VoiceThread
VoiceThread is an online service that supports the asynchronous group discussion of documents, presentations, images, audio files, and videos. Unlike typical online discussions that are composed of a chronological string of text responses to an original, text-based thread, VoiceThread makes it easier to center a discussion around a multimedia element (e.g., a picture, a video) and participants can respond using text, audio, and video input. Responses are not displayed chronologically, but organized around the central multimedia element visually, like people sitting around a table.
2020-2021 pilot project
TLT is working with faculty in the Art & Design and MSW departments during the 2020-2021 academic year to pilot test the deep integration of VoiceThread with Brightspace courses. Instructors and students in the pilot activate their VoiceThread accounts and access their VoiceThread homepage, course view, and specific VoiceThread activities via links in Brightspace courses. Instructors create these links and both instructors and students then use them to access VoiceThread features and functions. Direct any questions to TLT (tlt@winona.edu).
Brightspace deep integration and single sign-on
Our current VoiceThread license requires that instructors and students access VoiceThread through D2L Brightspace. For instructors, your VoiceThread account is created the first time you create a link to VoiceThread in your Brightspace course. For students, your VoiceThread account is created the first time you follow a VoiceThread link placed in your Brightspace course by your instructor. Your VoiceThread account will automatically use your WSU email address as your username. This single sign-on process means that you will not have to sign in to VoiceThread when you select the link in your Brightspace course. Because you have already signed in to Brightspace, VoiceThread recognizes you as an authenticated user.
VoiceThread roles
When your VoiceThread account is activated, it will be assigned one of two roles corresponding to your role in the Brightspace course. Instructors are assigned the Pro role and students are assigned the Basic role. What instructors and students can do in VoiceThread is determined by their role.
Basic
If you are a Student in the Brightspace course, you will receive a Basic VoiceThread account, allowing you to access course groups, watch VoiceThread activities, add comments to existing activities, and create your own activities.
Pro
If you are a Teacher in the Brightspace course, you will receive Pro VoiceThread account, allowing you to do everything a Student can do, plus the following:
- Create course groups and invite students to them. The integration with D2L Brightspace automates this process, so instructors actually don't need to do this, even though they could.
- Create graded VoiceThread assignments. Instructors do this through Brightspace by adding a link to the assignment. A column is created automatically in the Brightspace grade book.
- Archive student work. Instructors with Pro accounts have the ability to save student work as videos by exporting completed projects. The resulting video includes all media, comments, and doodles. You can play the video files offline and upload them to MediaSpace.
How to use VoiceThread
Instructors
- How to add a link to the VoiceThread homepage or course view to your Brightspace course
- How to add a link to a specific VoiceThread activity to your Brightspace course
Students
More information
External links
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