The Power of Voice Tools Vida Barker Professor, Centennial College May 2008

A bit of background… Centennial College offers certificate, diploma, post-diploma and applied degree programs to 12,000 full-time and 28,000 part-time students Centennial College offers certificate, diploma, post-diploma and applied degree programs to 12,000 full-time and 28,000 part-time students Four campuses located in Toronto (Scarborough) Four campuses located in Toronto (Scarborough) 100 ethno cultural groups are represented and 80 languages are spoken on campus 100 ethno cultural groups are represented and 80 languages are spoken on campus

Our CMS BlackBoard Academic Suite 6.3 BlackBoard Academic Suite 6.3 Over 4,000 courses were created on BlackBoard during the winter 2008 semester Over 4,000 courses were created on BlackBoard during the winter 2008 semester Beginning Fall 2008, all professors will be required to use BlackBoard Beginning Fall 2008, all professors will be required to use BlackBoard

Building Blocks Online attendance Online attendance Who’s online Who’s online Advanced group management Advanced group management Discussion grader Discussion grader Facebook Sync Facebook Sync Link Checker Link Checker

Voice Tools Centennial adopted the Wimba suite of voice tools 2 years ago Centennial adopted the Wimba suite of voice tools 2 years ago Main reason was the ease of integration with BlackBoard Main reason was the ease of integration with BlackBoard

Voice Tools Using “Show and Tell” sessions throughout the year for faculty and staff Using “Show and Tell” sessions throughout the year for faculty and staff Centre for Learning Technology provides support and training to those who wish to experiment with and/or implement any of these tools Centre for Learning Technology provides support and training to those who wish to experiment with and/or implement any of these tools A small number of faculty in various disciplines have begun using voice tools A small number of faculty in various disciplines have begun using voice tools

Our Senses Seeing Seeing Smelling Smelling Touching Touching Hearing Hearing Tasting Tasting Typical classroom or lecture setting 1. Seeing 2. Hearing Online content is frequently visual but voice tools can add another sense

Learning Theories LEARNING STYLES Visual Visual Auditory Auditory Kinesthetic Kinesthetic MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE Linguistic Linguistic Logical-mathematical Logical-mathematical Musical Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Bodily-Kinesthetic Spatial-Visual Spatial-Visual Interpersonal Interpersonal Intrapersonal Intrapersonal Sound, hearing, listening – all play a significant role in learning

Voice Tools Voice Boards Voice Boards Voice s Voice s Podcaster Podcaster Voice Record Voice Record Voice Direct Voice Direct Voice Presentation Voice Presentation

Current Approaches Publishing solutions to assignments that just show the correct answer or how the answer is calculated Publishing solutions to assignments that just show the correct answer or how the answer is calculated I usually take up the questions in class and explain how and why the calculations were made I usually take up the questions in class and explain how and why the calculations were made

Current Approaches I save the Excel file and upload it to Blackboard so that students can view the worksheet and look at the underlying formulas I save the Excel file and upload it to Blackboard so that students can view the worksheet and look at the underlying formulas Often students who missed the class still need explanations about the source of some of the numbers or why I used the calculations that I did Often students who missed the class still need explanations about the source of some of the numbers or why I used the calculations that I did

Current Approaches I thought of adding comment boxes to the Excel file to explain the calculations but it was a lot of work and students already have too much to read I thought of adding comment boxes to the Excel file to explain the calculations but it was a lot of work and students already have too much to read Or sometimes they just don’t read what they should Or sometimes they just don’t read what they should

Opportunity Although it wasn’t the case in my class, supplementing online material can help students with visual disabilities Although it wasn’t the case in my class, supplementing online material can help students with visual disabilities It can also assist ESL students who often are too shy or embarrassed to ask a second or third time if they don’t understand some of the words It can also assist ESL students who often are too shy or embarrassed to ask a second or third time if they don’t understand some of the words

Demo Here is the student experience Here is the student experience I am using a “show and tell” approach to take up a question in an assignment that many students had difficulty with I am using a “show and tell” approach to take up a question in an assignment that many students had difficulty with

Demo – other voice tools Using Communication Button

Training and Support

Other Applications of Voice Tools

Suggestion #1 Tutors can use the voice boards to answer questions and explain concepts Tutors can use the voice boards to answer questions and explain concepts Other students may have the same question and this way they can listen to the answer if it already posted Other students may have the same question and this way they can listen to the answer if it already posted

Suggestion #2 Think about how many times you answer the same question or explain assignment or project requirements Think about how many times you answer the same question or explain assignment or project requirements By posting a voice announcement or using the voice record in the assignment area, you can either provide assignment instructions verbally or clarify requirements or details By posting a voice announcement or using the voice record in the assignment area, you can either provide assignment instructions verbally or clarify requirements or details

Suggestion #3 Students often work in teams and already use and text messaging to communicate Students often work in teams and already use and text messaging to communicate Discussion boards also facilitate group work as they create a centralized record Discussion boards also facilitate group work as they create a centralized record Voice discussion boards can be created can be accessible by only members of the team Voice discussion boards can be created can be accessible by only members of the team

Suggestion #4 Send voice reminders about upcoming due dates, quizzes and tests Send voice reminders about upcoming due dates, quizzes and tests Sometimes we remember what we hear better than what we read, especially when we read dozens of s daily Sometimes we remember what we hear better than what we read, especially when we read dozens of s daily

Suggestion #5 After grading a project or test, sometimes the same feedback applies to a large percentage of the class After grading a project or test, sometimes the same feedback applies to a large percentage of the class Voice s can be sent to a single student, selected students, or all students Voice s can be sent to a single student, selected students, or all students Voice announcements are accessible to entire class Voice announcements are accessible to entire class Some students may find this a more personal approach and respond differently to the same message just because of the tone of voice Some students may find this a more personal approach and respond differently to the same message just because of the tone of voice

Suggestion #7 Speaking is generally quicker than typing Speaking is generally quicker than typing Speaking often allows you to better articulate complex information Speaking often allows you to better articulate complex information Enhance just about any online content with sound Enhance just about any online content with sound

Suggestion #8 Many disciplines have technical jargon Many disciplines have technical jargon Create a glossary for students to listen to the correct pronunciation and definition of technical terms Create a glossary for students to listen to the correct pronunciation and definition of technical terms

Suggestion #9 Hold office hours from your desk at home or at the college Hold office hours from your desk at home or at the college You can talk online one to one or have multiple students at once You can talk online one to one or have multiple students at once There are “talking stick” equivalents so that only one person can talk There are “talking stick” equivalents so that only one person can talk

The Future of Voice Tools Continue our “show and tell” sessions Continue our “show and tell” sessions Use college events to showcase best practices and innovative uses of this technology Use college events to showcase best practices and innovative uses of this technology Create student awareness – they can create demand Create student awareness – they can create demand

Thank You! Questions? Questions? My contact information: My contact