Voicethread

=Thing 13 (Week 9): Voicethread=
 * [[image:http://23things.barrow.wikispaces.net/file/view/thread2.jpg/69916743/thread2.jpg width="249" height="249" caption="Image by hddod in Flickr" link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hddod/1381966398"]] ||
 * Image by hddod in Flickr ||

** Introduction **
As we discovered in [|Thing 11], web-based slide shows are a terrific medium for self-expression. Although these tools can allow for multiple authors, they do not allow for much interactivity unless they have commenting features. Voicethreads take off where the slide shows end, giving the original author a format from which they can express themselves, teach, interact with others, and more.

**Discovery Exercise**
What is a Voicethread? Instead of having you read mounds of text, let's take a look at a Voicethread to get a little idea of what it is.

__** Helping Hint **__ - Give these time to load. Each image has audio to accompany it, but it may not play right away. Once you hit the play button (in the middle of the Voicethread screen), the slide show will progress on it's own. However, if you get the urge to move it forward, you can hit the **right** arrow.

[|Image credits] And from Voicethread's perspective since they developed the product and because I thought they did a great job of explaining. The last few pictures aren't very relevant, but the beginning few do a great job of showing off Voicethread.



**Help Page**: [|Anatomy of a Voicethread] When you first get into the Voicethread, it can be a bit confusing what to do and where to go, as well as how to "work" a Voicethread once you get to one. This help page will assist you in navigating the site as well as a voicethread itself. It is HIGHLY advisable that you take a few minutes to go through this page if you've never experienced Voicethreads before.

Explore Time!
This will be purely painless - I promise! So, get yourself comfy and explore a few of the sample Voicethreads below. In the education community, Voicethreads have become a very popular medium for classroom and collaborative projects. The ones that I've selected below are just a sampling of what is out there. Thanks to its flexible nature, Voicethreads, as you'll see, can be used in a variety of ways. As you're exploring these samples, think about how Voicethreads might be incorporated into your classroom and/or professional practices.

**Examples Voicethreads**
This first example shows off the collaborative nature of Voicethread as an application as different educators have "chimed in" to offer take on ways to use Voicethread in Education.



Here are some additional examples of //how// Voicethreads can be used in education. Unlike the examples below that show actual projects, this PDF file contains ideas for using Voicethreads in Education as well as the embedded Google Presentation below. [|example voicethreads.pdf]


 * = EHS Period 6 Book Club - High School Level ||= Tall Tales - Elementary Level ||
 * < [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNDEwMjY2MTcyMTAmcHQ9MTI*MTAyNjYxODQyOSZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWIzODQyNzgmZz*yJnQ9Jm89OWY5MTYxZmI5NDU4NDUzYjk2ZTNkODNkMWUzMTVkYjkmb2Y9MA==.gif]] ||< [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNDEwMjU3NDEwMzgmcHQ9MTI*MTAyNTc*MjI4OCZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWIyOTgxNSZnPTImdD*mbz*5ZjkxNjFmYjk*NTg*NTNiOTZlM2Q4M2QxZTMxNWRiOSZvZj*w.gif]] ||
 * = Which energy drink will diffuse the best through a cell membrane? - 9th grade Biology ||= Digital Insect Collection - 6th Grade ||
 * < [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNTE4MjcxOTk1NTkmcHQ9MTI1MTgyNzIwMTA5MCZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWI*NzQyNSZnPTImbz*5ZjkxNjFmYjk*NTg*NTNiOTZlM2Q4M2QxZTMxNWRiOSZvZj*w.gif]] ||< [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNDEwMjU5NTQzMTYmcHQ9MTI*MTAyNTk1NTQ1NyZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWIxNzMxOTkmZz*yJnQ9Jm9mPTA=.gif]] ||
 * = 11th Grade Art Media Portfolio ||= Brazilian Culture by ESL Students ||
 * < [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNDEwMjYxMDgwNzkmcHQ9MTI*MTAyNjEwOTUxNyZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWI2NzcwMiZnPTImdD*mb2Y9MA==.gif]] ||< [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNDEwMjg3NDc2ODUmcHQ9MTI*MTAyODc*OTEwNyZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWI4MDc3OCZnPTImdD*mbz*5ZjkxNjFmYjk*NTg*NTNiOTZlM2Q4M2QxZTMxNWRiOSZvZj*w.gif]] ||
 * < 4th Grade Art ||< 4th Grade MathCasts ||
 * [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNDEwMjY2OTgyNzEmcHQ9MTI*MTAyNjY5OTMzNCZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWIxMTY*MjYmZz*yJnQ9Jm89OWY5MTYxZmI5NDU4NDUzYjk2ZTNkODNkMWUzMTVkYjkmb2Y9MA==.gif]] || [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNDEwMjc4MzMyNDkmcHQ9MTI*MTAyNzg4ODAxNCZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWIxOTIyMjYmZz*yJnQ9Jm89OWY5MTYxZmI5NDU4NDUzYjk2ZTNkODNkMWUzMTVkYjkmb2Y9MA==.gif]] ||
 * Algebra Problem Solving || Science Fair Project ||
 * [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNDEwMjgwNzE2MDQmcHQ9MTI*MTAyODA3MzEzNSZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWIxNTMwMTMmZz*yJnQ9Jm9mPTA=.gif]] || [[image:http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNDEwMjg1NjY2NTcmcHQ9MTI*MTAyODU2NzkyMyZwPTIwNjQyMSZkPWI*ODUwNyZnPTImdD*mbz*5ZjkxNjFmYjk*NTg*NTNiOTZlM2Q4M2QxZTMxNWRiOSZvZj*w.gif]] ||

