Session+Three

​Think back to course you facilitated or in which you participated, and share an example of one instance where this course would have benefited from the inclusion of audio/voice tools.

=== Barbara: I can see how using the Voki would also be a lot of fun to add to the Reading First class that I teach. There is a lot of information from the National Reading Panel that is discussed in the course. A Voki would definitely make the class a little more interesting and helpful as well. I agree with those of you who have already stated that they would use the voki when sending the long welcoming message at the beginning of the course. I think that it could be overdone if we are not careful but to add an avatar on occasion would be a great idea!
 * Here I would share my example. (Alex)
 * Sally: In the course I facilitated in the fall (Virtual Field Trip), I was able to share in the use of the Voki tool. One of my participants chose to use a Voki character on the home page of her project. I think this was a wonderful way to add a personal touch to a virtual field trip that would, more than likely, be navigated without the teacher's help. By using this character, the students would still feel as though the teacher was the 'tour guide'.
 * Undrea: It (Voki) would also be great to help guide those __first time participants__ to navigate the Moodle website and get to the correct forum for placing their posting, Here I go again! Many people need oral instructions (audio) to help them feel more comfortable, in addition to the written. This will definitely aide with differentiated instructional practices, strategies.
 * Linda Shields: I agree with Sally - I can imagine how much the Voki tool would have added to the Virtual Field Trip courses that I've facilitated. Both students and teachers would have loved them. I've also taught Finding the Best Educational Resources on the Web, and I would like to include voice tools in that course as well. Keeping up with evolving technology can be challenging; just when I think that I've perfected my presentations, something new comes along!
 * Jacqui James: In my Web 2.0 courses it would have been useful to have an Avatar as a show and tell. It would have added another dimension when attempting to explain the use of some tools. I found it difficult, at times, to walk someone through something several times in writing, and would eventually pick up the phone. Once they heard what I was saying they understood it, so Voki would have been useful.
 * Jillian: The Becoming an Online Fac course is long and would definitely benefit from some voice tools to break it up.It would also reach more auditory learners. I could have used either phone.io or voki with the Help! Forum or some of the additional resources I added to make them more interesting, especially voki. I also think these tools would have helped with the isolation factor so many of the new participants seem to have a hard time with .
 * Maryam: Adding Voki and other audio/voice tools to the list of resources already existing in session three of the Special Students, UDL course would offer participants another tool to utilize in their exploration of UDL. Participants could practice using some of the differentiation techniques that are so vital in UDL. Having them vocalize the different aspects of UDL would aid in developing a better understanding of Universal Design for Learning. It is important for adults to practice skills they expect their students to use so they can work out the kinks and be better prepared to address the questions that may arise. Also the UDL activity, [|Getting to Know you the UDL Way], from session three of the UDL course would be a good activity for incorporating voice tools. The reflection part of the activity would be fantastic using Voki or other voice tools.
 * Dana Key: I think the course that first comes to my mind where a Voki might have been helpful is that of Using Data to Reform Schools. There were so many numbers, chartreports, and "dry" materials to read, that some of the participants really lost interest after awhile. With an Avatar, they would have perhaps been able to follow better where the numbers came in, how to find the reports, compare the state results to norms, etc. Since I am very new to any voice tool, this is pure suppostion on my part; however, I think it is worth a try to see if it enhances learning and ease of taking the courses when applicable.
 * Jamie: I have taught the Wikis, Blogs, Podcasting course several times. These tools would be great added into the Podcasting section of the course. I think they are a bit more user friendly and the Voki is definitely more fun than the options that are given. I can see it being beneficial for walking someone through directions that they just can't get through email, too.
 * === Jody: // I have to agree with Undrea, that the Voki would be great when participants and/or facilitators first go to Moodle. I love Moodle but at first it is a little overwhelming. I also think Jillian made a good point that the __Becoming an Online Facilitator__ would be another great place to use Voki. By having several real voice instructions, it could have helped with a very long course. Many times the "first timers" are so worried about what to do and not to do that they don't do anything. The Voki would be a wonderful tool to welcome them and put them at ease. //===
 * ===// Angie: //===

