1. VoiceThread:

2. With VoiceThread, group conversations are collected and shared in one place from anywhere in the world. All with no software to install.

3. A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to navigate pages and leave comments in 5 ways - using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam). Share a VoiceThread with friends, students, and colleagues for them to record comments too What is VoiceThread?

4. Users can doodle while commenting using the doodle tool. VoiceThreads can even be embedded to show and receive comments on other websites and exported to MP3 players or DVDs to play as archival movies. (Payed version)

5. VoiceThread inspires collaboration and expression with 5 innovative ways to comment. Collect the voices of an entire group on a single page by computer microphone, telephone, text, audio file (MP3/WAV), and webcam. microphone Text through typing Video via webcam Audio file upload Telephone (not practical in NZ)

6. VoiceThread supports dozens of standard file formats. Whether it's home videos, business presentations, or vacation photos, VoiceThread is ready for your multimedia and the conversations they will inspire. VoiceThread supports PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (including Office 2007 formats), images, and videos. Store your photos someplace else? VoiceThread even imports photos from Flickr or the web. Media

7. With Doodling, you can draw on top of the media as you record your comment (using mic, webcam, or keyboard). VoiceThread's innovative Video Doodling feature allows you to control the playback of a video, while Doodling and commenting on specific video segments. VoiceThread Doodles are synced to your comment, showing viewers your thoughts in action. Doodling

8. VoiceThread makes embedding easy, allowing you to add interactive group discussions to any website. Simply copy and paste the embed code to your website and let the conversations begin. Whether it's feedback, critique, or group story-telling, collect it how, when, and where you want. Embedding

9. VoiceThread's Comment Moderation allows a VoiceThread creators and editors to pick which comments are shown to everyone else. So, an editor can easily choose the best 5 comments out of a selection of a 100 and turn a epic novel into a succinct short story. Moderation

10. One VoiceThread account can have many identities (commenting avatars) associated with it. A family, a class, or an interesting person can switch identities on-the-fly without having to sign in with a different account. Think 22 kids, 45 minutes, and a project to complete - and you'll understand the wonder of this feature. Identities

11. Any way you want it. VoiceThreads security comes in many forms, from private to public, and anywhere in between. Simple security settings allow creators to choose what the VoiceThread viewers can do. You can change these settings as often as you like. You can also easily create Groups of your friends, colleagues, or those you have common interests with, and have the Group's VoiceThreads shared and shown in one place (on your MyVoice page). Sharing and Groups

12. Browse Tab Browse or search through the thousands of publically available VoiceThreads. If you have registered you can comment on the VoiceThreads.

13. Create Tab Three easy steps: 1.Upload (upload your images to VoiceThread) Make sure your camera files are a small size otherwise they will take too long to upload.

14. Upload your images from either your computer (you will need to know where your images are located) or Flickr or a website. This process can take a while if your internet connection is slow or your images are large in size. (solution: reduce the size of your images and use jpgs)

15. Select your image location and click Open.

16. The next step is to click on the comment tab.

17. To give an instruction click on the comment tab.

18. You now have the option to either make a webcam video, record with a microphone, type in a text box or upload an audio file. I suggest you try the text box option first.

19. Click here to type in a comment.

20. Start typing in the text box by your avatar.

21. When you click on your avatar your text box will appear with the words you typed in. Here I have given some instructions for the VoiceThread image. If you make a mistake click the rubbish bin.

22. Here another user has commented on my tree picture and added a text box. As other users comment there avatars will be added around the VoiceThread.

23. Here Lorraine has added an audio comment using her computer microphone to respond to my tree picture.

24. To make a recording using your computer microphone click on the record tab.

25. Click on the Allow tab to make your recording.

26. Start talking, voice thread is recording your voice! Click stop recording when you have finished. Make it short and exciting. You have the option of saving the recording or discarding. Click save if you are happy with recording.

27. You should be able to click your avatar and hear your voice. Don’t be shy your voice is who you are!

28. Enjoy your VoiceThread and watch it grow. It is saved automatically.

29. Your VoiceThread will now appear in your MyVoice collection.

30. Sharing Click on the show options button.

31. Here are the options available for your voice thread: What we are going to do is look at the sharing options. Click on the share button.

32. Click on the Get a Link button to share the website address with others. They must be members of VoiceThread if they are to comment on your slide. Otherwise they can just view your presentation.

33. Viewing Options: Here I have allowed :- Anyone to view. Anyone to comment It is shown on the browse page so anyone can search and find it. I have not ticked the moderate comments (this would be necessary for a VoiceThread that secondary students would be commenting on.

34. With a free account you cannot use the Groups feature. You can click on My Contacts and Add which will allow you to put in the email address of friends/students and invite them to comment on the VoiceThread.

35. You can also edit further your VoiceThread at any time. VoiceThread has unlimited uses and your students can view and comment on their VoiceThreads at anytime whether from school or from their homes. The VoiceThreads can also be shared with friends and families and used for assessment purposes.

36. Happy VoiceThreading!