VoiceThread:
Emotional, Visual and Collaborative
Learning Spaces
Michelle Pacansky-Brock
mpb@eduvate21.com
Sierra College
Eduvate21
Visit me on my blog at MPBreflections@blogspot.com

Outcomes
• Demonstrate what a VoiceThread is.
• Demonstrate effectives uses of VoiceThreads for
educational uses.
• Share student feedback about how VoiceThreads
have enhanced their learning experiences.
• Demonstrate how to create and share a
VoiceThread.

by Gustavo G on Flickr

Old Onliner on Flickr

Social Presence
Voice

Collaboration
by VaXzine on Flickr

Community
by Thomas Hawk on Flickr

What is a VoiceThread?
A VoiceThread is an online media album that can hold
essentially any type of media (images, documents and
videos) and allows people to make comments in 5 different
ways - using voice (with a microphone or telephone), text,
audio file, or video (with a webcam) - and share them with
anyone they wish. A VoiceThread allows group
conversations to be collected and shared in one place, from
anywhere in the world.

Can you show me?
http://voicethread.com/share/409/

Visual Assessments

Can You Feel It?

Collaborative \"Lectures\"

Possible Educational Uses
• Discussion Board Alternative
• Visual and Oral Assessments (art, foreign language, poetry)
• Instructor and Student Presentations
• Tutorials
• Interviews and Debates
• Assignment/Syllabus Overview
• Digital Portfolios (end-of-semester compilation of work)
• Other??

Online Student
Survey Results
101 students surveyed, 87 responses received
(88% response rate)
• 70% strongly agreed or agreed that
VoiceThread contributed to establishing a
sense of community in the class.

Online Student
Survey Results
101 students surveyed, 87 responses received
(88% response rate)
• 76% strongly agreed or agreed that
VoiceThread enhanced their ability to
understand visual concepts.

Online Student
Survey Results
101 students surveyed, 87 responses received
(88% response rate)
• 82% strongly agreed or agreed that hearing
my voice increased their sense that I was
actively present in their learning experience
(versus text-only communications).

Online Student
Survey Results
101 students surveyed, 87 responses received
(88% response rate)
• 85% strongly agreed or agreed that seeing
me in web cam comments increased their
sense that I was actively present in their
learning experience (versus text-only
communications).

Redefining Online Learning
I know personally many people who despise
taking online classes for the simple fact they are
boring, and you basically have to teach
yourself. . . . Use of new technology would really
enhance online learning, and possibly draw a
whole new crowd to college, including those who
just can't make it on campus, but would still love
to continue their education.

Redefining Online Learning
\"VoiceThread is an amazing tool and a great way to bring the
students/teacher together and to learn. I really feel that this tool
was a big part of our learning and I hope to see more teachers
utilizing it in their on-line classes. ... I truly am not looking
forward to the end of this class. [Michelle Pacansky-Brock] has
created a virtual world for her students to communicate with
each other and learn from each other. The VoiceThread
provided an opportunity for all of us to see each others'
comments. It helped me to learn and feel like I was a part of a
class even though I was in class from my home.\"

Discussion Board
Alternative
“VoiceThread is superior [to the discussion board]
for two reasons, one, you can interact with the
image while explaining your post and, two, you have
the option to talk or write. My preference is
speaking. Love those options!”

ESL/Foreign
Languages
http://voicethread.com/share/34182/

http://voicethread.com/share/254429/

An American visitor to Kenya narrates dangerous days she and
her son spent in Kenya following recent elections there. She
follows the story of their escape with short biographies of their
Kenyan friends, whose livelihoods now weigh in the balance.
http://voicethread.com/share/45226/

What do students think?
http://voicethread.com/share/99673/

Account Options

www.voicethread.com
Creating a VoiceThread is as easy as 1-2-3!