Sharing is all the rage on the Net right now. I’m hoping that caring goes with it, but that’s another matter. A quick think comes up with YouTube, MySpace, Flickr, BitTorrent (notice a trend with the evolution of punctuation here?) and the blogosphere (all 70 million strong). You say network, I’ll say social. In fact, there’s so much sharing, it’s easy to get plum shared out.
Blogs send me to sleep (except this one, of course), MySpace is just plain silly, and BitTorrent… well, no names, no packdrill. Then along comes a simple, bright idea that you just know could work in a classroom. Remember film strips? The ones with beeps on a tape that told you when to advance the slide and sombre commentaries on the precipitation cycle. Here’s the DIY version, and as slickly presented, in an understated way, as a Swedish breakfast.
VoiceThread is a web application where you build narrated slide-shows. Upload some pictures, record some commentary (or type in text if you wish), then share with selected friends. It’s beautifully simple, and the interface is an easy-to-look-at mix of charcoals and greys. The design means the images are the centre of attention, and you can’t help but produce slick results.
Well, actually, it can go wrong. Recording the audio uses Flash in the browser. I used, by coincidence, VoiceThread’s recommended input device – a Logitech USB headset functioning perfectly with Windows Sound Recorder and Audacity. I tried it in Firefox and IE. It thought it was recording, but just however-many-seconds of silence was the result. Right-clicking on the Flash window and playing with the settings fixed it - but it wasn't obvious. I'm big on obvious.
Which would normally be enough for me to suggest you forget it. But this is worth persevering with. Assuming the audio works for you, then the rest is a treat. You could do this sort of thing with Photo Story or the dreaded PowerPoint, but this has all the advantages of a web application. No installs, use it where you like, share as you see fit. It has a nifty multiple-identities feature that means one class can work from a single account. VoiceThread also make a noble proclamation that the app will always be free for student use. (Wait until Microsoft buy them.) It’s useful, by my estimation, from about Year 3 onwards. Simple, but not childish, so perfect for children.
The obvious use is with Listening and Speaking in English which would take care of Viewing in the process. It’s the perfect medium for reporting Science investigations or journaling a challenge in Technology and Enterprise. That’s from the student side of things – if you want to present some resource material to the class, here’s a place they can find it from anywhere.
I’d recommend playing with this one. It has minor killer app written all over it – in subtle charcoals and greys, of course.
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