NECC Hands-On Workshop
Using VoiceThread for Interactive Projects – [Formal Session: BYOL]
Tuesday, 6/30/2009, 3:30pm–4:30pm
Prepare for our session by collecting images for practice project. I selected some images from FlickrStorm (Creative Commons licensing) that you can download for our workshop or bring your own.
PC or Mac users should download Audacityfor audio recording and editing. Consider bringing a headset with microphone for recording audio comments.
Voicethread Project: Reflections on educational technology.
Directions: Take a moment to browse through the quotes on the following VoiceThread slides. Choose one that speaks to you and reflect upon its meaning. Add your reflection to the slide by recording a comment with the phone feature, voice recording, webcam recording or by typing . Feel free to comment on more than one slide if you’d like. Thank you for participating.
Beginning January 1, 2009 VoiceThread will no longer allow multiple simultaneous logins to the same account. The good folks at the VoiceThread blog explain the rationale and acknowledge simultaneous log ins are convenient but they also pose security risks and could be in violation of COPPA.
I’ve have used both class accounts and an individual VoiceThread account for various class projects. Some issues about using identities with just one account are outlined on the VoiceThread blog:
- Comment Moderation does not work because the Identities are simply a different ‘face’ for the educator account. VoiceThread will instantly show any and all new comments to any of your Identities.
- Because the students are logged in as you, they must be directly supervised as they work and record their comments because they can delete any comment made by any other identity, including the educators, and they can even delete entire VoiceThreads with just two clicks (note: this HAS happened to me!)
- When you delete an identity you will delete all of the comments and content that the identity has made in the past, which means that next year you will either have to delete all of your prior years students identities and the work they made, or create a brand new account each year.
During my VoiceThread workshop presentations I have always shared the pros/cons of using one account and having multiple identities. The new system will take some planning and getting used to but I don’t think it will limit my enthusiasm for VoiceThread and the value it adds to my curriculum.
A subscription to the secure K-12 ed.voicethread network gives every student their very own account (student email addresses not required) and students can then choose which classmates to collaborate with – but the projects are still viewable by the teacher.
Some other features of the student accounts on ed.voicethread are:
• Create a portfolio of up to 15 VoiceThreads
• Maintain a media library up to 250 MB
• Unlimited commentary – voice / text / webcam
• Upload archival mp3 files as commentary
• By default cannot add contacts or send invitations to users who are not members of Ed.VoiceThread
• By default cannot view content unless it’s created or vetted by an Ed.VoiceThread member
Update: There are still free educator accounts available but you don’t have access to the secure ed.voicethread network and you can’t have simultaneous logins.
Some NEW features to VoiceThread that were added this past month are:
One final note. VoiceThread is creating a digital library of outstanding educational examples – not quite the same as the examples that are posted on the VoiceThread 4 Education wiki - but more detailed articles explaining the process of using VoiceThread and samples that can be replicated. I’m thrilled that Steve Muth has asked me to be part of this project and am currently submitting some of my own examples. Click HERE to submit your project and possible earn $20 worth of archival exports.
As a company, VoiceThread has been very responsive to teacher suggestions and input and it is the first tool I recommend to teachers who are looking for ways to have their students respond and collaborate on projects. Wes Fryer says it best:
“…I’ve found VoiceThread to be the single most powerful and beneficial web 2.0 site and technology for students and teachers to use. It is not secret I am a BIG fan of VoiceThread. Any educator interested in differentiated instruction and safe digital collaboration should be as well.”
Updated: Full Disclosure - I am not a paid employee of VoiceThread.
Hey VoiceThread lovers – I’ve been asked to be on the “Women of the Web” show at Ed Tech Talk on Tuesday, November 25th http://edtechtalk.com/WomenofWeb2.0
When: Tue, Nov 25, 6p – 7pm Pacific (9pmEST/ 0200GMT)
Where: EdTechTalk A
Description: Join the Women of Web 2.0 for their weekly guests, conversations and chat room antics.
I would love it if some other VoiceThread lovers would be there and participate in the chat or Skype into the sessions. I also plan on sharing how I use other tools (Google presentations, Audacity, flip camera, Gabcast) along with VoiceThread.
See you there.
Colette Cassinelli
http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com
Please join Teachers Teaching Teachers on Wednesday evening at EdTechTalk to discuss using VoiceThread in our curriculum.
