Web 2.0 tools #3:http://voicethread.com

Voice thread: http://voicethread.com

Voicethread.com is a collaborative web 2.0 tool that allows many users to participate in a group discussion. The voice thread application provides five ways for users to participate: computer microphone, telephone, webcam, text, or audio files. This feature is exciting because participating individual can choose the form of communication that suits them best which supports the ideas of brain-based learning and multiple intelligence theories.

This program can be set up for use at the k-12 level, higher education, business, or personal use for a small fee. If you would like more information on this site there are some wonderful navigational tools that you can look at for free. The home page offers an informative tutorial along with access to examples.

A great way to include this into an art class would be to use this web tool as a form of art criticism. The teacher could provide artwork and then students comment from a prompt like, put yourself in the shoes of the people in the image, what would you say? Ask students to place themselves in the picture and tell about what is going on? As students participate they have the opportunity to zoom in and out of the image and use drawing tools over the picture to elaborate on their expression. Students could critique professional artwork and also the work of their peers.

This could be used as a storytelling application in any subject. Consider social studies. A teacher could upload a picture from a historic event or time period and ask students to comment. Voicethread could be used to review a book or to personify an object or animal. Students could expand on each other’s comments by using them as a prompt for writing a short story.

Collaborative learning is fun and interactive. Students learn from each other and have an opportunity for anonymous self-expression. This activity could take place during the school day or at home. Anyone with access to a computer can participate.