Collaborative VoiceThread- I have a Dream
Nancy von Wahlde from the American School of Madrid and I have been trying to collaborate on a project for a while now. We finally settled on connecting two of our first grade classes (Allison W. & Meghan M.)
We started looking at each others curriculum maps for the next few months and paid attention to units that were overlapping. It looked like that “I have a dream” writing assignment was one that we had in common.
After speaking with my first grade teacher Allison W., we settled on using their written “I have a Dream” essay and have students record them into VoiceThread.
I created placeholder images for each student from both schools. They will record their “I have a dream” essay directly on that image, using their own avatars, which are identities under the teacher’s account.
Each student will record their “dream” on the place holder image with their name. Their assigned buddy from the other class will be listening to the audio and THEN draw a picture illustrating the dream. We were lucky that each class had exactly 18 students.
We would love to make it possible to have each buddy talk with their partner (on Skype) AFTER they have listened to dream, but BEFORE they draw the picture. That way they already have heard their buddy’s voice and know already something about him/her. It might also give them the opportunity to ask some clarification questions before they start drawing.
Those illustration can be scanned in, digital picture taken or directly drawn in a drawing program. They will then replace the place holder images.
Hi Silvia.. long time reader first time commenter! I appreciate all you do, your work is always being saved on my delicious for future opportunities to share it with my colleagues!
Anyways, I have dedicated a lot of my professional life over the last year learning about, using, talking about and following best practices with VoiceThread. This is an awesome project. I have been really thinking recently about how to get more teachers “connected” through voicethread. What do you think about a wiki dedicated to helping teachers around the world “meet and connect” so they can do collaborative projects on VT? This would be something like the Skype In Schools model. I know it would have really helped me out to have a resource like that for finding others interested in digital pen pals working through VT. I suppose I am just brainstorming out loud here. Do you think this would be well received/utilized?
Brad,
I believe it would be a great idea to create a wiki or even a Google form, where interested parties could leave their contact info in order to connect with others on VoiceThread projects. The resulting Spreadsheet can be made public then. There are a few of these lists already circulating around the web of interested teachers in global projects, but not specific to one tool.
Wow, this looks like a great idea. I keep thinking about using Voicethread but haven’t got round to it yet. This year I am definitely going to give it a go & encourage other teachers to use it as part of my role as Learning Technologies Coordinator.
I like Brad’s idea about a wiki to help teachers get in touch with others wanting to collaborate.
Thanks for sharing Silvia…again!!