Voicethread

Retrieved from: https://voicethread.com/

Voicethread is a service that allows for the creation and sharing of presentation like files that incorporate video/audio narration.  While this doesn't seem like anything you haven't already seen before somewhere else or by using other methods like Youtube, what's really different here is the ability to post comments that are audio or video.  Most other services limit you to text based comments or responses which limits learning possibilities, outcomes and engagement.

As a learning tool I can easily see this being used instead of live chat in online courses where it can be extremely difficult to get everyone together on something like Google Hangouts to have a discussion.  I also see this as a more engaging and more interactive than strings of typed comments in a forum.  It would allow learners to post a audio/video responses to discussion topics and produce something that is much closer to a live discussion than forum posts, especially when viewed after everyone has contributed. 

The fact that you can highlight aspects of the slide to emphasize a point or bring attention to exactly what you are responding too can had value to your responses.

Through my discovery of this tool I was asked to post responses on a few questions in a Voicethread.  While I wasn't able to post a response using audio/video due to technical issues I was having with my webcam, I still posted typed comments, since you can still do that too if that is how you'd rather comment.  Below is this very example, where you will get a better feel for what I have been describing and understand what I meant above.

 

As a learning tool I would file this one under collaborative tools because you can easily tailor a thread to be a discussion initiator which leads to peer/shared learning as everyone adds information, insights and share experiences.  Here the collaboration is more about the learning than the content itself.  Learning from one another is beneficial but learning from one another in a way that is a bit more human than text is even better. 

Have you ever worked with Voicethread? If so, what has your experience been like? How would you use this as a learning tool? 

As always, thoughts or comments below. 

Mat