Using Discussions (Multimedia)
VoiceThread
Voicethread is a tool that can be used to engage students in multimedia supported discussions, with the use of images, videos and audio that adds a lively tone to the sharing of comments and ideas.
Pros:
- Has the benefits of a regular text-based discussion.
- Add to the asynchronous conversation, the ability to enrich the message with images, videos and audio contributions.
- Share messages with different media which enriches the idea of "social presence" amongst students. Being part of a conversation, where students can see and hear, as well as, read text from each other, connects them with the online experience in a deeper way.
- Use the different media to make a point in simpler and clearer ways.
Cons:
- Requires time to set up the structure and to monitor it.
- Requires scaffolding during the first uses of the tool.
How To:
Relevant Literature:
- Yungwei Hao, Min Liu. Students’ Attitudes toward Online Interaction Academic Exchange - Winter 2006.
- Catherine Durnell Cramton. Finding Common Ground in Dispersed Collaboration Organizational Dynamics, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 356-367, 2002