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VoiceThread
for all grade levels
by Deb Bannon 
 VoiceThread is an online tool that has loads of potential for teachers. Its developers describe it as a “…collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to leave comments … using voice (with a mic or phone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam).” Imagine the possibilities and your students’ excitement when they record their own voices as they tell their stories or collaborate with classmates or new friends around the world.
The nitty gritty: VoiceThread is available on-line and requires no downloads. It is a secure environment. All users are known and must be added by the teacher or account administrator, so no “strangers” will be allowed to contribute to a class’s work. Users can choose to share with as few as 20 people or as many as in the whole world. VoiceThread allows comments to be moderated by the teacher. All “threads” can be exported as an archival movie that includes all media, comments, and doodles, so students’ work can be saved off-line. However, this feature carries with it a small fee. Additionally, VoiceThread can be embedded in a school’s existing website, making access easy.
The possibilities for integrating VoiceThread into a writing curriculum are endless. Consider creating threads to share personal narratives, short stories, research projects, or poetry slams. Check out one class’s poetry book on this web site. This project could be expanded by having students choose a picture to represent their poems and asking other students to tell what they liked about each poem or what they thought each poem meant.
There are many examples incorporating a variety of media and writing genres including poems, book reviews, multimedia presentations, digital stories, literature circles, book talks, and self-portraits. Below is a list of helpful resources to guide you through your adventure in VoiceThread:
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VoiceThread website
- EdTechTalk: ETT is a community of educators interested in discussing and learning about the uses of educational technology.
- VoiceThread for Educators Ning: Looking to create, build and keep resources for people using http://voicethread.com in their classrooms.
Deb Bannon
Deb Bannon, former elementary school teacher, is an independent consultant. Among other roles and contractual arrangements with local school districts and the Indiana Dept. of Education, she is a facilitator for the Buddy project and a trainer for the BTLC.
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