1. Collaborative Presentation Tools
John Neisewander
April 30th, 2012

2. Why Use Collaborative Presentation Tools?
Online collaborative presentation tools allow students to work together on projects without necessarily being in the same room which can significantly simplify the logistics of collaborative learning.
Web-based presentation creation tools provide a simple solution for embedding and storing multimedia in presentations.
Online presentations are more conducive to revisiting, revision, and commenting, resulting in conversation and collaboration rather than straightforward lecture.
Common Core Standards mandate that we teach students to collaborate, communicate, and “integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media” (SL ).

3. VoiceThread - www.voicethread.com

4. VoiceThread - Features
A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to navigate slides and leave comments in 5 ways - using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam).
VoiceThread presentations can be shared with others. Once a presentation is completed, access can be granted for others to join the conversation through commenting.
VoiceThread does not require the installation of software and is platform agnostic (web-based, so there are no issues moving from Windows, Mac, Linux).

5. VoiceThread - Features
There’s an app for VoiceThread too. The software is currently available for iOS users (iPhone, iPod, and iPad), but the developers promise that it will be coming to other platforms as well.

6. VoiceThread: Sample Presentation
VoiceThread can be used to create new presentations or slide shows, but it can also be used for uploading PowerPoint or PDF presentations. The advantage to adding previously created presentations to VoiceThread is its collaborative functionality.
I’ve included a sample presentation that I use to introduce the novel The Catcher in the Rye. After uploading the presentation, I added text, voice, phone call, and video comments.
This could be an excellent resource for absent students; it could also be a way for students to comment on presentations they’ve made together.
Sample Presentation:

7. VoiceThread Step One: Make an Account
You must have an account to use VoiceThread.
There are free and paid accounts. Simple VoiceThread presentations can be created with a free account (that’s what I used), but many of the software’s best features are locked until upgrading to a paid account.
Registration, however, is quick and easy. Enter a few pieces of basic information and you should be ready to create a VoiceThread in just a few minutes.
Let’s register an account now.

8. VoiceThread Tutorials
Create a VoiceThread:
Comment Moderation:
How to Make a Presentation:

9. DropMark - www.dropmark.com

10. DropMark - Features
DropMark is a simple web app which allows users to quickly drag and drop content into a collection.
Collections can then be viewed as presentations or individual items.
DropMark provides less features than VoiceThread, but it also easier to use and less expensive when upgrading.
DropMark may be more effective, because of its ease of use, for some students or some projects.
It is probably easier for multiple individuals to contribute to a DropMark project, but it is not as easy to incorporate some types of multimedia.

11. DropMark To use DropMark, simply create an account at DropMark.com.
Once an account is created, media can be dropped into the browser window to create a collection.
Drag your media around in the browser to reorder, and simply double-click an item to begin a slideshow presentation.
DropMark presentations are private by default, but one click in the settings menu on the upper right portion of the window can change that (and other settings).

12. DropMark Security
DropMark presentations are private by default, but one click in the settings menu on the upper right portion of the window can change that (and other settings).

13. DropMark Sample
I created a DropMark sample based on the presentation previously uploaded to VoiceThread.
I added a few additional images and videos in less than five minutes; DropMark features are fewer, but its ease of use is inviting.

14. Brainstorming
Do we see value in using web-based presentation tools with or for our students?
How do you envision using these kinds of tools in your classroom?
Does either tool seem feasible for use at the elementary level?