VoiceThread

VoiceThread is a great tool that can help you collaborate with others through an interactive slideshow. It is a great tool for people looking to work together and share comments and feedback with each other. VoiceThread also allows you to create slideshows while allowing others to comment on it. As you know, the traditional way to comment is a typing text method. However VoiceThread also allows other types of comments including both voice and video communication. This is very convenient because sometimes it is much easier to use a video or audio recording to voice your opinion rather than write a wall of text.

Photo copied from: https://onlinelearning.rutgers.edu/voicethread

This could be an excellent tool in academic work, be it for group projects or participation in the classroom.  For group work it could be used as a preliminary tool to present the slideshow to the group before the actual presentation and get feedback from others on how things could be changed. Another use could be exactly what we did as part of our activities this week: post a slideshow with various questions relating to course content and have the students respond in whichever way they choose. This is a great way to get students to participate as they may not be comfortable doing so in the classroom.

Photo copied from:
https://sites.google.com/site/digitalcitizenklee/digital-etiquette

Ribble (2013) defines digital etiquette as “electronic standards of conduct or procedure”. In most cases, when you find yourself having to digitally communicate in a professional manner, it makes you think twice about how you are portraying yourself online. VoiceThread allows participants to communicate in three different formats – by voice, video or typed comment. Within any of these formats, you are leaving a digital footprint that stamps your online identity. As such, it almost compels you to communicate in an appropriate fashion – at least it should. By participating or just by listening, watching or reading other comments, you are developing etiquette skills which can assist you in becoming responsible digital citizens. 

I am unsure as to how I am going to use this tool going forward, however if I am ever in a situation where I have to facilitate group opinions on a slideshow I will definitely use VoiceThread. It is a strong collaboration tool that I think I can use again. I would add this tool to the Create section of my PLE.

Here is a link to a VoiceThread that allowed to read and hear my peers' comments while also giving my own input and sharing my thoughts: