Using VoiceThread for Student Collaboration and Tracking Fluency
VoiceThread is a website for classroom collaboration that allows teachers and students to share and comment via audio and/or video recordings as well as written and drawn responses. It is also an excellent tool for recording and tracking fluency in reading, world language classes and ELL students. It can be used on computers and iPads.
ISTE Student Standards:
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:
a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students:
a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
ISTE Teacher Standards:
2. Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences
Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. Teachers:
a. Design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners.
d. Plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.
3. Teaching, Learning, and the Curriculum
Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning. Teachers:
a. Facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards.
b. Use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students.
c. Apply technology to develop students’ higher order skills and creativity. Tips and Tricks
ISTE Student Standards:
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:
a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students:
a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology.
b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
ISTE Teacher Standards:
2. Planning and Designing Learning Environments and Experiences
Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. Teachers:
a. Design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners.
d. Plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.
3. Teaching, Learning, and the Curriculum
Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning. Teachers:
a. Facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards.
b. Use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students.
c. Apply technology to develop students’ higher order skills and creativity. Tips and Tricks
- Have students take their pictures in PhotoBooth (if using a Macintosh computer) and drag them to their desktop (to later upload for their identities) then QUIT PhotoBooth (don’t just close it). The camera in VoiceThread won’t work if Photobooth is open.
- Use Firefox instead of Safari (if using a Macintosh computer) . Commenting doesn’t always work in Safari.
- There is a total of 30 minutes for video recording in a free educator’s account, so have students practice and time themselves before doing video recording so you don’t exceed the limit.
- Use a countdown when doing voice recording and then “Quiet on the set” in order to prevent background noise.
- If commenting on one computer, refresh after each student has saved their comment so that subsequent comments record and save properly.
- If you use Word to create documents to upload, save as PDF and upload the PDF
Handouts
You are welcome to use these with your classes, please just give attribution- Thanks!
/uploads/3/0/7/2/3072934/how_to_create_an_educator_voicethread_account.pdf
/uploads/3/0/7/2/3072934/how_to_setup-share-comment_on_a_voicethread_project.pdf
/uploads/3/0/7/2/3072934/how_to_troubleshoot_voicethread_recording.pdf
/uploads/3/0/7/2/3072934/voicethread_parent_letter.pdf
/uploads/3/0/7/2/3072934/how_to_create_an_educator_voicethread_account.pdf
/uploads/3/0/7/2/3072934/how_to_setup-share-comment_on_a_voicethread_project.pdf
/uploads/3/0/7/2/3072934/how_to_troubleshoot_voicethread_recording.pdf
/uploads/3/0/7/2/3072934/voicethread_parent_letter.pdf