VoiceThread Extends the Classroom with Interactive Multimedia Albums

Laila Weir sold me on the VoiceThread tool in her article.  She reports how this computer tool (developed by Bill Ferriter of Salem, North Carolina )  can be a versatile classroom tool which gets all students interested.  By posting an image, document or video, the teacher can ask the viewer to respond to a question "by typing, recording an audio or video comment, or drawing on the image itself." I love the versatility this gives the teacher in getting responses from his/her students--all of them.  Ms. Weir emphasized that not only do the students who always answer questions respond, but those that are "shy" or rarely answer will answer because they can use their "technical" skills not a pen and pencil.  Another neat aspect is that classrooms in other countries can respond.  This wonderful tool can be used in all classes and can help students with their writing skills, reading skills, and public speaking skills.  As a science teacher, I would use it as one teacher recommended, as an extended KWL. For example,  I would post a picture of a leaf with sunlight shining on it, and ask, "What do you know about photosynthesis?"and "What do we want learn about photosynthesis?"  The students could respond on their computers.  Then after learning about photosynthesis, we would revisit the VoiceThread and correct any misconceptions.  I'm still new to it, so I am just coming up with cool classroom uses for this great tool.  So, in conclusion, Ms. Weir has introduced me to a visual, technological tool that I can put on the VoiceThread web site to which ALL of my students can respond in a variety of ways.  It will help my shy students to be more "vocal" as well as get my students away from the usual pencil and paper exercises into an educational usage of the technological age.

Voicethreads would definitely satisfy NETS 2(communication/collaboration), 4 (critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making), and 5 (digital citizenship).