VoiceThread

VoiceThread is a tool for asynchronous audio, video, and textual communication. Instructors can create VoiceThreads by uploading content, such as word documents, videos, images, or presentations. They can then comment on and annotate the content for the students to see. Once posted, students can add video, audio, or text comments on the VoiceThreads. The replies can be threaded like a forum and moderated by the instructor.

  1. Add VoiceThread Tool to Course
  2. Configure the VoiceThread Tool
  3. Add Multiple VoiceThread Tools

For more information on the functionality of VoiceThread and for further resources, please visit the WTS VoiceThread page.

Note: VoiceThread links in a Lessons page cannot be imported between OWL Sites. The links will not be configured and will need to be reset if imported to a new site. Follow the steps for "Add Multiple VoiceThread Tools" to configure the links in the new site.

Add VoiceThread to a Site

  1. Select Site Info from the Tool Menu in the site.

    Go to Site Info

  2. Click Manage Tools in the top menu.

    Click Manage Tools

  3. Select the checkbox next to VoiceThread in the External Tools section and click the Continue button.

    Enable Plugins

  4. Click the Finish button.

    Click Finish
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Configure VoiceThread

  1. After adding VoiceThread to your site, select VoiceThread from the Tool Menu in the site.

    Go to VoiceThread

  2. In the new window that opens, select the activity type. This will determine how the VoiceThread tool link functions in your site. For more information on these activity types, see VoiceThread's support page.

    • Assignment Builder (Create a graded assignment requiring students to create/comment on/watch a VoiceThread)
    • Individual VoiceThread (Display a single VoiceThread)
    • Course View (Display all the VoiceThreads shared with this course)
    • VT Home Page (Display all VoiceThreads and all courses a student is enrolled in)
    Click Manage Tools

  3. Proceed through the steps presented for your chosen activity type.

  4. The page will refresh to indicate it has been configured. Relaunch VoiceThread in your OWL site and it will load the view you selected in the previous step.

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Create Multiple Instances of VoiceThread

Only once instance of the VoiceThread tool can exist in an OWL course site if added through ‘Manage Tools’. To work around this, multiple instances of VoiceThread can exist when added to a Lesson page. This is recommended for instructors who want to create multiple VoiceThread Assignments or link to specific individual VoiceThreads.

Note: if you added VoiceThread to your OWL site prior to October 11, 2023, you will need to remove and re-add the tool to update it to the newest version. You will not lose any of your VoiceThread content in this process.

  1. Navigate to the desired Lesson page and click Add Content.

    Click 'Add Content'

  2. Click Add Learning App under the Simple Content Items section.

    Click Add Learning App.

  3. Out of the list of tools that appear, pick VoiceThread.

    Click VoiceThread.

  4. Give your VoiceThread tool a name. This will appear as a text link on your Lessons page.

    Enter a name and optionally a description.

    Optionally, enter a tool description or remove the default description.

  5. The instance of VoiceThread should now appear on your Lesson page. This link acts in the same way as the Voice Thread tool in the side toolbar.

    The link appears in your Lessons page.

  6. Click the new VoiceThread link to configure it. You will have four options:

    • Assignment Builder 
    • Individual VoiceThread
    • Course View
    • VT Home Page

    For more information about what these options see VoiceThread's support page.

    Repeat this process.

  7. Repeat for as many instances of VoiceThread as you'd like.

    Multiple VoiceThread links in one Lessons page.
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