Overview

The true power of VoiceThread in this context is the ability to create a ‘sense of belonging and engagement’ for students and to instill a supportive ‘presence’ within the Course/Instructor context.

VTs can also be used to measure engagement in the first few weeks as a great way to 'get to know each other and the Learning context'. Creating a low-risk Ice-breaker VT is also a great way to introduce VT to students.>Strategies include:

• Create a 'Get to know each other' VT
• Create an engaged Course O/V VT and ask students to comment
• Create a supportive space, the Course Q&A VT

Considerations

You will find that if you give students the option to comment in voice, video, or text, most will choose text. Keep in mind that students will be nervous — so leaving friendly feedback levels the playing field and helps creates a supportive environment for all learners (setting the tone).

The application of VoiceThread to your practice may align with the following:

Academic Plan 2017-2021 - Personalised & Active Learning

GLTC Framework - 'Optimising technologies to support learning'

Enabling Technology

Important - Always access your VT links via L@G to avoid user-account conflict.

You and your Students will need access to the following equipment:

• Laptop, phone or device with camera and microphone
• PC with USB microphone or camera

Implement

Setting up for a VT Orienting Use-case

Basic set-up via Learning@Griffith and guides can be found on ExLNT (Explore Learning and Teaching) VoiceThread Overview and Guides.

Can I measure engagement without giving Marks?

Yes. Click the VT assignment you created for students in your Learning@Griffith Course, you will see who has submitted and can remind students from the VT interface.

In this use-case, you are asking students to submit a 'submit a comment' type Assignment.

VoiceThread allows you to search for comments, and to identify the duration of a VoiceThread (if you have outlined a limit in your Assignment criteria).

Other VT Use-cases can be found by searching VoiceThread or selecting 'Related Entries'.

Griffith Graduate Attributes

The use of VoiceThread may assist the attainment of the following Griffith Graduate Attributes:

• Effecitve communicators and collaborators
• Innovative, created and entrepreneurial

Support Resources

• Using VoiceThread to Build Student Engagement

  Faculty Focus Guide by John Orlando, PhD

• VoiceThread (Fact sheet). Getting Started with the VLE Tools and the Course Design Standards.

  Fact sheet

• VoiceThread (Module). Getting Started with the VLE Tools and the Course Design Standards.

  Module

Contributed by

• Learning Futures
  

Preferred Citation

Learning Futures (2020). VoiceThread for Orienting. Retrieved from https://app.secure.griffith.edu.au/exlnt/entry/7248/view