1. Connecting with Students Online is Easy Using VoiceThread CSLA Conference November 20, 2008 Jane Lofton Teacher Librarian Lindero Canyon Middle School Agoura Hills, CA jane@lofton.com jlofton@lvusd.org

2. 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. ?

3. Lots of media options… Media types Comment methods

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

5. Some Examples … Booktalks… http://voicethread.com/share/66632/ Created by Jane Lofton & student Julia M.

6. Tutorials or Presentations… http://voicethread.com/share/170855/ http://voicethread.com/share/170855/ created by Jane Lofton

7. Online Conversations… http://ed.voicethread.com/share/62276/ by Bill Ferriter on his Digitally Speaking wiki at http://digitallyspeaking.pbwiki.com/Voicethread

8. Another Online Conversation… http://voicethread.com/share/99673/ by Michelle Pacansky-Brock, Art History Professor, Sierra College Embedded at http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/Collegehttp://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/College

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

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

11. Click Upload

12. Upload a file or files

13. Sort files as needed and add titles Then, click Comment

14. Click Comment

15. 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

16. Sharing Your VoiceThread Click Share. Choos e sharing options.

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

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

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

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

21. Educators Get “Pro” Features Free of Charge Free

22. 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

23. Sharing a VoiceThread Share with individuals (email from the voicethread) Link to your VoiceThread from a website, email, etc. Embed it in a website, blog, or wiki*websiteblogwiki Make it public for browsing and keyword access at voicethread.com *Examples at www.linderocanyonmiddleschool.net/library, www.linderobooks.blogspot.com, and https://linderolibrary.pbwiki.com/Library+Orientationwww.linderocanyonmiddleschool.net/library www.linderobooks.blogspot.com https://linderolibrary.pbwiki.com/Library+Orientation

24. Creating a Free Educator Account 1. Click Sign In

25. 2. Click Register.

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

27. 5. Click Apply.

28. 6. Complete this form. 7. Click Apply. For more explanation of how to get the free educator account, watch this VoiceThread: http://ed.voicethread.com/share/238308/ http://ed.voicethread.com/share/238308/

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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

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

34. For Presentations, Tweak These Options…

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

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

37. Resources from VoiceThread VoiceThread site: http://voicethread.comhttp://voicethread.com Ed.voicethread: http://ed.voicethread.comhttp://ed.voicethread.com VoiceThread Education Account Brochure: http://cdn.voicethread.com/media/misc/Ed.VoiceThread. pdf http://cdn.voicethread.com/media/misc/Ed.VoiceThread. pdf Explanation of how to get the free educator account and what the paid account offers: http://ed.voicethread.com/share/238308/ http://ed.voicethread.com/share/238308/

38. Other Resources VoiceThread 4 Education Wiki http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/ Be sure to check the “Best Practices” page Bill Ferriter’s “Digitally Speaking” wiki page about VoiceThreads http://digitallyspeaking.pbwiki.com/ Includes lots of good examples and best practices tips VoiceThread Ning http://voicethread.ning.com/ Disruptive Technologies wiki page about VoiceThreads http://disruptivetechnologiesk-16.pbwiki.com/Voice-Threads Delicious VoiceThread bookmarks http://delicious.com/search?p=voicethread

39. Access This Handout Online I have uploaded this handout to: http://weloveschoollibraries.pbwiki.com/f/voicethre ad%20presentation.ppt Also, please contact me with any questions. Email: jane@lofton.com or jlofton@lvusd.orgjane@lofton.comjlofton@lvusd.org Work phone: 818/880-2134x8 Home phone: 818/865-8010