VoiceThread

VoiceThread is a web-based, asynchronous communication tool that can be integrated with Google Apps for Education and any major LMS. With VoiceThread, teachers and students can create asynchronous (delayed) voice and video conversations around collections of media.

Teachers and students can access VoiceThread through their BISD Google Drive account, using their BISD username and password. VoiceThread is accessible on any device, with both an iPad App or Android App available.

Educators are using VoiceThread to extend classroom conversations, peer review, and to facilitate student portfolios. VoiceThread allows for classrooms to share stories and conversations both within the classroom community or with the outside world. Students are able to interact with content, experience improved feedback mechanisms, increasing student motivation.

Begin creating a new VoiceThread from any VoiceThread page by clicking on the “Create” button at the top.

You can edit any VoiceThread that belongs to you or to which you have been given editing rights. Add more slides, remove others, and change the settings for a VoiceThread at any time. All of those edits are immediately visible to anyone who has access to the VoiceThread. To access the Edit area from the VT Home page:

1. Hover your mouse over the VoiceThread you wish to edit.
   
2. Click on the edit button.
   

If your VoiceThread is already open:

1. Click on the menu icon in the top-left corner.
   
2. Select “Edit”.
   

Users can upload media from their computer, import media from other VoiceThreads, import media from another website, use a webcam, and import media from other services within VoiceThread.

The power of VoiceThread is the commenting features. Begin by opening the VoiceThread and navigating to the slide on which you’d like to record a comment. At the bottom of that slide, you’ll see a “+” icon. Click on this to see all of the commenting options. Commenting options include:

• Audio from a microphone
• Text
• Video from a webcam
• Audio from a telephone
• Audio or video from a pre-recorded file

1. Click on the microphone button.
2. Click “Allow” on the Flash permissions box if prompted.
3. After the countdown is complete, begin recording your comment.
4. Click the red flashing light at the bottom of the screen to stop recording.
5. The comment will begin playing. Click “Save” to save it or “Discard” to cancel and try again.

1. Click on the “ABC” button.
   
2. Type your text comment.
   
3. Click “Save”.

Note: You can enter URL in a text comment, and it will be hyperlinked automatically.

1. Click on the camera icon.
2. Click “Allow” on the Flash permissions box if prompted.
3. After the countdown is complete, begin recording your comment.
4. Click the red flashing light at the bottom of the screen to stop recording.
5. The comment will begin playing. Click “Save” to save it or “Discard” to cancel and try again.

1. Click on the upload icon.
2. Browse for the video or audio file you wish to upload, and select it.
3. Wait for the file to finish processing. You’ll know it’s done because the spinning wheel over your Identity image on the left will disappear.

The Doodler allows you to annotate your slides while you comment. Use your mouse (or your finger on a touch screen) as if it were a pen to help your participants see exactly what you’re discussing. All Doodles play back in time for your voice, so it’s a little like using a pointer on a visual aid when you’re addressing someone in person.

Using VoiceThread Groups allows you to quickly and easily share your VoiceThreads with many people at once. It also allows you to organize your VoiceThreads so that they are easy for your students or participants to find. Anyone can be a member of a Group, but only Pro or Pro Educator members can create Groups. Adding contacts allows you to share VoiceThreads securely with an individual. If you have an upgraded VoiceThread account, you can add others as contacts and allow them to view, comment on, or edit your VoiceThreads.

To access the Groups and Contacts page:

1. Click on your email address in the top-right corner of the page.
2. Select “Groups and Contacts” from the menu.

The quickest and easiest way to ensure that all of your participants can view and comment on a VoiceThread is to make it public.

1. Navigate to the sharing area.
   
2. Click on the “Who has access” tab.
   
3. At the top of that window, you’ll see the current publishing status of your VoiceThread. Click on the icon in this section to change the settings.
   
4. If you want your VoiceThread to be browsable on the VoiceThread Browse page, check the box that says “Publish on browse page”.
   
5. Click “Save Changes” at the bottom.
   

Any VoiceThread that you create is private by default. You can then decide who gets to see it and what level of permission they have. You can allow others to view, comment on, or edit your VoiceThreads. These permissions can be granted to specific individuals or to groups of people. You can also revoke sharing permissions at any time so that others can no longer access a shared VoiceThread.

The quickest and easiest way to ensure that all of your participants can view and comment on a VoiceThread is to make it public.

1. Navigate to the sharing area.
2. Click on the “Who has access” tab.
3. At the top of that window, you’ll see the current publishing status of your VoiceThread. Click on the icon in this section to change the settings.
4. If you want your VoiceThread to be browsable on the VoiceThread Browse page, check the box that says “Publish on browse page”.
5. Click “Save Changes” at the bottom.

Note: If you don’t publish your VoiceThread on the Browse page, it is not “searchable”. People must have the direct link to it in order to find it.

A VoiceThread share link will take you directly to a specific VoiceThread. It will also open the VoiceThread in the iOS Mobile App if it is tapped on an Apple mobile device. To obtain the share link for a VoiceThread, start by navigating to the sharing area.

On the Secure tab

1. Click “Get a Link” at the bottom of the window.
2. Check the boxes to allow anyone to view and comment if you’d like anyone to be able to access this VoiceThread. Learn more here.
3. Highlight the share link and copy it to your computer’s clipboard so that you can paste it into the desired location.
4. Click “Done”.