VoiceThread Docs / VT in your Learning Management System / Instructors / Setting up a create-a-VoiceThread assignment

Require students to create a full VoiceThread. They will upload the slides and record comments, then submit that to you for a grade. You can even allow students to see their classmates’ submissions later so they can engage in peer review and conversation. Great for:

  • Student presentations
  • Demonstration of a skill (bedside manner, playing an instrument, painting/drawing technique, pitching a business)
  • Submitting a paper, wireframe, website, etc. to receive feedback

Note: If you haven’t built a VoiceThread link in your course yet, please visit the link building support page to get started.

Step1: Choose Activity

Click on the Create button, then click “Continue” at the bottom of the screen.

Screenshot of the Create button on the setup page with the continue button highlighted

Step 2: Choose options

Select the playback settings you want each student’s VoiceThread to have. Students will not be able to override these settings.

Screenshot of the choose options screen listing the checkboxes described below

Number of comments required
Students will be required to post comments on the VoiceThread they create. You can require a minimum number or an exact number. They will not be permitted to submit until this requirement is met.
Important: This is the number of comments students record on their own VoiceThread, not on a classmate’s submission.

Number of slides required
Students will be required to add this number of slides to their VoiceThread. Minimum number of slides required is always 1 by default, but you can require more if desired.

Commenting types
Select which types of comments you want to allow students to post.

Allow students to add slides to any VoiceThreads for this assignment
Allow students to add slides to any VoiceThreads submitted by their classmates to this assignment.

Enable threaded commenting
Turns on the ability for your participants to start threaded conversations.

Enable comment moderation
Allows you and the student to preview all comments on this VoiceThread before revealing them to others. You can also choose never to reveal them. Learn more about Comment Moderation.

Don’t allow commenters to delete their own comments
Anyone who records a comment on a VoiceThread will be unable to delete it once it is saved. This is a powerful tool for assessment because your commenters will not be able to “retry” after they’ve recorded.

Limit length of each comment
By default, all audio and video comments recorded in VoiceThread can be 60 minutes long. If you’d like to set shorter time limits for your commenters, enter your desired maximum comment length here.

When recording, automatically advance to the next slide after
Set slides to advance automatically at pre-set intervals as users are recording. In addition, you can check the box for Pecha Kucha or Ignite beneath this option to automatically set the correct restrictions for those presentation types. Learn more about timed presentations here.

Start playing when opened
The comments on your VoiceThread will begin playing automatically when people first open it.

When final comment on a slide has played, automatically advance to the next slide after __ seconds
When the VoiceThread is in play mode, it will play through all of the comments on a slide and then move to the next slide automatically. The number of seconds is the “pause” time before the slide advances.

Allow download
Allow students to download the central media from the VoiceThreads their classmates create.

Allow export
Allow students to export one another’s VoiceThreads.

Allow students to make a copy
Allow students to make a copy of one another’s VoiceThreads.

Student Gallery
If you want students to view one another’s VoiceThreads after they are submitted, check this box. This will give them a “Student Gallery” button in their interface to see the VoiceThreads their classmates have submitted for this assignment.

Screenshot of the student gallery checkbox on the choose options page

Click “Continue” at the bottom of the screen when you’re done.

Step 3: Finalize

Set the final details for your assignment.

Assignment name
This will appear at the top of the assignment in the student’s view.

Assignment instructions
These instructions will appear on the right-hand side of the student’s view. Tell them more about what you expect from them here.

Example URL
If you have created an example you want students to follow or more information about the assignment, enter the link to that page here. It will appear on the right side of the student’s view.

Message shown to student after they submit
Customize the message students see after they’ve submitted their VoiceThread. A little personalization goes a long way!

Prerequisite Students will not be able to start this assignment unless they have already submitted a previous VoiceThread assignment in this course. Check this box and then browse for the assignment(s) you want to require them to complete before beginning this one.

Start date
Students will not be able to view the assignment until the start date/time. If you want it to be open immediately, leave this blank.

Due date
This is the date the assignment is due. Students can still submit after the due date, but they will be marked late.

Close date
Students will not be able to access the assignment at all after this date. If you want the assignment to be open indefinitely, leave this blank.

Allow students to resubmit assignment
Give students the opportunity to try again if they submit the wrong thing or need to make corrections after you give them feedback.

Allow students to view assignment after submitting
If you don’t want students to be able to see the work they’ve submitted, un-check this box. If you want them to see their work so you can record feedback on it, leave it checked. They will not be able to make any changes to their work even if they can see it.

Assessment
Choose how you would like to grade this assignment.

  • Percentage
  • Complete/Incomplete
  • Points
Screenshot of the finalize page showing the assignment name and assignment details fields

Click “Publish” at the bottom of the screen when you’re done. This will return you to your course page.