Completed Workshop Plan

Technology For All: VoiceThread WorkShop Plan
Subject: Using and Integrating Web 2.0, VoiceThread in Elementary Classrooms
Overview:
I. What is VoiceThread? Voice Thread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to navigate pages and leave comments in 5 ways - using voice (with a microphone or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam). This online application program allows you to share a VoiceThread with friends, students, and colleagues for them to record comments too. Users can doodle while commenting, use multiple identities, and pick which comments are shown through moderation. VoiceThreads can even be embedded to show and receive comments on other websites and exported to MP3 players or DVDs to play as archival movies.

II. Goals /Objectives for Using VoiceThread: Our cohort group, Technology For All, agreed that there needs to be away for teachers to bring their lessons and activities to students who are, for whatever reason, homebound, or who need to learn in a self-paced, online learning environment. VoiceThread allows teachers and the classmates to collaborate with the homebound student. ThroughVoice Thread, each teacher from every subject area can contribute lessons, notes, activities, comments, photos, messages, etc. With VoiceThread, students can be out of the classroom without getting behind in school work, expectations and obligations. Each member of our group teaches a different grade, as well as different subjects. In keeping with our particular age grade level and subject area, we each created a lesson or activity that could be used by a homebound student. In addition, VoiceThread could be used in the classroom to accommodate the different learning styles.
Rationale:
VoiceThread should be introduced to all educators. Because VoiceThread is an online application, it is not as expensive as other current technology programs and equipment. VoiceThread is user friendly. It caters to the teacher and the student. The VoiceThread program even offers specific applications and tools for elementary teachers, students, and classrooms. I believe that it would greatly benefit students and teachers to have VoiceThread taught and applied in every school.
Prerequisites:
The VoiceThread program that caters to educators and students is called Ed.VoiceThread Ed.VoiceThread is a web-based communications network for K-12 students and educators. Simple, powerful and safe, Ed.VoiceThread is a place for creating and collaborating on digital stories and documentaries, practicing and documenting language skills, exploring geography and culture, solving math problems, or simply finding and honing student voices. Adantages of using Ed.Voice Thread include:
· An accountable environment where all users on the network are known users, responsible for their content and behavior.
· Restricted to K-12 educators, students and administrators, all content is created or vetted by registered members of the community.
· There are no free accounts, students may only participate after being added by their teacher or school, and student email addresses are not required.
Resources:
Anyone in the education sector can use Voice Thread, as long as it is an approved web site, according to approved sites of each school system. The VoiceThread resource itself is easy to access. You go to www.voicethread.com. For VoiceThread applications specific to education K-12, you go to www.voicethread.com/about/k12/.

Processes:
1. Have computer monitor, projector, screen, or Promethean Boar available for faculty meeting.
2. Have another teacher available to “drive” the computer while you are facilitating.
3. Have handouts available for the staff members.
4. Introduce VoiceThread, Ed.VoiceThread
5. As I discuss each application or tool in VoiceThread, I will have the teacher at the computer going to each site within VoiceThread.


Feedback:
I will create a questionnaire regarding the inservice meeting about VoiceThread. I will ask the faculty members to give me feed back as to how well they were informed about Voice Thread. I will also ask them to rate their comfort level of using VoiceThread in their classroom (using a scale of 1 -10). In order to follow up on integrating and utilizing Voice Thread, I would schedule and plan another meeting where I would allow colleagues who have used Voice Thread in their classroom, or with a homebound student to share their experience and VoiceThread lesson.

Expertise of Workshop Facilitator:
My name is Stephanie Garner. I am in my second year of teaching. I teach fifth grade language arts, reading, and writing. I teach in a rural elementary school that serves approximately 520 students. Fortunately, because we are a Title I school we receive funding for technology and other programs to assist us in serving all students. We are very blessed to have administration and faculty that encourages technology training and implementation. I am currently pursuing my Specialist Degree in Instructional Technology at the University of West Georgia. Technology is an ever changing trend. My desire is to keep up with the latest trends in educational technology in order to provide a stimulating learning environment for my students.

Workshop Survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=kw4rh0aPKFG9T1VBVc44LQ_3d_3d
Workshop Follow-Up Assessment:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=A1fn_2fGLnkqxpunJf3HWfPg_3d_3d
Workshop Flyer:
http://docs.google.com/gview