Podcasting



= Using VoiceThread to Enhance Literary Appreciation =

**TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS ADDRESSED: ** V. Integrating Technology into the curriculum and instruction
 * Maryland Teacher Technology Standards**

Standard 4.0 – Technology for Communication and Expression : Use technology to communicate information and express ideas using various media formats A. Communication 1. Use technology for communication a Use communication tools to gather information, share ideas, and respond to questions
 * Maryland Technology Literacy Standards for Students (Grade 4-6)**

Standard 3.0 – Technology for Learning and Collaboration : Use a variety of technologies for learning and collaboration A. Learning 1. Use and understand how technology enhances learning a) Use technology tools, including software and hardware, from a range of teacher-selected options to learn new content or reinforce skills. B. Encourage Collaboration 1. Select and use technology tools to encourage collaboration a) Use technology tools to work collaboratively within the school community b) Use technology tools to exchange ideas with individuals or groups outside of the classroom.
 * Maryland Technology Literacy Standards for Students (Grade 4)**

Standard 1.0 Literature Appreciation: Students will demonstrate an appreciation of literature as a reflection of human experience and reading as a pleasurable activity. A. Literature Appreciation 3. Experience the pleasure of recreational reading. a) Gain pleasure by independently reading self-selected books. (Method: Provide opportunities for readers to discuss with each other books they have read for fun.) Voicethread project
 * Maryland Voluntary Curriculum - School Library Media (Grade 2-5)**

**DESCRIPTION: ** Each Year, The Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL) sponsors the Black-Eyed Susan Reading Program. School librarians select a number of books at each grade level, and students who read a specified number of them during the course of a year are eligible to vote for their favorite. Votes are tabulated throughout the state, and the winner is announced in May.

For grades four through six, ten novels are selected and each student must read at least three of them. At Tulip Grove Elementary School, a few students in each classroom make an effort to participate. However, because the students are in different classrooms and different grades, it is difficult for them to share their opinions about the books. Voicethread permitted us to find a simple communication medium, whereby students could record their opinions of a novel, and other students could hear them and respond. Because it was based on the web, students could access the recommendations (or warnings!) at any time-- during their library period, recess, or center-time.

TULIP GROVE READS THE BLACK-EYED SUSAN BOOKS (Go directly to VOICETHREAD)

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**REFLECTION: **

The students enjoyed using Voicethread, and found it intriguing. They They enjoyed listening to other people's comments, and even took exception to them once or twice. ("It was __not__ boring!") Such difference of opinion was only to be expected, with students of such varying backgrounds and grade levels.

The ease of using Voicethread is a definite plus. One quick demonstration and students were using it with no problem. Selecting their own avatar, recording and deleting comments -- I only had to demonstrate once and had no trouble working through the document. They very much enjoyed using the program.

There were some technical difficulties to using voicethread. We worked in the computer lab, and purists objected to the background noise of other students recording their comments, in spite of the fact that we were spread out in the lab, as I was only working with eight students. The background noise would be more difficult to compensate for if the lab was filled with thirty students, all recording. That may be bacause the microphones are rather inexpensive ($4.00 each), and I wonder if it might be possible to compensate by changing the settings on the computer. Since the students hold the microphones close to their mouths, their own voice is much louder than the background noise, but if the student pauses when speaking, the voices of the other students could be plainly heard and understood.

Another technical difficulty is the problem in accessing voicethread. Without a financial committment from the school to purchase accounts for each student, I either have to give them my password (no!), or log in for each of them. At the moment, the program runs in the library on a computer, but it means they have to add comments during their library time. And since I use their names and photographs, I can't make it a public file.