VoiceThread is a free online, asynchronous media tool, developed at the University of North Carolina that permits the user to import and display a variety of media for the purpose of group discussion (Berger 2010, p133). This tool can be used with a series of different types of media, photos, documents and videos that can be commented upon by both the creator and also by those interacting with the VoiceThread. You can interact with the VoiceThread by using voice (with a microphone or telephone), text, audio file or vide (with a webcam). These online videos can be shared with anyone the creator wishes. "By far the greatest potential of VoiceThread lies int he creative opportunity it provides for students to tell their own stories and to contribute to our directly critique the narratives of their peers" (Harris 2008, p22).
This tool is wonderful for those students who are uncomfortable adding to classroom discussions even though they have wonderful contributions to make to the conversations. All students would be able to contribute by using this tool. Similarly it is a great tool for parents who are wanting another way for students to study for unit tests in school. Children could find photos or create videos regarding the information of study and use this as a way to review the material. Parents wanting to help their child study could view the VoiceThread and add their comments or missing information to the review VoiceThread as well.
Upon the discovery of Voicethread, I am more and more eager to use this program with my students. I was recently leading a science presentation that included the potential use of voicethread as an inquiry project. To my delight, one of the audience members happened to have used Voicethread with his students and he could not say enough about how fantastic the program is for kids. He particularly mentioned just how great the tool is for assessment as it is so easy for teachers to comment on student work through the program.
Doing more research on voice thread, I came across this article on edutopia (edutopia : Voicethread). I think one of the most valuable things that can be done in this program besides actually creating the voicethread will be the students ability to comment on each others work. Voicethread makes it easy and safe for students to have an opinion online. In the article Ferriter says "more students participate more actively in digital discussions than in the classroom" and I fully understand this. As we live in a time when students enjoy working online and spend a lot of their free time online, it is understandable that a media such as voicethread would be very desirable for the students to engage with. The author also touches on the fact that it is easier to get the students to write in this format than it woudl be in the classroom. Saying to your students "get out a piece of paper and write a story about this topic" doesn't often get a lot of positive feedback, but leaving comments on a voicethread allows the students who are not as keen on writing to communicate in a variety of ways.
Ferriter finishes the article by stating that voicethread will take on a life of its own, and that you do not need to upload hundreds of photos to get a discussion started. It is a collaborative effort and both student and teacher can engage together in creating something meaningful for their learning. His Wiki regarding VoiceThread is a wonderful tool for those wanting to use VoiceThread in their lives.
Bibliography
Berger, P & Trexler S.Choosing Web 2.0 Tools for Learning and Teaching in a Digital World. Libraries Unlimited 2010.
Ferriter, B. http://digitallyspeaking.pbworks.com/Voicethread. Available Online.
No comments:
Post a Comment