VoiceThread Support Information
Important Note:
- VoiceThread has been integrated into Lamakū sandboxes and live course sites so VoiceThreads can be added to Lamakū modules.
- Lamakū will automatically enroll students into VoiceThread, eliminating the need for manual entry or registration into two separate systems.
- Additionally, grades can be sent directly into the Lamakū Grades tool.
For tutorial to use VoiceThread in your Lamakū course site.
On this page:
About VoiceThread
Access this helpful infographic for an overview of the new features and enhancements.
VoiceThread is a learning tool for enhancing student engagement and online presence. With VoiceThread, instructors and/or students can create, share, and comment on images, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, videos, audio files, documents, and PDFs, using a microphone, webcam, text, phone, and audio-file upload. VoiceThread is a cloud application, so there is no software to install. The only system requirement is an up-to-date version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Safari, Edge, and Explorer are not recommended.
If you canʻt find an answer to your question or issue on this webpage, Francis Dumanig fdumanig@hawaii.edu, a long-time user of VoiceThread at UH Hilo, has agreed to provide assistance.
Desktop and Mobile Applications
Desktop Web Application - Instructions
Mobile Application Instructions
Tutorials and Training
Overview and Basics
VoiceThread Demo. (When the page opens, in the left-hand column in Steve’s posting, click the play () button to start the demo.)
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- Setting Up Laulima’s Gradebook When Using VoiceThread’s Assignment tool. - This will be no longer applicable after the Fall 2024 semester as Lamakū will be the new learning management system.
Using Voicethread in Lamakū (our branding of Brightspace)
Beginning Spring 2025, Lamakū will be the university’s new learning management system. Lamakū will automatically enroll all your students into your VoiceThread course, eliminating the need to manually enter your students into two separate systems. Additionally, grades can be sent directly into the Lamakū gradebook.
Review this webinar recording to become familiar with using VoiceThread in Lamakū.
As a reminder, VoiceThreads in Lamakū are placed in a Module.
Using VoiceThread in Laulima (our branding of the Sakai LMS)
Laulima will automatically enroll all your students into your VoiceThread course, eliminating the need to manually enter your students into two separate systems. Additionally, by utilizing VoiceThread’s quiz option, grades are directly entered into the Laulima gradebook.
To use VoiceThread, you will need to use Laulima’s Lessons tool. Then, depending upon your course’s organizational structure, you’ll need to select one of the following ways to integrate your VoiceThreads:
- Adding a Lesson button in Laulima’s tool menu with links to all of your VoiceThreads.
or
- Adding a link to individual VoiceThreads within weekly lesson pages. .
Note: When using VoiceThread’s Assignment tool in Laulima, be sure to Set Up Laulima’s Gradebook to correctly accept the grades.
Guides
Training
VoiceThread offers a variety of professional development opportunities to help you learn how to use VoiceThread. Visit VoiceThread’s workshop website for their schedule of offerings and to register.
Real Course Examples
The following link will take you to a webpage where you can view categorized examples created by other VoiceThread users:
Best Practices for Student Success
Given that VoiceThread may be a new tool to them, provide a description for your students explaining what VoiceThread is and how you will be using it in your course. Below is some generic text you are welcome to adapt:
“VoiceThread is an online tool that allows us to converse with video, text, and/or voice in response to images, documents, and videos. In this course, we will use VoiceThread to [explain purpose]. You do not need to create personal VoiceThread accounts. When you click on the links in our Laulima course, you will be automatically logged in to a class VoiceThread. Please familiarize yourself with the tool prior to [add date]. You can access tutorials and support materials here: VoiceThread Support for Students . As always, please ask if you have questions.”
Next, provide your students with a link to this helpful infographic for an overview of the new features and enhancements.
Finally, start with a fun low-stakes activity early in the semester to introduce VoiceThread to your students. Here are some ready-made tutorials:
Accessibility
Accessibility has been built into the new VoiceThread and will work with screen readers, and screen reader users will be working with the same experience as everyone else. For a breakdown of the new enhancements, view VoiceThread’s blog.
However, the older VoiceThread Universal will continue to be available for some time as change is best managed in a self-paced manner.
Accessibility Features (Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act)- Features
VoiceThread Universal (Screen Reader-Friendly Version of Your Site)
Automatic Caption Service (Closed Caption)
- Every audio or video recording you create in VoiceThread will be captioned automatically. You don’t need to do anything at all to initiate the process. The moment you save your recording, the captioning process will begin. Captions should appear in 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the length of your recording.
Universal Design for Learning Tools for vision, hearing, ADD, ADHD, and dyslexia.
Download a copy of VoiceThread's Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) .
Updated 11/04/2024