I’m using a web-based program called Voicethread to have students record their ideas and memories of what we have been learning about. The plan is for partner classes to also use this program to record their feedback so we can communicate in an open dialogue regardless of time zones and schedule differences.
I really like Voicethread because it’s very user-friendly (the kids pick it up after a 5 min demo), and it allows for typing, audio-only recording (microphone), and video recording (web cam). So far I’ve basically made a short slideshow using pictures I’ve taken at school documenting certain activities and then had students work in pairs to help each other leave a comment when they are at the computer center (then they play games linked on our website or complete a typing/art activity using software purchased by our district). Again, my first graders can all do this independently after practicing as a whole group a few times and with minimal troubleshooting help from an adult. As they get more proficient with the program I monitor the threads more, but here are some that demonstrate the possibilities:
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Step 1: Look through Voicethread’s instructional videos that walk you through the process of creating a “thread” (slideshow) and recording comments: http://ed.voicethread.com/share/8381/ and the online documents that give a good overview of how educators can best use this tool: http://ed.voicethread.com/help/manuals/
Step 2: Register for an educator’s account at http://ed.voicethread.com
I paid the one-time $10 fee for a Pro Educator account to get more storage space but you can definitely start with the free account and do a lot before you run out of memory. All you need is a valid email address and your school’s address/website.
Step 3: Set-up identities or profiles for each student/class. Once you have registered you will receive a confirmation email. Click on the link in the email and then log in at ed.voicethread.com then click on your email address in the upper right corner, and select My Identities.
Take a minute to edit your identity. I use the generic name “Your Teacher” and a random picture of an animal or design for my image. Now click Add an Identity and, to maintain internet anonymity/safety, enter a student’s initials or a pseudoname they will recognize.
Voicethread will automatically assign them a random black/white icon (most seem to be Monopoly game pieces). I like to have my students design their own icon either using crayons/markers and then I take a digital picture of their drawing and upload it here, or using an art program on the computer and save a screenshot of the image. Jpeg and Bitmap files work well, but the icon will be cropped into a small square image so keep that in mind (give them square paper to draw on or remind them that they won’t be able to see many details).
NOTE: you will not be able to monitor student comments (approve before they go live in the thread) if you create the thread under the same account that you create identities in. I recommend creating TWO accounts (will need two emails or two versions of your email that work like name@email.com and n.ame@email.com); account #1 will be for creating threads and moderating comments, and account #2 will be for creating comments. So you log in as #1 when you are uploading pictures and approving comments for publishing in the thread, and you log in as #2 when you are students are recording their comments.
Step 4: Register for a second educator’s account at http://ed.voicethread.com
I learned the hard way that you want to pay another one-time $10 so you have full access to embed/share threads from ed.voicethread. If you just go with the free educator account you have to change the embed/share code to be regular voicethread.com instead of ed.voicethread.com which is not worth saving $10!
Total cost: $20.
Total time: about 20 minutes, if you already have your students’ identity jpegs ready to upload.