I will join Steve Muth, Susan Ettenheim and Paul Allison (and others) on Teachers Teaching Teachers on Wednesday – 9:00 PM Eastern / 6:00 PM Pacific. Perhaps you can join us?
If you haven’t seen the wiki I put together at http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/ I would love your input on the new page title “Best Practices”. I am looking for ideas of how your planned your lessons to incorporate VoiceThread – not just examples. How did you think through the pedagogy that encourages collaboration and makes VoiceThread the “right” tool for your project.
Please add your thoughts and join us on Wednesday evening as we discuss this important issue.
I love Classroom 2.0 and the excitement that the teachers there bring to my network. I always read the posts about VoiceThread since I will be presenting a workshop on VoiceThread at the Innovative Learning Conference this Fall. I came across this Postcard exchange idea from Jennifer Albers.
In the past I have been a part of several postcard exchanges and my students loved receiving the cards and information about each state. This year I wanted to try something new. I created a type of state information exchange using VoiceThread. VoiceThread is a free program at www.voicethread.com. It is a way to have conversations around media…the link is: http://voicethread.com/#q+50+States+.b155765.i832841I am sending this email out during summer in hopes that you will get familiar with VoiceThread and want to use it during the school year… If you have any questions or comments my email is jalbers@lindberghschools.ws. Enjoy!
I think this is great way to introduce your class to VoiceThread. I am planning on having my students look up some facts about Oregon and comment on the VoiceThread.
Here is another extension that I am thinking of incorporating:
Great a customized Google Map and have classes create postcards about their states and embed the images and additional text into the Map and then share that map with other classrooms for them to do the same.
I made a sample … want to give it a try? Got to this map and add a landmark. Let’s use this map as a sandbox to practice adding locations, images and text:
target=”_blank”>http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116913314984386073493.000451608fab0754193a9&ll=45.838368,-121.819153&spn=29.81521,76.992188&z=4
Last year I participated in Postcard Geography (http://pcg.cyberbee.com/) but either one of these ideas could work along with that program.
Jen at @injenuity shared her concerns in a post entitled, “Web 2.0 is Not the Future of Education”. She states that early tech adopters are focusing on integrating new tools in their teaching instead of focusing on LEARNING. She writes:
“Learning is the future of education. Students need to develop an awareness of how they learn. By student, I mean every human being with whom we come in contact… All people deserve the right to understand how learning happens and the power they have to control their own lifelong learning journey.
Why are we hording these technology tools like some kind of magic trick that can only be performed for those worthy enough to earn our approval? We must embrace a more holistic approach to teaching and learning…
I really just want people to start to build their foundational values as educators, without ‘Web 2.0? as part of those values. The tools can enable engagement, transfer of learning and collaboration and can open the world to the student. Please see the student before the tools and give them the power they need in order to be successful with them.”
As a technology teacher who has transformed her computer classes from skill-based to LEARNING based – I whole heartedly agree with Jen. Its easy to get caught up in the lastest gadget or software tool. I feel my goal is to teach students how to learn.
I think part of this excitement depends on your basic personality. I am a learner. I love learning new things. It excites me and motivates me.
Other people are more cautious. They question the need for change. Change makes them uncomfortable and are slow to adopt.
Is there anything wrong with either one of these approaches? No. They each have their advantages and disadvantages.
But in the classroom our focus MUST be on engaging students as learners. Technology does provide opportunities for students to connect and be creative in ways that are unique and tranformative. But it takes a passionate and educated teacher to know the best way to do that.
I admit that I am guilty of rushing to incorporate a new tool into my classroom and found the experience to be lackluster. Usually it is because I haven’t taken the time to determine how using this piece of software will best meet my instructional goals and demonstrate student understanding.
When I first heard about VoiceThread I immediately saw it’s potential to engage students and give them a voice. But without careful planning, my student’s first attempts were more like narrated powerpoints with a few audio comments that said “Good Job”.
I didn’t give up, though. My frustration with the results made me dig deeper and ask myself what is the unique power of this tool that I can’t recreate in person.
My students love to discuss and debate – but it seems that the only ones who speak up are those with outgoing personalities.
VoiceThread gives each student an opportunity to plan and share their idea or point of view in the medium they are most comfortable in – text, audio or video. The collaborative nature of VoiceThread also allows students to respond back in a way that is appropriate and safe. Eric Brunsell commented, “VoiceThread, just like PowerPoint, is pointless if students are not crafting an argument, creating art (visual, aural or written), somehow communicating authentic thinking.”
Whenever I assign a project, I like to give my students a choice on how they will present the information (video, blog, PowerPoint, VoiceThread, etc..). Students can now choose a tool that fits their personality and learning style and the focus is on the message and not the tool.
Last year I blogged about this concept of focusing on student learning:
Student-centered learning means that the focus is on the learner – not the teacher and how the material is presented. The emphasis is on how the student is learning, the choices they have for expressing their learning, and how the teacher comes to understand that the student is learning.
But at the same time, I also teach these students HOW to use the tools effectively so the project doesn’t become about the flashiness of PowerPoint or the coolness of video.
We need to do both.
Michele Martin’s comment on Jen’s entry summed it up, “It’s about using technology along with the right thinking and collaborative processes.”
Export Archival VoiceThreads – From Voicethread Blog
We are very, very happy to announce the availability of Archival VoiceThreads. Downloadable as a widescreen movie, this version of a VoiceThread will play offline, stored on your computer, iPod or other portable device and can be burned onto a DVD or CD. These Archival movies are an exact replica of the content and commentary of any VoiceThread, which include the text commentary, audio commentary, webcam commentary, and also, the animated drawings we call Doodles. This has been our #1 requested feature and has taken quite a bit of work to pull off. To make one, just click the ‘Export’ button when creating/editing your VoiceThread.
Does it look and feel like a VoiceThread? You bet, and portable. Click here (~6.2 mb) to download an example. During a beta test period the export function will only be available to Pro users, at no charge. After this period, 10 per year will be included free with every Pro account. Individual archival exports will be $2.99 for free accounts, with bulk and educator discounts on the way.
Here are some FAQ about our new export function:
Price? During a beta test period the export function will only be available to Pro users, at no charge. After this period 10/yr will be included free with every Pro account. Individual archival exports will be 2.99 for free accounts, with bulk and educator discounts on the way.
When? available right this moment for Pro users and coming soon for everybody else
Does it look and feel like a VoiceThread?You bet, even better in some ways, it’s quite cinematic. Click here to download an example.
Can I make any changes to an Archival VoiceThread? No. Like a book that’s gone to the printer all commentary and content are essentially locked in amber at the moment you create the archival copy. The original VoiceThread remains live, on the web, and can be edited and continue to accept new commentary, but the archival version is a frozen snapshot.
How big are they? Well, how big is your VoiceThread? The average size is coming in around 20 MB but can be more or less depending on the content of your VoiceThread.
Options? None just yet, but we might add some options in the future for adding titles to the Archival version or the addition of other export formats
How long does it take to make once I order it? About an hour on average, much quicker if it’s short and much longer if it’s big or contains a lot of complex elements to render properly, or our ThreadMaker is particularly busy. (please don’t wait until the last minute you need it, it’s not like printing a document:)
What are the specs?? The Archival VoiceThread is a movie encoded with the H.264 codec and is in a wide-screen format of 852 X 480 pixels. QuickTime is recommended to play them back.
Miguel Guilin reports that Voicethread hopes to charge educators a very low price for downloads – but that hasn’t been worked out yet.
Just a final reminder that I am collecting examples of how educators are using Voicethread in their classroom or for professional development on a wiki at: http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/. Add your links! Thanks.
I am collecting examples of how educators are using Voicethread in their classroom or for professional development on a wiki at: http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com/
My plan is to share these examples with other technology teachers who provide professional development in their schools.
Feel free to add your own examples or links to resources. Thanks in advance,
Colette
Gmail. I love this web based email system and the fact that I can access it from any computer. Not only do you get tons of storage but I like the way it keeps the threaded conversations together. Gmail chat is also nifty.TOP 100 TOOLS FOR LEARNING – SPRING 2008
as collected by Jane Hart
2007 Top Ten Tools: http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/colettecassinelli.html (my current list is pretty similar to the 2007 list. Hey – I like what I like!)
Photo Credit: http://flickr.com/photos/cayusa/2221656599/
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Discovery Education.
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