VoiceThread, a Web 2.0 tool, is a great tool for collaboration in the classroom. In VoiceThread you can upload different types of media including documents, images, pictures, videos, and audio files that will be used as a center for conversation. VoiceThread would be beneficial to use with students in grades K-12. A free version is available as well as versions for a single educator, school license, or district license.
There are many uses for VoiceThread in the classroom. In a foreign language classroom a teacher could post a picture and the students could practice speaking in the foreign language about the picture. It could also be used to put pictures of various vocabulary words and the students could practice speaking the various words. In an English classroom students could use various forms of media along with the features of VoiceThread to create an engaging book report. In history, a teacher could post a speech by a famous person and the students could comment on connections between the speech and the time in history. A physical education teacher could post a video clip where there was a violation in a game and the students could have a conversation about the violation. These are just a few uses of VoiceThread that I came up with but there are endless possibilities with all that it has to offer. If you choose the link Ideas for Using VoiceThread on the website http://voicethread.com/ you will see some additional examples of how to create lessons using this Web 2.0 tool.
Here is a link to a VoiceThread I created to use with my algebra students that are working toward the following standard:
• CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.B.4 For a function that models a relationship between two quantities, interpret key features of graphs and tables in terms of the quantities, and sketch graphs showing key features given a verbal description of the relationship. Key features include: intercepts; intervals where the function is increasing, decreasing, positive, or negative; relative maximums and minimums; symmetries; end behavior; and periodicity.
If you are interested in creating your own VoiceThread please view the screencast I created, Using VoiceThread in Your Classroom!
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