Using VoiceThread

For the group project, you will be assigned group members and together you will create a presentation in VoiceThread. The presentation will need to be [TIME} minutes long For more information on the project format, review the Group Project Guidelines in the Syllabus or the Succeeding in this Course page.

VoiceThread is an online tool for creating collaborative video projects with the ability to add audio and video commentary within the project.

GOOGLE CHROME

VoiceThread is fully supported by Google Chrome.

MOZILLA FIREFOX

VoiceThread is fully supported by Mozilla Firefox.

APPLE SAFARI

VoiceThread is partially supported by Safari. With this browser, you will be able to open and view a VoiceThread, but you cannot record audio or video.

DO NOT USE EXPLORER.

VoiceThread is not supported by Internet Explorer.

For this project, you will be using the free version of VoiceThread. With the free version, you will not have access to all VoiceThread features.

Only one group member should create the VoiceThread and edit the slides, however, other group members will have the ability to add audio/video comments. Therefore, each group will need to nominate one member to be the Project Manager and will need to notify the professor of who the Project Manager will be. The Project Manager will need to email a shared link of the VoiceThread to the other group members (see Creating a Shared VoiceThread below). You will not be able to download the VoiceThread, but can access it anytime through the shared link. The shared link is also how the Project Manager will submit the final project to Canvas.

Getting Started

Each student will need to make a VoiceThread account.

The steps to create a free VoiceThread account are listed below:

Access the VoiceThread website and click Register.
Fill out the registration page with your information & create a password.
Make sure you register using your Auburn email (i.e., xxx0000@auburn.edu).
VoiceThread will then send an account activation link to your Auburn email.
You will need to click on the link and will be taken back to VoiceThread's website.
Finally, you will be able to sign in to your account using your Auburn email and password you created.

Creating a Shared VoiceThread

To begin, each group member will need to create PowerPoint slides for their parts of the project. If you do not have access to PowerPoint, Auburn University provides students with Office 365/Microsoft Office, which includes PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc. For more information and to download Office 365, visit the AU Office of Information Technology Service Portal.

There are two ways to build the PowerPoint slides:

through the PowerPoint application on your computer or
through PowerPoint Online in Outlook.

Your group may discuss and choose either method.

A. Building Slides through PowerPoint Application

PowerPoint allows group members to separately build their slides then combine them with other members' slides once each member has completed their own slides. If your group chooses to build the slides separately through the PowerPoint application, you will need to nominate one group member to be the Project Manager and notify the professor of the name of the Project Manager.

Once each member has created their PowerPoint slides, they will need to email them to the Project Manager. The Project Manager will then put all of the slides together into one Powerpoint. This person will also create the project VoiceThread then send a shared link to the other group members for them work on it.

Members should work together to agree on a template and other styling aspects of the PowerPoint slides before beginning the project.
Be sure to include any images, charts, graphs, etc. on the PowerPoint slides prior to sending them to the Project Manager.
DO NOT add animations or transitions to your PowerPoint slides, as VoiceThread does not support these features.

VoiceThread will only allow up to 50 slides.
Communicate with your group members about the number of slides each of you will be creating.

B. Building Slides through PowerPoint Online

PowerPoint Online allows you to collaboratively work on a PowerPoint with other members in real time as well as view any edits. If your group chooses to build the slides through PowerPoint Online, you will need to nominate one group member to be the Project Manager and notify the professor of the name of the Project Manager. This person will be responsible for creating the initial PowerPoint Online and inviting the other group members to build their slides. This person will also create the VoiceThread then send a shared link to the other group members for them work on it.

To create the PowerPoint Online, the Project Manager will need to log in to their Tigermail. From your email inbox, you will need to click on the Office 365 icon in the top left and select PowerPoint. Then, click New Blank Presentation. A new PowerPoint Online presentation will open and you will then be able to share it with the other group members by clicking Share in the top right corner. A Share pop-up will then open. Make sure that the Link Settings are set to Anyone with this link can edit and the Allow Editing box is selected. Finally, enter your group members' Tigermail addresses to share the PowerPoint Online.

VoiceThread will only allow up to 50 slides.
As your group is working, make sure to not go over this limit.

Creating the VoiceThread

After all group members have finished building their slides, the Project Manager must create the VoiceThread. After signing in to VoiceThread, select the Create button at the top right of the screen. In the middle of the screen, click the Add Media button and upload the PowerPoint. A Thread Settings window will appear. Under the Title/Description tab, you will need to give the VoiceThread presentation a Title and a Description (optional). In the Playback Options tab, the default options will appear. Make sure that all boxes under Allowed Comment Methods are selected. Finally, click Save.

Next, the Project Manager will need to share a link to the VoiceThread to the other group members by clicking Share at the top of the page. Under the Basic tab, make sure that the boxes to allow anyone to view and comment are selected. Click Copy Link or copy the link below and send the link to all group members in an email.

From here, all group members will be able to view and comment on the VoiceThread when logged in.

Below is an example of a VoiceThread presentation with multiple group members. Your VoiceThread should look similar to this, with each group member presenting on their slides through a video comment. Be sure to keep in mind the tips and techniques discussed in the Creating and Delivering Online Presentations page.

Working in VoiceThread

There are multiple areas of working in VoiceThread. If you need help working in VoiceThread, access the categories below to find more information.

Creating

At the following link, you can find detailed information about creating a VoiceThread, uploading files from your computer, number of slides a VoiceThread can contain, adding a title, and saving your work.

This information is especially useful for the Project Manager.

Read more about Creating.

Viewing

At the following link, you can find detailed information about viewing a VoiceThread, locating a VoiceThread, getting around in a VoiceThread, listening to and viewing comments, finding new comments, keyboard shortcuts, etc.

Read more about Viewing.

Editing

At the following link, you can find detailed information about editing an existing VoiceThread, changing the order of slides, replacing a slide, and deleting a slide.

This information is especially useful for the Project Manager.

Read more about Editing.

Commenting

At the following link, you can find detailed information about commenting on a VoiceThread, multi-slide (M/5) comments, changing the order of comments, and time and size limits for comments.

Read more about Commenting.

Sharing

At the following link, you can find detailed information about sharing a VoiceThread, accessing the sharing area, and getting a share link.

This information is especially useful for the Project Manager.

Read more about Viewing.

Concluding

After all group members have added their audio/video comments to their parts of the VoiceThread, they will need to review the project and let the Project Manager know that they are done and ready to submit the assignment. Once all group members communicate with the Project Manager that they are finished, the Project Manager will then need to submit the VoiceThread in Canvas on behalf of the whole group.

To do this, the Project Manager will need to once again go into VoiceThread and copy the shared link. They will then find the group project assignment in Canvas, paste the link to the VoiceThread under the Website URL and click Submit. Once the Project Manager submits the assignment, it will count towards every member of the group.

How do I submit an assignment on behalf of a group?

How do I enter a URL as an assignment submission?

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing issues with VoiceThread, please look through these support pages to help you troubleshoot any problems:

Enabling Cookies and Local Storage- For trouble loading VoiceThread pages or using the recording features
Clearing the Browser Cache- If something is not appearing the way that it should
Audio/Video Recording Issues
Audio/Video Playback Issues
File Types Accepted- If a file does not work
File Upload Issues
Missing Comments/Comment Moderation- If you cannot see another group members' recorded comments
VoiceThreads are not Loading
Trouble Signing In