Who we are:

2. Who we are: Nancy Richtol, Literacy Teacher, grade 6  Rebecca Ekstrom, School Librarian, grades 6-8 Algonquin Middle School Averill Park CSD

3. Who are you? • K-12 Teachers? • Librarians? • Undergrad or Graduate students? • Professors? • Technology Coordinators?

4. What is a ? • is… • a Web 2.0 web-based application, (collaboration: trend), that lets the user combine photos with their recorded voice to create a unique presentation. • Viewers, (with user’s permission), can view the voicethread, edit the voicethread or make comments on other’s voicethreads, (comment using voice, text, {and doodle as they comment} or via video). • Voicethread has been called a “group audio blog” b/c users can make comments on other’s voicethreads, (if they’re public). • http://voicethread.com/

6. Historical Fiction voicethreads • Each student was required to check out a historical fiction book for their grade 6 Literacy class • We esp. liked the idea of bringing together new technology with books that may have taken place centuries ago • 3 Literacy teachers

7. Logistics • Lib. gave students a quick tutorial/overview • used external mics • used labs, mobile labs and classroom computers (even computers in other teacher’s rooms) • The work was “in school” (students w/o computers ok) • “pay it forward”

8. Creating a Steps: • choose a book (or topic) • write a script (based on a handout) • create an account • upload photos (and save the URL) • create a Works Cited page • practice script at least 7 times • record your voice • attach permissions for teachers to view (and/or comment, edit) • e-mail it to teachers

9. student sample • This voicethread was created by a grade 6 Literacy student and is based on the book Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman.

10. student sample • This voicethread was created by a grade 6 Literacy student and is based on the book Saving Grace by Priscilla Cummings

11. Voicethread gives opportunities for students to… • foster 21st century learning skills, (problem solving use of multimedia, critical thinking, collaboration) • create a presentation without having to be in front of the class • practice speaking skills • be creative • practice their writing and editing skills • learn how to import photos • increase tech. skills • work together: potentially, students could collaborate with students in other countries!

12. Voicethread gives opportunities for teachers to… • help reinforce/teach students how to edit/refine their work (the writing process) • talk about how to create keywords to search for images • discuss citing images/plagiarism • foster creativity • foster collaboration (if students work together and edit one voicethread) • connect projects to NYS and national tech. standards, (ISTE) • among many other things…

13. What about the students who don’t typically shine or can’t always get it together? • Last year we had a student that had a hard time finishing projects. • Yet, he finished his voicethread and did a fine job!

14. Paying it forward: students help each other troubleshoot during the process.

15. Students were able to view each other’s voicethreads in class.

16. Spreading voicethread 2009-2010 • Last year, (the first year we used voicethread), the Lib. and the Literacy teachers presented vt, along with 2 students, (vt to come), at a faculty meeting • After that, an ELA teacher had students make their own with historical fiction books about the Holocaust

17. A voicethread, about how to make a voicethread… • Two students were out voicethread experts and they were able to help others • Since they mastered the program, for extra credit, they made a vt about a vt • They also (bravely!) came to our faculty meeting • They spoke about their own experience using the program • We played their voicethread for the faculty

18. Spreading voicethread 2010-2011 • This year, we showcased it again during “best practice” breakout sessions during a faculty meeting • Music teachers are considering it-students would play instruments • Sound quality is not perfect, but it would be a way to record sound. • A FACS teachers is also considering it.

19. LOTE voicethreads • A LOTE, (Language), teacher used it in French class for parts of the house (Ma Maison) this year. • Students used photos of their own home or their dream house.

20. Getting Started with voicethread • registering on vt and using it are fairly simple • students will pick it up quickly (digital natives) • 1. Register • 2. Create a unique password • 3. Include your e-mail address* • 4. Upload your first photo-the book cover • 5. Compose your comment/s • 6. Record your voice • *if you have students that don’t have an e-mail address, we used gaggle.net which generates a temporary e-mail

21. Let’s make a voicethread based on Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman • read chapters 1-3 • write on the handouts: images, words, things to say to summarize each chapter • http://voicethread.com/ • register and DIY (with help)! • first image to import: the book cover • gallery at end

22. voicethread’s Future • improvements for 2012: • geotagging • dashboard (controls) for user management • comments by drag/drop • improvements will be made with searching • finding a way to connect people outside of the voicethread

23. Another Web 2.0 program kids will love:

24. What’s a glog? • Glogster is an application that lets you create a glog • A glog is an online, interactive poster full of multimedia, (photos, sound clips, websites, etc.) • Glog is short for graphics (or graphical) blog

25. What is the difference b/t glogster edu and glogster? • glogster edu is for use by teachers • When you log in, you’ll be able to see the glogs in all your student’s accounts • Regular glogster: may include language/questionable things • If you use regular glogster you cannot see your student’s glogs unless they log in! This is the one you’ll want students to use!

26. Problem: A free teacher account only gives you 50 student accounts. Solution: try to get into accounts from grade 5 and/or have some students pair up, even if they read different books. Students would have to think “outside the box” Two grade 6 Literacy students read different books. They made remarkable connections to both books and were able to compare/contrast. They were also very thoughtful about layout, space and design. Student Sample:

27. We hope you try voicethread and glogster! • If you don’t yet feel comfortable using it with kids, try it out on your own. • The possibilities are endless!

28. Questions?

29. Contact Info. • Nancy Richtol: • richtoln@averillpark.k12.ny.us • Rebecca Ekstrom: • ekstromr@averillpark.k12.ny.us • Algonquin Middle School, Averill Park CSD

30. Works Cited Digital image. Web. <http://i43.tower.com/images/mm100162216/seedfolks-paul-fleischman-paperback-cover-art.jpg>. Digital image. Web. <http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0525471235.01._SX140_SY225_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg>. Digital image. Web. <http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n56/n284593.jpg>. Glogster EDU - 21st Century Multimedia Tool for Educators, Teachers and Students | Text, Images, Music and Video. Web. 12 May 2011. <http://edu.glogster.com/>. Dunn, Joanna. "Things You Need to Know About Voicethread." Statewide Voicethread Project. Hawaii Department of Education, 2011. Web. 13 May 2011. <http://hawaiivln.k12.hi.us/vt/downloads/7_THINGS_ABOUT_VT_FINAL.pdf>. VoiceThread - Group Conversations around Images, Documents, and Videos. Web. 12 May 2011. <http://voicethread.com/>.

31. Thank you!