I was contacted by Craig Badura, a K-5 media/technology integrationist, also known from the That Guy in the Library Blog. He was interested in collaborating with different classes on a mystery skype/Voice Thread project. We set up a three way project amongst classes of second graders.
Not sure what a VoiceThread is? 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). You can share a VoiceThread with friends, students, and colleagues for them to record comments too. Instead of a parent program or assembly just for your class, you can create a VT and share with the audience of your choice!
Here’s several great “idea” banks to help you get started!
- Free Tools Challenge for VoiceThread
- Ideas to Inspire
- 100 Ways to Use Voicethread in Education
- Voicethread 4 Education Wiki
- Use your computer’s built-in microphone or a USB headset to record audio for your VoiceThread.
- You can input your cell phone number onto VoiceThread, and the site will call you to record your audio.
- PowerPoints can be easily uploaded onto VoiceThread. Save your PowerPoint slides as jpg files and upload them to your VoiceThread
- Upload a variety of files to your VoiceThread including pdf, docs, etc.
- You can record up to 15 minutes of audio per slide on the VoiceThread site.
- The VoiceThread site will automatically scale photos so they fit the allotted space.
- Allow anyone to view and anyone to comment on your VoiceThreads, but be sure to moderate all comments.
- If you are concerned about sharing student work, you can opt to not allow your VoiceThread to be shown on the browse list.
- You can create sharing groups to choose who can view and comment on specific VoiceThreads.
- You can export your VoiceThread as a .mov file and burn copies for your class.
- You can subscribe to VoiceThreads that you like.
I love this example of Math Strategies because it goes back to what we just talked about in staff development. Let students figure out their OWN way of solving a problem! (math + technology = happy Teamann!)
If you’d like to create a VT for your Lions…holler! Ask pain…quick and painless!
VT-ly,
Amber