VOICETHREAD

VoiceThread  is an application that can be used right from your browser, which allows you to use different types of media to create an interactive slideshow.  You can use pictures, videos, documents, or even presentations.  Additionally, you can record video/audio that allows you to describe each slide in more detail.  You can even draw right on the slide to circle or highlight different areas of interest. It is a great resource for teachers. I remember back when I was in high school, my calculus teacher was away for a few days and left pre-recorded lectures for us to watch. It was a video in which she explained the topic both by using audio and by drawing right on the slide. I’m not sure whether she used VoiceThread for it, but regardless of the application she used I was quite impressed. How does VoiceThread fit into my PLE? Hard to say because I could use it to create my own VoiceThread, thus fitting into the “creating” section of my PLE, or use it as a resource to collect information and therefore fitting into the “collecting information” section of my PLE.  Either way, VoiceThread is a tool that I will be incorporating in my learning. I’m the kind of person that learns through interactive teaching methods, and my favourite videos on YouTube are the ones explaining how a certain mechanism works (science videos mostly, such as those showing how a G-protein coupled receptor works). The variety of media types that can be incorporated into the slideshow allow for better explanation of a subject. Here’s a discussion VoiceThread on digital rights and responsibilities: