VoiceThread
According to their website, VoiceThread is a “tool for having conversations around media.” Once the media is posted, anyone can comment by phone, webcam, microphone, typing, or file upload. The creator can comment back, thus resulting in a conversation. Registration and use of all features is free.
I found out about VoiceThread from one of my instructors for the Music Learning Theory Elementary Certification course, Jennifer Bailey. She uses it on her school website to reinforce student’s notation reading skills (see I Can Read! and Recorder Karate). Other teachers use it in a similar way, reinforcing listening lessons with media (see Carnival of the Animals) and posting videos of student compositions for comments (see Year 4/5 Music Making).
Some of the most interesting voice threads I came across appeared to be mostly student-led - Jack’s Monster Cards and Social Justice Poetry Slam. I am excited by the possibilities of encouraging student creativity and interaction through VoiceThread.