Other Examples
 * Voicethread Examples - Unlike the examples above, this PDF file contains "idea" examples of how you can use make the most of Voicethread.
 * [[image:http://www.barrow.wikispaces.net/i/mime/32/application/pdf.png width="32" height="32" link="http://23things.barrow.wikispaces.net/file/view/example+voicethreads.pdf"]] [|example voicethreads.pdf]
 * [|Voicethread Library of Educational Voicethread Samples]

Task
Now that you've explored some educational examples, it's time for you to get your own toes wet in the world of Voicethreads! Don't worry, it's harmless and dare I say - fun?

Part 1 - Comment
The first part of your task is to comment on the embedded Voicethread below. You'll need to make sure that you're signed in though first. If you haven't already established an account, then please visit the help pages below. They will guide you through the steps of creating an account and how to comment on a Voicethread. ** Help Page - [|Creating a Voicethread account] Help Page - [|Commenting on a Voicethread]

So what do I say? ** The thing about commenting is to make sure that you're on the correct page first. Go forward in the presentation to page 13 and add your own idea for how YOU could integrate this tool in your teaching and/or use it as a part of your professional practice.

You **ARE** required to use a microphone. Remember, I have a limited number available for checkout so if you have one available at your school or at home, then please use those first. If you do need one, email me and I'll let you know if I have one you may borrow. You **are not required,** but you __are__ highly encouraged to doodle as you speak. Remember the doodle isn't permanent and is only associated with your comment.

Part 2 - Share
Go to our Sandbox wiki [|2.0 Tools Integration Ideas] page and under Voicethread, add your own examples for how Voicethread can be used. Feel free to use the same idea that you expressed when you commented on the Voicethread.

Part 3 - Reflect
Now that you've had a chance to look through some educational examples of Voicethreads and to comment on one, write a blog post titled **Thing 13** and reflect on the use of this tool in your own educational practices. You may use the questions below to help form your response.
 * Had you ever seen a Voicethread before this course? What did you think about them? What was your first reaction?
 * How could you integrate Voicethreads into your instructional practices? Please provide an example.
 * Compare Voicethreads to some of the Web 2.0 slideshow options. Which do you think might suit your needs best?

You knew it was coming! Create your OWN voicethread!! I dare you to do it. Create your own and you'll earn an additional spot in the drawing. Embed your voicethread in your blog and wiki Sandbox page so everyone can see it, too. Involve your students in commenting on it, and your name goes in another time. Get your students to create a voicethread AND have them comment on them and your name will go in an additional three times. Up to 5 additional times that your name will go in for this challenge task.
 * Challenge Task! **

Should you create a Voicethread with your students, be sure to include it on the [|2.0 Project Share Page] on the Sandbox Wiki.


 * Help Page **- [|Creating a Voicethread]

 __What is a Voicethread image credits in order of appearance:__ New Thread :[|Image by hddod in Flickr] Sewing Needle : [|WadefromOklahoma on Flickr] Yarn Flickr Style :[|Peculiarmomma on Flickr] 365/25: [|Peculiarmomma on Flickr] The February Lady: [|Peculiarmomma on Flickr] A basket of yarn: [|Sea-Turtle on Flickr] Scarf: [|Peculiarmomma on Flickr]