Betty: I have facilitated the Reading First course several times and yes, as Barbara stated, there is so much information from the NRP in this course. I agree that a Voki would help make this class more interesting and, additionally, add intrigue for participants in experiencing a "voice" in comprehending all the data. In posting weekly announcements, I'd love to utilize a Voki - perhaps this would encourage students to tune-in.
 * ===Ashley: I have also taught Wikis, Blogs, Podcasting, and Skype and can see a definite use for these tools in that class. I had a participant who was not tech-savvy and she had trouble almost weekly (it was more of a confidence issue than anything else). With someone who isn't as tech-savvy, it's sometimes hard to explain in text how to do something. To put directions into a voki, or maybe even a PowerPoint with spoken directions and screenshots would be VERY helpful. Luckily this was someone I work with, so I just went downstairs to her room and helped her in person. If it had been someone I didn't have easy f2f access to, it would have been much more difficult. I think in that instance a voice tool would help considerably!===


 * Amanda: I definitely think the Voki would be a great tool to utilize in my counselor class about creating a college going atmosphere in schools. I would love for my students to create an Avatar and complete a role play with parents from different backgrounds to see how they would handle various situations. I think it is important to read information about how to talk to parents, but I would love to create something where we could actively play out various scenarios to create a more enriched learning environment.
 * Dawn: I agree with several of the comments concerning the //Becoming an// //Online Facilitators c//lass being a great place to use the voice tools. I think the practice shell area could be enhanced using voice comments. There could even be a model practice shell with voice instruction.
 * ​ Linda: I believe that using Voki would be an excellent way to present the introductory info in addition to the long, drawn-out e-mail. It would definitely increase the social aspect of the course and make some of the less techie folks feel more at home. I love the idea of being able to create something in Audacity to use in an online course like Wikis, Blogs, Podcasting and Skype (video yourself videoing yourself for Skype????) that you could easily update as time goes on. I really hope to teach an online information skills to one class of fourth graders next year and plan to incorporate a mix of these neat tools. My daughter teaches French to high school students and she has used Voki with her students; I hadn't played with it before. That's one thing I like about taking these courses--you stretch a bit out of your tried and true comfort zone!

Cindy: I can think of many different ways the voice tools could be effectively incorporated into an online class. Giving the participants the option of reading the welcome/orientation email or listening to the same information presented with a voice tool would be great. However, I think that since there is so much information presented in this first correspondence,it would be important to make sure that the text is there for reference and printing. I may be the only one with a short attention span (a little bit longer than a 2nd grader's) but when presented with this much important info, I often print it out to refer to as I go along. I also think it would be neat to use voice tools to announce that the next session is about to open or that the grades have been updated would also be a nice touch. The class I teach the most is Designing Virtual Field Trips and these tools, especially the Voki, would really enhance the final product of this course. The Voki could be used as the "tour guide" and would be cute and fun for the kids going on the field trip. I will definitely be introducing this and adding this an "option." I think most people will opt in on this.  Angie: For me, I'm thinking that the best way to incorporate voice tools into my online classes is to have maybe a Voki with those general instructions for the orientation session. Then I"m thinking of using Audacity to do weekly summaries of our sessions. I haven't used any voice tools in the past with my classes but I will definitely use them the next time I teach Wikis, Blogs, and Podcasts so I can model how they might use them within their blogs, wikis, etc.


 * **Susan: Using Voki to introduce myself to participants in the Orientation Session of each course seems to be a good way for participants to get to know me as a real live person. Also, it would be a good way for participants to learn to introduce themselves later on, as well. I have never used voice tools, but have wanted to learn how to use them effectively. Now I have to practice, practice, practice so that I can. If I can gain confidence in using voice, maybe I can tranfer that confidence to the participants so they will also try to use voice.**
 * Monica: I believe the Voki would be beneficial to the students in my class. I would use it to introduce the students to the course by providing the course guidelines and expectations through Voki. I'm sure they would enjoy watching the introduction rather than reading a lengthy email. It could also be used to introduce new users to Moodle to help them become familiar with the site.
 * Jen: Okay better late than never! It's hard being the last one because everything I was thinking of saying was already said. I think one neat place to use a voice tool might be in the K-6 or Secondary writing courses I developed and facilitated last year. It might be a neat component of the writing sharing to hear the participants reading some of their writing to the class!
 * Terry: I have facilitated three different online classes, and I think the Virtual Field Trip class would be the most conducive to using voice tools. In the past, I have had participants record sections of the content and/or directions for their students to listen to as they explored on the VFT. I think this is most useful for the lower grades where students are learning how to read. This would allow the teacher to use more complex words in the VFT and for their students to still be able to go through the VFT without stumbling on unfamiliar words.
 * Faye: I think Jillian is right, this would be great to use in the "Becoming an Online Facilitator" because this course last 10 weeks and you add some personality to the course. I think it might add some fun to the course and would adding voice would be great to include in the final product.