VoiceThread and Diverse Learners

Voice Thread  wouldn't be my favorite assignment, but I want to offer it as an option for people who learn differently. Responding verbally to a VoiceThread was a completely new experience for me. I wrote many of my thoughts before recording them, because I've always been a manuscript preacher. I’m certain listeners could tell I was reading from notes at first, but by the end I started to relax and improvise a bit. The process of recording was a bit awkward since I never have enjoyed practicing a sermon to an empty room. It is difficult for me to speak without seeing the nonverbal response of listeners. If you are the kind of person that avoids making phone calls at all costs, VoiceThread may not be your favorite tool. 

I can see why this tool would be a great benefit for ESL students. Learners can pause, delete, and retry as many times as they want until they are confident with their contribution. This allows them to practice speaking in a low risk situation, and provides an alternate mode of assessment. 

My daughter is allowed to use a keyboard for her writing disability, which works well for her because we followed a doctor’s advice and encouraged her to practice with a typing program over the summer. VoiceThread could be another option for students who have not learned to touch type efficiently.  

Listening to a student does take more time than reading print. However, giving a time limit for verbal response could minimize this issue with the added benefit of requiring the student to outline a well-constructed answer. With VoiceThread, a student could focus on the organization instead of the mechanics of typing or handwriting. 

Note: My daughter has given me permission to talk about her writing challenges in class and on my blog. 

1984

In 1984, I was the only student in my dorm with her very own personal computer. I may be too old to be a digital native, but I’m a well-adjusted naturalized citizen. 

My parents didn’t buy me a computer because they knew how much it would revolutionize the world, they bought it because I wouldn’t survive college without the miracle of spell check. The sales representative told us that eventually people would be able to carry computers as if they were large notebooks, but we didn’t believe him. At the time this picture was taken I couldn’t imagine carrying a full color computer in my pocket! I didn’t think I would one day be able to connect with people all over the globe and find information about anything in an instant. I could have any color on the monitor I wanted, as long as it was green or amber.

Although I didn’t add a modem until later, using a computer opened my world. Until I had a computer, writing was a miserable chore. The ability to write quickly and edit easily allowed me to express myself more freely. Newer technologies are not only giving unprecedented access to information, they empower people to create, communicate and share in multiple formats. The challenge is to show students how to be critical thinkers and collaborators who use technology as a creative tool, and not passive consumers who use it for entertainment. 

Curtis J. Bonk writes that learners have the right to “share content that you create as well as comment on or evaluate the educational resources you find.” New technologies give more people the opportunity to share with a wider audience, but they also allow learners to share in a style that fits their unique strengths. Because of technological innovators, 1984 wasn't 1984!