Using VoiceThread in the World Language Classroom

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OverviewInstructionsResourcesActivity Management

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, all with no software to install.

Units

 Audio Tools, Presentation Tools, Video Tools

Duration

 2 hours

Standards

 Communication, Communities

LEVEL

 Advanced, Beginner, Intermediate

WEBSITE

 Visit VoiceThread Website

OS

 PC or Mac

PREREQUISITES

  • Basic use of the Internet
  • Ability to setup an account online
  • Ability to set up and use a microphone on a computer

OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, workshop participants will be able to:

  • Describe what “Voice Thread” is
  • Choose language tasks that would be appropriate for their students
  • Sign up and create their own “Voice Thread”
  • Explain how to create tasks that are focused on student collaboration
  • Share their “Voice Thread” online
  • Describe how they will assess students’ learning progress
  • Demonstrate an example of one activity using “Voice Thread” in alignment with the Standards for Foreign Language Learning

MATERIALS NEEDED

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Go to http://voicethread.com
  2. Click Create tab on the top.
    Click "Create" tab on the top.
  3. Click Register below the Sign in box.Click "Register" below the "Sign in" box.
  4. Provide the information.  Click Register. Provide the information. Click "Register".
  5. Go to the e-mail account you just provided and get your user name and password.
  6. Come back to the home page http://voicethread.com/ .
  7. Click the Create tab on the top.Click the "Create" tab on the top.
  8. Type your e-mail address and password.  Click sign in.   Type your e-mail address and password. Click "sign in".
  9. Once you are logged on, note the three tabs (upload, comment, share) on your left. Click upload.
    Once you are logged on, note the three tabs (upload, comment, share) on your left.  
  10. Click my computer if you have images you would like to use: downloaded from The REALIA Project http://www.realiaproject.org/, for example on your computer.  Click my media if you have images on Flicker/Facebook or would like to use free images from The New York Public Library. Click "my computer" if you have images you would like to use: downloaded from The REALIA Project <a href=http://www.realiaproject.org/, for example on your computer. Click “my media” if you have images on Flicker/Facebook or would like to use free images from The New York Public Library. ” width=”482″ height=”228″>
  11. Click an image on your computer (Hold control/apple key to select more than one images) and click select.
    Click an image on your computer (Hold control/apple key to select more than one images) and click "select".
    Now you should see the image uploaded in the box.
    To add a comment on an image, Click on the "Comment" tab on your left.
  12. To add a comment on an image, Click on the Comment tab on your left. You should see a larger image window now.
    You should see a larger image window now.
  13. Click Comment centered underneath the larger image window  You should see a larger image window now.
    You should see four different ways to comment on your image: phone, video, audio and typing.
    You should see four different ways to comment on your image: phone, video, audio and typing.
  14. Click on  record to add a recording of your voice.
    Click on "record" to add a recording of your voice.
  15. Click Allow when the small window comes up and asks for access to your microphone.
    Click "Allow" when the small window comes up and asks for access to your microphone .
  16. Voice Thread automatically starts recording by showing OK. Start talking in red.
    "Voice Thread" automatically starts recording by showing "OK. Start talking" in red.
  17. Click the same button OK, start talking (you might see Stop recording)  to stop the recording. Voice Thread automatically plays back the sound you just recorded.
    Click the same button OK, start talking (you might see Stop recording) to stop the recording. Voice Thread automatically plays back the sound you just recorded.
  18. Choose save when you are happy with your recording.
    Choose save when you are happy with your recording.
  19. Choose cancel if you would like to record again and repeat the steps from #14.
    Choose cancel if you would like to record again and repeat the process from #15.
  20. Click type to write text.
    Click type to write text.
  21. Type in your comment in the box.
    Type in your comment in the box.
  22. Save when you are happy with your text.
    Save when you are happy with your text.
  23. Choose cancel if you would like to rewrite your comment and repeat the process from #21.
    Choose cancel if you would like to rewrite your comment and repeat the process from #21.
  24. Click your profile surrounding the image to play your recording and see your comment.  You should be able to hear your recording, and see your comment.
    Click your profile surrounding the image to play your recording and see your comment. You should be able to hear your recording, and see your comment.
  25. Click the trash can icon to delete your comment as necessary.  You can delete an individual recording (if you recorded more than once) and a text (if you commented more than once) separately.
    Click the trash can icon to delete your comment as necessary.
  26. Click this arrow button to go back to your project when this window opens.
    Click this arrow button to go back to your project when this window opens.
  27. When you are done, save your project by clicking Add a title and link.
    When you are done, save your project by clicking "Add a title and link".
  28. Type in your title and click save.  type in text and click save.
  29. Now you should be able to see your project with the titlle.
    Now you should be able to see your project with the titlel.
  30. Click “Embed” to share your “Voice Thread”.
    Click "Embed" to share your "Voice Thread".
  31. You should be able to see the URL in the box.  This is the webpage address where your project is located.
    You should be able to see the URL in the box. This is the webpage address where your project is located.
  32. Click done after you copy the URL.
    Click "done" after you copy the URL.
  33. Send the URL for viewing and/or a participation in your project.
    You can limit access to your project by changing the setting from default to your own one. To control who can view and/or comment, click Publishing Options.
  34. Click each box if you would like the setting.Click each box if you would like the setting.
  35. Click save when you are done.
    Click save when you are done.
  36. Click My Voice.
    Click My Voice.
  37. Now you should be able to see your project.
    Now you should be able to see your project.
  38. Click menu when you would like to add photos for more conversation, for example.
    Click menu when you would like to add photos for more conversation, for example.
  39. Click Edit to modify your project.
    Click Edit to modify your project.
  40. Click Upload to insert another image and repeat the steps from # 9. Click Upload to insert another image and repeat the steps from # 11.
  41. In order to delete your project, click MyVoice tab from anywhere.  In order to delete your project, click MyVoice tab from anywhere.
  42. Click Menu.
    Click Menu.
  43. Click Delete.
    Click Delete.
  44. Click Delete if you are sure to want to delete. Click Delete if you are sure to want to delete.

Additional Resources and Works Cited

Activity Management

  1. Go to STARTALK Classroom Video Collection. http://www.startalk.umd.edu/teacher-development/videos
    1. View Sun Burford ‘s class at OneWorld Now!http://www.startalk.umd.edu/teacher-development/videos/2009/OneWorldNow-Chinese
    2. List the objectives of her lesson.
    3. Describe how the objectives are met and which standards were addressed.
  2. Go to What’s a Voice Thread anyway?  http://voicethread.com/#u405199.b409.i6394
  3. Watch the VoiceThread on “Digital Library/Foreign Languages” to explore “Voice Thread” examples.
  4. List the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the “Voice Thread” examples.
  5. Come back to the classroom video and explain the potential use of “Voice Thread” to help meet the objectives of Sun Burford’s class.
  6. List what kind of tasks would be appropriate for Sun Burford’s students to help meet her objective using “Voice Thread”.
  7. Explain how to design “Voice Thread” tasks for Sun Burford’s students focused on student collaboration.
  8. Describe how to assess students’ learning progress performed in “Voice Thread”.
  9. Develop an example of one activity for your daily lesson plan using “Voice Thread”.
  10. Write goals and objectives for your activity.
  11. Identify the task your students will be performing.
  12. List standards addressed in your activity and rational.
  13. Describe how students will be collaborating.
  14. Explain how your students’ performance will be assessed.

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