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Many critics argue that kids will become distracted if cell phones are allowed in class. Cell phones, however, potentially create the same distraction that comes along with sitting next to a classmate.

Homework alerts and project directions can be sent via text message

One of the many missions of the educational system in the United States is to prepare students for life as adults so they can be productive citizens in a vastly changing world. Technology has been around for decades and is only growing and advancing. So why are schools not informing students on how to use it safely and effectively?

80 percent of high school students in the United States have cell phones.

One tool that can help educators to do just that is Voicethread.

Known as a “group audio blog,” Voicethread allows users to record text and audio comments about uploaded images.

Voicethread is Asynchronous:

Voicethread is Engaging:

Begin by carefully selecting a topic that will promote conversation and debate between students—and that can be conveyed through images currently available to you.

don’t be afraid to disagree with something

Initial comments should be somewhere between 1 and 3 sentences long. 

The best Voicethreads are truly interactive—with users listening and responding to one another. 

They come to the conversation with an open mind, willing to reconsider their own positions—and willing to challenge the notions of others. 

carefully script out short opening comments for each image that include a question for viewers to consider. 

help other listeners know what it is that has caught your attention.

finish your comment with a question that other listeners can reply to.  Questions help to keep digital conversations going!

To be an active Voicethreader, start by carefully working your way through a presentation.   While viewing pictures and listening to the comments that have been added by other users, you should:   Gather Facts:  Jot down things that are interesting and new to you  Make Connections:  Relate and compare things you are viewing and hearing to things that you already know.  Ask Questions:  What about the comments and presentation is confusing to you?  What don’t you understand?  How will you find the answer?  Remember that there will ALWAYS be questions in an active thinker’s mind!  Give Opinions:  Make judgments about what you are viewing and hearing.  Do you agree?  Do you disagree?  Like?  Dislike?  Do you support or oppose anything that you have heard or seen?  Why? Use the following sentence starters to shape your thoughts and comments while viewing or participating in Voicethread presentations.  Comments based on these kinds of statements make Voicethreads interactive and engaging.   This reminds me of… This is similar to… I wonder… I realized… I noticed… You can relate this to… I’d like to know… I’m surprised that… If I were ________, I would  ______________ If __________ then ___________ Although it seems… I’m not sure that…

Just be sure to disagree agreeably

Assessing Voicethread Participation

Essentially mirroring the reflective aspects of Konrad Glogowski's system for pushing reflective blogging, I've decided to ask my students the following four questions while we're working with a new Voicethread:

To craft careful answers, they must truly consider the comments of others---an essential skill for promoting collaborative versus competitive dialogue---and compare those comments against their own beliefs and preconceived notions. 

Voicethread Handouts  

Voicethread Do's and Don'ts

Citing Images

Voicethread allows users to upload documents to their strands of conversation as well.  That means that users can create a "Works Cited" page in a word processing application and upload it at the end of their Voicethread presentations. 

This one-page handout is designed to introduce students to some general tips for participating in Voicethread conversations.