larger

Tip for Embedding images… The embedded image can be any size. Adjust these figures, using a 4/3 ratio.

For Presentations, Tweak These Options…

Editing an Existing VoiceThread In the MyVoice tab, click the Menu icon, then click Edit. Or…

Editing an Existing VoiceThread While viewing a VoiceThread, click the menu icon here, then click Edit.

Resources from VoiceThread VoiceThread site: Ed.voicethread: VoiceThread Education Account Brochure: pdf pdf Explanation of how to get the free educator account and what the paid account offers:

Other Resources VoiceThread 4 Education Wiki Be sure to check the “Best Practices” page Bill Ferriter’s “Digitally Speaking” wiki page about VoiceThreads Includes lots of good examples and best practices tips VoiceThread Ning Disruptive Technologies wiki page about VoiceThreads Delicious VoiceThread bookmarks

Access This Handout Online I have uploaded this handout to: ad%20presentation.ppt Also, please contact me with any questions. or Work phone: 818/ x8 Home phone: 818/