VoiceThread+info+&+tips

=VoiceThread is located at [|http://voicethread.com].=

VoiceThread.com describes a VoiceThread as "a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos" or "an online media album that can hold essentially any type of media (images, documents and videos)." VoiceThread allows viewers to navigate pages and leave comments using voice (by computer microphone or telephone), text, audio file (mp3/wav) and webcam.

Facts and Stats
 * It’s free! As an educator, you are eligible for a free account. (Check out the Pricing page for more information about account options [].)
 * No software to install—all done in web browser
 * A VoiceThread is always editable.
 * A VoiceThread can have up to 50 slides (free account).
 * Each slide can hold thousands of comments. About 35 appear around the slide and additional arrows show up next to the comment navigation buttons to view more.
 * A VoiceThread can be public or private (See [] for demo and directions.)
 * VoiceThread’s “**Help**” ([]) and “**About**” ([]) pages have lots of helpful information.

 Many Uses of VoiceThread: 
 * Self-reflection
 * Booktalks and/or book reviews
 * Poetry reading
 * Digital storytelling
 * “Publishing” student writing
 * Practice oral language skills (ELL or foreign language students benefit from visual support)
 * Directions
 * Check out the VoiceThread Library ([]) for ideas and examples


 * Navigation in a VoiceThread **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Left and right arrows allow you to move from slide to slide (<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; msoasciifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msohansifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msochartype: symbol; msosymbolfontfamily: Wingdings;">ß to move back and <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; msoasciifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msohansifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msochartype: symbol; msosymbolfontfamily: Wingdings;">à to move forward.)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On multi-slide VoiceThreads, click on thumbnails (lower right, next to right arrow) to see an overview of all the slides.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click on any slide to select and view it.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Identities and Avatars <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can use one identity for all speakers or have multiple identities using the same account.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each identity can have his/her own avatar.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[|http://voicethread.com/about/identities/#] explains the process for creating identities
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can use a portrait photo or other image or a graphic for an avatar.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students can create avatars in KidPix.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mouse over an avatar to see name of the speaker.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TIP: Save time by uploading avatars before starting to record!

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Recording Tips
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write a script first.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Use the script when recording.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Test USB microphones ahead of time.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beware of the mute button!
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PowerPoint slides can be uploaded, BUT the effects do not work. Contents of a slide appear as one image.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Images <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VoiceThread accepts JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG images.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To upload more than one image at a time, hold down shift key and highlight the group of images you want.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can re-arrange uploaded images by clicking and dragging them.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can also upload a folder and the contents will open up as individual slides.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VoiceThread accepts the following document types: PPT, PPS, PDF, DOC, XLS.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Doodling


 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can doodle while recording a comment with mic, webcam, or keyboard
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Video doodling allows viewer to control playback of video and doodle to illustrate a point (Demonstration and directions: [] )

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"> Playback Options <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Timing: 4 seconds between slides is the default but you can change it
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Viewing: Start playing when opened or let viewer start VoiceThread
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Screen size: View full screen or small screen
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Copying: Allow (or not) others to copy original images and documents
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Final share page: Hide or show
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Export: Allow (or not) others to export
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Copying: Allow (or not) others to make a copy of your VoiceThread

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Publishing Options: Private or Public? <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Ways to Share
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Viewing: Allow (or not) anyone to view your VoiceThread (public or private)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Commenting: Allow (or not) anyone to comment on your VoiceThread
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comment moderation: Turn off or on
 * <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Browse Page: Allow your VoiceThread to be shared with everyone in the Browse section of VoiceThread.com or keep it private.
 * In MyVoice, click on the circular gear in the bottom right corner of the VoiceThread you want to share. A menu pops up. Click on the “**Share**” button.
 * If you click on the “**Get a link**” button, the VoiceThread’s URL is automatically copied to your clipboard for easy pasting in an email.
 * If you want to send people an invitation to view your VoiceThread, add them to your contact list by clicking on the “**Add+**” button. Type in their names and email addresses when asked. Then simply click on the names in your contact list and click on the “**Send invite**” button. VoiceThread automatically sends your selected contacts an email invitation to view your VoiceThread. The VoiceThread is in the body of the email along with an explanation. See [] for a demonstration.
 * Free accounts can send up to 50 invitations per day.
 * In the “**Share**” box on the last slide of a VoiceThread, you can click on the “**Copy Link and Share**” button. It automatically copies the VoiceThread’s URL to your clipboard for easy pasting in an email.
 * If you click on the “**Invite Your Friends**” button in the “**Share**” box, VoiceThread takes you to the sharing options mentioned above
 * In the “**Share**” box on the last slide of a VoiceThread, the “**Send in an email**” button opens up an email with the link to the VoiceThread already in it.
 * You can also share your VoiceThread by embedding it in a blog or on a wiki or webpage. (Directions: [|http://voicethread.com/about/embedding/#] )