Web+2.0+Technology+Alex+and+Karyn

What is [|VoiceThread]
toc Voicethread is a media aggregator that is stored and accessed online incorporating images, documents, audio and video files. Users from around the world can add content, navigate pages and leave comments in [|5 different ways.] In laymans terms, voicethread is a kind of online interview platform. There could be a picture in the middle displaying a piece of student artwork. Participants in the Voicethread can then place a comment about the work. These comments, along with the commenters icon, appear around the image.

An introduction to VoiceThread
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Background
VoiceThread was created by Steve Muth, a toy inventor from NY, and Ben Papell, a real estate developer from south Florida. The beta of the service was launched March 2007. VoiceThread's stated goal is make asynchronous voice collaboration around media simple and accessible. [|Voicethread Oral tradition goes Web 2.0]

Media
VoiceThread supports PDF, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, images, and video. VoiceThread even imports photos from Flickr, Facebook, or the web.

Advantages

 * VoiceThread is asynchronous**: Group collaboration and communication can happen at anytime from anywhere.
 * VoiceThread is engaging**: Not being text driven, VoiceThread is built around multimedia applications which help to capture the learner driven generation.
 * VoiceThread is easy to use**: Easy for students and teachers to share graphics, audio/video files and comments.
 * Voicethread allows quick responses:** no need to be limited by the speed you can type at, all you need to do is talk to the computer.

Disadvantages
-Once you allow anybody to comment, you need to check these to ensure appropriate content is being added. -Uploading images is a bit slow. - Advanced packages are fairly expensive for the everyday user. -VoiceThread does not allow multiple users to have simultaneous access to the same account. -VoiceThread might required a rethinking of traditional approaches to assessment.

Example of a classroom Voicethread
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How to use
A tutorial is available online at: View a print-oriented tutorial for VoiceThread that you can use to introduce staff; it is available to download from Scribd for modification/revision using under Creative Commons Copyright (ShareAlike-Noncommercial-Attribution). Thanks to Miguel Guhlin.