Own experience using Voicethread
Strengths:
a) Voicethread is a very simple tool to use. I found it hard to go wrong.
b) You are first guided to a page where you can learn how to use Voicethread so there is plenty of help.
c) It provides different options for physical action. You can use your voice or a video or type out text. You can also doodle.
d) It also provides options for fluency and expressive skills with videos, graphics and text.
e) You can practice your little video/audio bit and don’t have to save it until you feel you have got it right.
f) The telephone option is simple to use and is an option in case you don’t have a microphone.
g) You can record video on Voicethread itself, you don’t have to record it elsewhere and then upload it (though that could be another option that Voicethread could add).
Weaknesses:
a) One thing I personally wanted to do but did not find a way to was to upload both text and video for the same comment so that people can choose whether they want to listen to me or to read my comment. After all, some people prefer reading because you get the gist of a comment by simply scanning the text. You would have to go through the entire audio to listen to it. Having both options would also make it more accessible for people who have difficulty either hearing, seeing or reading.
b) I also wonder if there is a way of editing your audio if you make a mistake without having to start all over again.
Voicethread: Perspective of an Educator
Strengths:
a) The simplicity of Voicethread is important because some teachers may not be comfortable with technology and some may be afraid of it. Graphic files such as JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG as well as doc types such as PPT, PPS, PDF, DOC, XLS etc are all accepted so there are fewer issues of converting files to a specific format.
b) Teachers can also moderate students’ comments, edit their work and create groups (if the school is willing to pay $60 a year).
c) It provides different options for physical action such as video, audio, text and doodling. This is useful in the case of people who cannot use their hands and would rather speak or for people who cannot speak and would prefer typing. Also, you can zoom in and out which helps students to see a graphic better.
d) It provides options for fluency and expressive skills. Students can put up videos or graphics to show people what they are interested in on or comment on other videos through audio, video and text.
Weaknesses:
a) I think I would be a little cautious about allowing students to post videos and pictures of themselves. Of course, students can use an avatar instead, yet I am not in control of what they are doing on Voicethreads that I do not moderate.
b) I would also encourage my students to use the audio option instead of the telephone one since a number has to be provided online and many parents may not approve of that.
Suggestions:
a) I think it would be interesting if you could see related Voicethreads on one page. For example, when you are watching a Youtube video, related videos appear in little icons below so that people can watch those too. Even Amazon encourages people to buy new books by using the same strategy (“Readers who bought this book also bought…”)
b) The doodle feature is makes watching videos engaging and effective. Although, I didn’t use it for my submission, I had tried it out on various other videos. I like that you can pick a color to ensure your doodle will be seen on the screen or even just for fun. However, I prefer my work to be rather neat and when I was watching some videos, I was kind of distracted by the untidiness of the circles and arrows that people were making and when I tried it out myself, I noticed it isn’t very easy to talk and doodle neatly at the same time. Perhaps it would have been easier if Voicethread also had some basic shapes like circles, arrows, squares etc (like the one is MS Word or Paint) which people can use to make shapes.
Location of Comment
I commented on the Voicethread: Opinion of Multiple Means of Action and Expression (VoiceThread link: http://voicethread.com/share/398669/)
Registered name: Aneeka
