Rassel Tech Recipes

Meaningful student introduction videos in VoiceThread

Description:

Introduction videos and surrounding activities can set an open and inclusive tone for your class at the start of the semester. If you plan on using VoiceThread for other elements of your course, consider having students introduce themselves in VoiceThread by explaining 2-3 images about themselves. Your prompt can go deeper than the traditional "name and major." For example, "Show and explain two or three images that reflect important aspects of yourself," or "Show and explain two or three images that reflect why you are in the field of x."

Ingredients:

• Canvas Assignments
• VoiceThread

Directions:

1. Create a Canvas Assignment, and set the assignment and due date.
2. Select External Tool as the Submission Type and select Find. Select VoiceThread from the list and Save the assignment.
3. When Voice Thread loads, select Assignment Builder and choose Create.
4. Select the Options you want for this assignment (see "Step 2: Choose options" in Create a VoiceThread (Assignment Type) for option descriptions).
5. Enter the Assignment instructions on the Finalize tab and Publish in VoiceThread (example below).
6. Publish the Assignment in Canvas.

Example instructions: Create a VoiceThread of 2-3 images that you think represent this course's subject. Use the VoiceThread comment feature to record video or audio of yourself explaining the images (no more than 1 minute total). See Create a VoiceThread for technical instructions.

Resources:

• Canvas: Canvas Instructor Guide - Assignments
• Voice Thread (instructors): Add VoiceThread to a Canvas assignment
• Voice Thread (instructors): Create a VoiceThread (Assignment Type)
• VoiceThread (students): Create a VoiceThread

Image critiques

Description:

Visual content is literally at the center of VoiceThread, so activities that involve critiquing images are a natural fit. In this case, once a week a student submits images to the instructor, and the instructor creates a VoiceThread from those images to keep the identity of the submitter private. The instructor provides the VoiceThread to the class, who then record annotations and critique the image using a rubric. After students have commented, the instructor can provide feedback, during a class session or in VoiceThread, summarizing the main observations and clarifying as necessary.

Ingredients:

• Canvas Assignments
• VoiceThread

Directions:

1. Assign a student to create some images (e.g., sketches, x-rays, photographs, or diagrams) and submit them to you via Canvas or email, depending on your preference.
2. Create a Canvas Assignment, and set the assignment options and due date.
3. (optional) Attach a rubric to the Instructions.
4. Select External Tool as the Submission Type and click Find. Select VoiceThread from t he list and Save the assignment.
5. When Voice Thread loads, select Assignment Builder and choose Comment.
6. Select Create a new VoiceThread, then Add from computer, and locate the images you want to add. To select multiple images, press and hold Control/Command on your keyboard while you select the different image files.
7. Select the Options you want for this assignment (e.g., how many comments you want students to make).
8. Enter the Assignment instructions on the Finalize tab and Publish in VoiceThread.
9. Publish the Assignment(s) in Canvas if you haven't already.

Resources:

• Canvas: Canvas Instructor Guide - Assignments
• Voice Thread (instructors): Add VoiceThread to a Canvas assignment
• Voice Thread (instructors): Comment on a VoiceThread (assignment type)
• VoiceThread (students): Comment on a VoiceThread