Every exemplary course designer is concerned with creating a since of presence in the online space. One of my favorite tools for this purpose is VoiceThread and I use a strategy that I refer to as “the interactive lecture”. VoiceThread allows me to upload PowerPoint slides, images, video, and weblinks; narrate them and invite learners to comment. Learners can comment on VoiceThread using their keyboard, microphone, webcam, cell phone, or an uploaded audio file. It’s also a great tool for a quick formative assessment.
The VoiceThread below is an example of a “cognitive ice-breaker”. It was used in the first week of the course. The first two slides allow learners to introduce themselves. The remaining slides are a formative assessment exercise on their comprehension of the sociological imagination discussed in their text. While you will be unable to comment on the VoiceThread below, I hope you find that it sparks your own creative ideas.
Many thanks to Michelle Pacansky-Brock for including VoiceThread in her Building Community with Social Media workshop!
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I have just created my first voicethread for my onlne course. Please tell me how to put my saved voicethread onto Blackboard.
Hi Andrea — Here is a link to a minute video demonstrating how to embed your VoiceThread into Blackboard.