WHO?

W H AT ?
WHY?
VOICE THREAD
AMY MORRIS
H I G H TOW E R M I D D L E S C H O O L
WHAT IS VOICETHREAD?
VoiceThread is a web-based platform that enables teachers and
students to upload images, video, or documents, record audio, video,
or text comments, and then invite others to record comments as
well.

(PSC 6.1)
DID YOU KNOW – COBB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
TECHNOLOGY USE VISION
“Technology serves as a tool to engage
students in quality learning experiences
requiring higher-order thinking skills to solve
authentic problems.”
(CCSD WEBSITE)
(PSC 1.1)
STUDENT STANDARDS
*HIGHLIGHTED ARE REACHED WITH VOICETHREAD*
• Students will use next generation technology tools to access, analyze and apply increasingly complex information to draw conclusion and
make informed decisions.
• Student learning will be enhanced through open access and equitable distribution of online communication tools and information
resources.
• Students and teachers will be technologically literate and will model responsible digital citizenship through the ethical use of information.
• Students and teachers will use technology to extend learning beyond the classroom and the school day.
• Students will use technology to connect and collaborate with classmates, educators, and experts around the world.
• Students, teachers, and educational leaders will use technology to assess, monitor, analyze, and report student performance data
immediately to inform instructional planning and provide timely targeted feedback to students and teachers.
• Students will use rigorous online and blended learning opportunities including Cobb Virtual Academy and Georgia Virtual School to
succeed academically.
• Technology will improve communication between district stakeholders, ensuring that students, parents, teachers, administrators, support
personnel, board members, and community members receive relevant information.
• All district personnel will use technology to maximize and personalize their professional learning.
• Federal, state, and local funding sources will be maximized to support professional learning in the effective integration of technology into
curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
 WHAT GRADE LEVEL CAN USE
VOICETHREAD?
• EVERYONE but 5th grade and above would be able to produce the best products without the help of a
teacher.
• If a student can use PowerPoint they can handle VoiceThread.
• Teachers can use it for PK- FOREVER!
• Classrooms can use VOICETHREAD as a storytelling tool, a deep thinking tool, a research tool, a
communication tool, and even an assessment tool.
Examples:
Elementary School
• Displaying class poems with students reading their own poems.
• Digital Class Yearbook – with students talking
Middle School
• Professional Group Projects all compiled into one file with each student doing the work from their home or class.
High School
• Digital Art Portfolio for College
• Presentation format for a class – student does not have to stand up in front of class and you can still hear the
student presenting the slides.
(PSC 2.6) (PSC 4.1)
WHAT DO WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT
VOICETHREAD IN OUR SCHOOLS?

•Nothing that we do not already have!

IPADS DESKTOPS LAPTOPS SMART PHONES

•It’s comes in APP or a WEBSITE form.

(PSC 3.6)
HOW CAN I BECOME EDUCATED ON
VOICETHREAD?
• User Friendly
• The APP and WEBSITE offer tutorials and videos how to use the
program to your advantage.
• There are templates, examples and ideas.
• Professional Learning Communities
• Technology Coaches

(PSC 3.6)
WHAT LIMITATIONS COULD COME
FROM VOICETHREAD?
• Voicethread is limited in the amount of content you may upload and use.
• Ethical? Yes, students need to follow the plagiarism laws in their handbooks.
Same rule apply.
• Safe? Yes, if you teach your students the rules. If used for only educational
purpose student would need to act like professionals.
– If a student knows that anything they post will be public then they are more aware of their
actions
– You can be anonyms and post an avatar instead of your picture.

(PSC 4.2)
HOW MUCH?
Training for STAFF – FREE
• Workshops are available but not needed if you have a Tech
Savy Collegue

Training for STUDENT -FREE

(PSC 3.6)
FUNDING?
No $$$$ is need for VoiceThraed unless you are
interested in paying an additional cost, you are limited
to a short 30 second video. You can create groups of
30 second clips if needed.
* This would be nice but not worth it unless it is
being used regularly.
 HOW CAN I USE VOICETHREAD
IN THE CLASSROOM?
• Describe how VOICETHREAD could be used to meet content standards and student technology standards.
– Students could use VT to meet standards with online discussions with classmates/tutoring.Teacher directed.
– Students/teachers can use VT as an assessment method for students to meet standards via verbal answers and engaging discussions.
• Describe how VT promotes specific student learning goals.
– VT promotes H.O.T.S of students making students responsible for researching answers to questions and developing meaningful
discussions/projects on content.
– Students will engage more in class discussions if they can do it at their fingertips and not standing in front of a class.
• Describe how the emerging technology could be used to differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of all students.
Students learn in a variety of ways. VT benefits students with disabilities with the use of a variety of devices to produce work and also you can
add audio or text.
• Describe VT promotes communication locally and globally with students, parents, peers, and the larger community.
– VT is a COMMUNICATION device for teacher and/or students. What the students/teachers develop is viewable by anyone who the
creator allows. This is a great way to keep parents involved in student work and see what they are creating. It is also a great way to make
sure THE STUDENT is doing the work!
(PSC 2.5)
(PSC 2.1)
(PSC 3.7)
 WHAT DOES RESEARCH SAY ABOUT
THE USE OF VOICETHREAD?
Indiana Reading Journal published Dr. Tara Kingsly findings:
“ VoiceThread as an online tool for supporting literacy and Higher Order Thinking Skills
(HOTS) within the top three levels of the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy. Web 2.0 tool allowing
users to create, share, and comment on images, documents, and videos. Readers are first
provided with an overview of VoiceThread followed by curriculum opportunities for using
VoiceThread to analyze, evaluate, and create.”

(PSC 3.6)
 HOW & WHY CAN VOICETHREAD BE
IMPLEMENTED IN OUR SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENT?
• HTMS implement VOICETHREAD
– Technology PLC groups to initiate and sustain the VOICETHREAD.
– We are a B.Y.O.D school. Students and teachers ONLY need the APP (it’s FREE)
– Instructional tool as a teacher
– Assessment method for discussions at home
– Digital documentation of classwork/ STEM activities
– Teacher intro on first day of class! Slides about self and class expectations.
– Sub Plans (pre taught class) (PSC 1.4)
(PSC 5.2)
(PSC 1.2)
 WHAT DID I LEARN WHILE SELECTING
AND EVALUATING VOICETHREAD?
VoiceThread is the most simple Web 2.0 tool.
It can be accessed and used everywhere with smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops.
Wide Variety of uses in for teachers and students. ENDLESS
– Assessments
– Group Projects
– Discussion Boards
– Individual Projects
– Online Portfolio

(PSC 6.2)
HOW DID THIS EXPERIENCE IMPROVE
AND STRENGTHEN MY PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE?
I am so excited to meet with my principal to discuss doing a PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING in-service for our teachers. I would love to offer a tutorial on
VoiceThread and provide teachers with the endless opportunities VoiceThread
has for their classroom and professional career.
I have been overwhelmed with all the methods I have learned about through my
Specialist course but VoiceThread is my favorite because it is so easy and
teachers and students can both use it.
VoiceThread can be used to reach many Higher Order Thinking activites.
REFERENCES
Kingsley, T. (2015).VoiceThread for HOTS: Using Technology to Analyize, Evaluate, and Create.
Indiana Reading Journal, 44(1), 36-45. Retrieved July 8, 2017, from https://view.joomag.com/indiana-
reading-journal-volume-44-issue-1/0804259001441217311/p36?
Websites:
http://voicethread.com/#home
https://voicethread.com/about
https://www.cobbk12.org