What, you may ask, is LTI? LTI, which stands for Learning Tools Interoperability, is a framework of open standards created by IMS Global that allow a 3rd party tool, like VoiceThread, to interact seamlessly with Canvas and other learning and content management systems. In this particular instance, it provides for drag and drop functionality, automatic account creation, integration with the Canvas gradebook and more!
Best practice tips to use VoiceThread LTI integration in Canvas:
Create a link to a list of presentations that have been shared with the course. This is called "Course View" or "Course VoiceThreads."
Create a link to an individual thread
Create an assignment where students have to watch a thread and comment or to create a thread of their own
As a faculty member using VT in your course, there are some suggested best practices that will give the best student experience. This list describes these best practices and includes links to the appropriate tutorials to help you setup your course correctly.
If you are going to use VT in any way it is strongly recommend that you enable one of the LTI integration methods above and create a link to the integration in the left navigation bar of your course. The preferred method is to use the "Course View" or "Course VoiceThreads" option. This is a better option because it provides both a list of shared threads but also makes it easy to get to the VT Home page. The other reason for this is to provide an LTI enabled link that you and your students can click to login to VT.
Please view tutorial below or view presentation in full screen.
Use the VT assignment builder to create a graded assignment for students to complete. You can require them to create a VoiceThread of their own to submit, to comment on a VoiceThread you’ve created, or simply to watch a VoiceThread start to finish.
Read directions about VoiceThread integration in your Canvas course in the VoiceThread knowledge base
View the tutorial below to learn how to build a VT assignment in Canvas, or view the tutorial in full screen.
Please view the tutorial which explains how groups are formed once you set up Course VoiceThreads and other groups.
View tutorial in full screen or view below:
VoiceThread is not only great for presenting material but you can use VoiceThread to engage and communicate with your students. This spreadsheet contains engagement ideas beyond just a narrated slide show. You can utilize VoiceThread for:
Training and Demos
Labs
Case Studies
Discussions
Reflections
Assessment
Group Reading Responses
Current Events