Overview
You can use Dornsife VoiceThread to add discussion-enabled multimedia presentations in Brightspace. All Dornsife faculty have access to this tool. If you do not see the option for Dornsife VoiceThread in your course modules, contact brightspace@usc.edu to request access.
Adding a VoiceThread to a course
Quick guide
- Go to https://brightspace.usc.edu and select your course.
- In the course nav bar, click Content.
- In the Table of Contents, select the module you want to add a VoiceThread to.
- If your course has no modules, you must first Add a module.
- Click Existing Activities and select Dornsife VoiceThread.
- Allow about 5 seconds for VoiceThread to sign you in.
- You can now add a VoiceThread option.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Go to https://brightspace.usc.edu and select your course.
- In the course nav bar, click Content.
- In the Table of Contents, select the module you want to add a VoiceThread to.
- If your course has no modules, you must first Add a module.
- Click Existing Activities and select Dornsife VoiceThread.
- Allow about 5 seconds for VoiceThread to sign you in.
- You can now add a VoiceThread option.
Creating graded assignments
VoiceThread has an Assignment Builder feature. For each assignment you create using Assignment Builder, a gradebook column is added to your course.
There are three types of assignments you can create:
- Create: Assign students to create their own VoiceThread.
- Comment: Assign students to make a certain number of comments on a VoiceThread.
- Watch: Assign students to watch or listen to a full VoiceThread.
Only the Watch assignment can be automatically graded; you must grade Create and Comment assignments manually.
Example: Create a Comment assignment
Quick guide
- Click Assignment Builder.
- Select Comment and click Continue.
- Select a VoiceThread for the assignment:
- To select an existing VoiceThread: Select the thumbnail and click Continue.
- To create a new VoiceThread: Click + Create a new VoiceThread. Then, select an option to upload or create media for the VoiceThread. You can upload images, PDFs, videos, and PowerPoint presentations to VoiceThread, but be aware that the larger your file is, the more time it requires to finish uploading.
- Edit and review your VoiceThread:
- To rename the VoiceThread: Click the title and type a name.
- To reorder a slide: Drag it to a different position.
- To add more slides: Click + Add media.
- Once you're satisfied with your VoiceThread, click Continue.
- (Optional) To add a comment to your VoiceThread, hover over the bottom center of the preview slide, and click + Comment. Select a comment type and create a comment.
- Click Continue.
- Fill out the Participation requirements and click Continue.
- Tip: To allow commenting on comments, select the Enable threaded commenting checkbox. To prevent students from being able to view each other's comments, select the Enable comment moderation checkbox.
- Fill out the assignment details and click Publish.
- The link to your VoiceThread assignment appears in your module.
- Student view: Students who click the link can view the VoiceThread, add comments, and submit the assignment.
- Instructor view: When you click the link, the VoiceThread displays options to grade submitted assignments and send reminders to students who haven't submitted their assignment.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Click Assignment Builder.
- Select Comment and click Continue.
- Select a VoiceThread for the assignment:
- To select an existing VoiceThread: Select the thumbnail and click Continue.
- To create a new VoiceThread: Click + Create a new VoiceThread. Then, select an option to upload or create media for the VoiceThread. You can upload images, PDFs, videos, and PowerPoint presentations to VoiceThread, but be aware that the larger your file is, the more time it requires to finish uploading.
- Edit and review your VoiceThread:
- To rename the VoiceThread: Click the title and type a name.
- To reorder a slide: Drag it to a different position.
- To add more slides: Click + Add media.
- Once you're satisfied with your VoiceThread, click Continue.
- (Optional) To add a comment to your VoiceThread, hover over the bottom center of the preview slide, and click + Comment. Select a comment type and create a comment.
- Click Continue.
- Fill out the Participation requirements and click Continue.
- Tip: To allow commenting on comments, select the Enable threaded commenting checkbox. To prevent students from being able to view each other's comments, select the Enable comment moderation checkbox.
- Fill out the assignment details and click Publish.
- The link to your VoiceThread assignment appears in your module.
- Student view: Students who click the link can view the VoiceThread, add comments, and submit the assignment.
- Instructor view: When you click the link, the VoiceThread displays options to grade submitted assignments and send reminders to students who haven't submitted their assignment.
Using ungraded features
The following VoiceThread features will each add a link in your module:
- Individual VoiceThread: Add a link to a single VoiceThread. You can add comments and enable student comments for this VoiceThread, but it will not be graded.
- Course View: Add a link to all VoiceThreads shared with the course.
- VT Home Page: Add a link to the VoiceThreads home page, which shows all VoiceThreads for all courses that a student is enrolled in.
Additional resources
For more in-depth VoiceThread training, watch the following recorded workshop: