VoiceThread

VoiceThread is an asynchronous interactive collaboration tool that allows instructors and students to build online presentations by adding images, videos, and other digital documents to which others in the course can provide verbal, video, or written feedback.

VoiceThread is a third-party tool currently installed in Canvas at ODU.

Notes

  • Developing an accessible VoiceThread requires multiple steps:
    • uploading content to VoiceThread, 
    • adding comments,
    • requesting closed captions for audio comments,
    • editing the machine-generated closed captions for accuracy, and 
    • providing your accessible native file format (e.g., PowerPoint) to students via the learning management system (e.g., Canvas).
  • Edits can be time intensive, requiring repetition of the steps above to ensure accessibility.
  • VoiceThread assignments and grading are not perfect. Assignments must be worth at least three points. Although you can grade directly in VoiceThread, adding grades manually to the Canvas gradebook is suggested to ensure accuracy in grading.

Term-to-Term Maintenance

A best practice is to copy from a course template with no student comments whenever possible.

  • VoiceThread assignments only require a course copy (Instructure Community)
  • Non-graded VoiceThreads are more complex than completing a course copy and requires multiple steps to ensure appropriate access. Using the external tool option, these should be added to your course as content within a module.
    • VoiceThreads you own:
      • If comments are made by students, to prevent FERPA violations, a VoiceThread copy is required that only includes your comments
      • Once the copy is created, you will replace the VoiceThread URL in your module with the new, copied VoiceThread URL
    • VoiceThreads you do not own:
      • Ask the owner to create a copy of the VoiceThread with only their comments to prevent a FERPA violation
      • Ask the owner to share the VoiceThread copy with only their comments with you and provides you edit access
      • Create a VoiceThread copy so you become the owner
        • Create another copy without student comments and keep it as a template to copy from in future terms
      • Once the copy is created, you will replace the VoiceThread URL in your module with the new, copied VoiceThread URL.