1. Adding multimedia to your course
Learning VoiceThread
Adding multimedia to your course

2. Agenda Today we’ll cover: An Overview of VoiceThread
Demo of VoiceThread
Hands On: Commenting in VoiceThread
For the sake of organization…

3. What is it? VoiceThread can be used as: A multimedia discussion board
A forum for student presentations
Asynchronous video chat
A voice-over PowerPoint tool
Definition: It is the name for both 1) the software and 2) a unit of uploaded content and its accompanying commentary, e.g. “a discussion board.”
VoiceThread enables instructors and students to upload content to a slide- based interface and to provide comments via text, audio and video.

4. VoiceThread in Practice
Use VoiceThread to:
Have students offer a question or respond to a question—i.e. video discussion board
Have students upload their own VoiceThread content
Have students comment on another student’s VoiceThread (peer review)
Have students watch a slide/audio presentation
VoiceThread has a number of possible applications.

5. Example VoiceThread
Video, audio, text comments queued up along the side
Zoom in/out
Press play arrow to watch the entire discussion
Click + to comment
Move between slides

6. Blackboard Integration
Graded or ungraded?
If ungraded, be certain to share the VoiceThread with the appropriate class.
If graded (recommended), types of assignments include:
View a VoiceThread
Comment on a VoiceThread
Create own VoiceThread
Recommended: Create a graded assignment. You can always assign zero points. It creates a much smoother navigation for instructors and students.
VoiceThread is integrated within Blackboard, which means you can create graded assignments in Blackboard that link to VoiceThread.
Grading takes place in VoiceThread and feeds to Blackboard’s Grade Center.

7. Supported File Types Presentations: PPT/X (PowerPoint), ODT, PDF
Images: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP
Audio: MP3, WAV
Video: Most common video formats
Links to media must be linked to a file extention (the end of the URL is .mp4 or .jpeg, etc.). Links to YouTube and Vimeo will not work.
Documents: DOC/X, XLS/X, ODS
VoiceThread supports the following file types.

8. Word to the Wise
Don’t use Internet Explorer. VoiceThread runs much better on Chrome or Firefox.
In order to provide audio or video comments, you must have a mic and a camera and allow VoiceThread permission to use them.
Consider pacing: 30 students commenting on the same slide doesn’t make for good viewing.
Don’t hit return in your Blackboard description. Blackboard being Blackboard, it breaks the link.
Provide specific instructions. For instance, remind students to hit the submit button once they’re done commenting.
Some things to know to help VoiceThread run smoothly.