 Tessa Joseph-Nicholas, department of Computer Science, VoiceThread in Online and Blended Classes

VoiceThread: Basic Features  Browser-based creation tool: voicethread.unc.edu (w/Onyen)  iPad app  Main field: webcam, image, slides, video clip, document  User profiles with images  Comments from creator and/or viewers: video, audio, text  Doodle tool  Groups  Simple creation process: upload, comment, share

How I use VT in online classes  Slide-based lectures with audio, video, text  Student introductions  Peer workshops of student work: poems, art, etc.  Breaking difficult readings down  Also applicable in F2F classes

How I use VT in large F2F classes  Virtual discussion groups  Participation is graded, but gently  Post a participation rubric  App helps with assessment

Why VoiceThread works  Visual: provides a sense of presence and accountability in an online discussion (this really is important)  Paces online lectures and discussions  Options beyond traditional “talking head” video lectures  Encourages students to break their points down and articulate them clearly  “I was hesitant about VoiceThread at first, but now I see why you like to use it. It really helps!”

Challenges and approaches  Not really…threaded  Responding to individual comments and questions  Typical technical issues (Flash)  Getting the students to dive in  Certain functions are tricky: deciding how to share, etc.  Contact me for materials: