If you’ve been keeping your ear to the ground in the world of education technology, you’ve likely heard of VoiceThread. It’s a widely-known tool that’s used in everything from online graduate courses to kindergarten classrooms. Now, according to Ben Kahn, academic technology services, the University has added VoiceThread to its toolbox, so now you, too, can discover what VoiceThread is all about.
The way it works is simple. VoiceThread allows you to add images, videos, audio files, documents, or any other type of media to a “slideshow” that everyone in a class can talk about. Literally. With their own voice. You just look at something, press a button, and speak. That’s it.
Give feedback to your students on assignments. Ask students to comment on an image or essay. Better yet, ask them to do an assignment in VoiceThread (yes, it’s in Moodle). There are many possibilities!
Because VoiceThread is so versatile, it’s often used by enterprising faculty in unique and surprising ways. It provides a more intimate way to respond to deeply introspective student work for theology lecturer Rebecca Gaudino. “There’s a simplicity and immediacy to VoiceThread that I really appreciate”, says Dr. Gaudino. “Students upload a file for me, and I can respond via audio or video, a response that seems fitting for these sorts of reflections. I’ve even had students respond to my comments.”
To find out more about VoiceThread and read more about what your fellow UP faculty are doing with the tool please visit The Teaching & Learning Blog.
If you would like to learn more about using VoiceThread at UP, please contact Kahn at kahn@up.edu.