Embedded Files
Task 1: Explore the Tools
Task 1: Explore the Tools
Choose one of the discussion tools - Padlet, FlipGrid or VoiceThread, to learn more about. If you're already comfortable with these tools, skip ahead to Task 2!
Padlet
Padlet
Padlet is one of my favorite tools. It's easy to use and extremely versatile. You can create an account by logging in with your FCPS Google account here. In addition to sharing text, video, drawings, and images, users can share Google Docs and Wixie projects with each other. Watch this brief tutorial to get started with Padlet.
FlipGrid
FlipGrid
FlipGrid is another great virtual discussion tool that can be leveraged in blended learning. This differs from Padlet in that it is a video discussion forum, which until recently, Padlet didn't offer. With a free account, you get one grid with unlimited topics. Watch this brief tutorial to learn how to set up and use FlipGrid in your classroom.
If you're curious how FlipGrid looks from the student's perspective, here's another brief video and illustrated directions.
Mrs. Kelley's class used FlipGrid to recommend their favorite book series. Check out their reflections here:
VoiceThread
VoiceThread
VoiceThread is another versatile tool in the FCPS digital ecosystem that can be used as a presentation and/or a discussion tool. Essentially, it is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to navigate slides and leave comments in 5 ways - using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam).
This is an example of a VoiceThread in which students looked at pictures of real-world objects and had to discuss what shape it looked like to them. Take a few minutes to check it out.
Note: Make sure you're logged into VoiceThread or content will not be accessible.
When using VoiceThread with your students, you'll want to use Blackboard as the portal because that's how users are authenticated. You and the students will be able to create more threads. With the free version, access is limited, and students and teachers would have to create accounts.
Unfortunately, there are a few bugs when using VoiceThread with Blackboard. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
- You cannot have a line break or hyperlinked item in the description of any link. (Fixed in Q2 2016 release of Blackboard)
- If your link title contains an apostrophe, the connection to VoiceThread will fail and you will see a blank page. Try removing the apostrophe to fix this.
- Error message: “The authentication failed; the authentication is stale. Please try again.”
- This is caused by a bug in Blackboard. If you click on the VoiceThread link in your course and see a “Launch” button, don’t click on it. Instead, try letting the page sit for a few seconds without clicking anything. You should be forwarded to VoiceThread automatically.
- Error message: “The authentication failed; the signature on your request did not match the expected value” or “Unsupported Signature Method”
- If the issue is isolated to a single link, the description entered by the instructor when setting up the VoiceThread link in the course likely contains a line break. Descriptions in Blackboard must be a single, continuous paragraph. To correct this, edit the description so that it does not contain any line breaks at all.
- You’re not automatically signed in to VoiceThread when you click on a VT link
- Make sure your web browser accepts third-party cookies.
- When you click on a VT link, you see a page titled “VoiceThread Account Verification”.
- This means you already had a VoiceThread account under your email address, and the system is now trying to connect that existing account with your Blackboard profile. You’ll only need to complete this step once. To proceed through this page:
- Click on the link that says “Set it here” to set a verification password for your account.
- Proceed through the steps to set a password. This will involve receiving an email from VoiceThread.
- Use that password you just set on the verification page.
- This means you already had a VoiceThread account under your email address, and the system is now trying to connect that existing account with your Blackboard profile. You’ll only need to complete this step once. To proceed through this page:
This short VoiceThread will show you how to create a VoiceThread.
Task 2: Use a Virtual Discussion Platform with your Students
Task 2: Use a Virtual Discussion Platform with your Students
1. Choose either Padlet, FlipGrid, or Voice Thread to facilitate a discussion with your students.
2. Create your account and post a discussion prompt.
3. Share the prompt with students either through Google Classroom or Blackboard.
DO YOU NEED HELP WITH IMPLEMENTATION? INVITE ME TO YOUR CLASSROOM OR SCHEDULE TIME WITH ME IN THE TECH LAB! I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT!
4. After your students have participated in the discussion, please share the link to your discussion forum on this spreadsheet. Provide the password, too, if necessary. Finally, share your thoughts on implementation. What did you like about the tool? What challenges did you encounter? Did you find providing students with feedback to be more efficient using this tool?
Google Sites
Report abuse