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Brightspace Tip #268: New VoiceThread Features

A VoiceThread with a learner's video reflection playing

VoiceThread is a web 2.0 tool that allows you to humanize interactions in an online environment. Instructors and students can share a wide variety of media (images, PDFs, slides, video, and more) and share text, audio, and video comments on that media quickly and easily. VoiceThread transforms stale, text-based discussions by infusing your content and conversations with human presence, just as if students were all sitting in the classroom together, but without scheduling a specific time to meet.

There are some great new features available in VoiceThread assignments! Read on for more information about the new features that were recently introduced.

Separate Close and Due Dates + Late Submissions

When building an assignment, you can now set a due date and a close date. This enables you to continue making the assignment available to students even after the due date passes. It will only become unavailable after the close date.

Example of VoiceThread due and close dates

Additionally, students can submit after the due date has passed, and their submissions will be marked as "Late" on your grading page so you can decide whether to deduct any credit for missing the due date.

Example of VoiceThread grading with a late submission

Replying To Comments after Submitting

After students submit a commenting assignment, you might want them to go back and reply to classmates to keep the conversation going. Now they can use the threaded reply option to continue the conversation even if they've submitted and received a grade. The image below illustrates how a student can make a reply comment even after submitting successfully.

Examplo of a learner's VoiceThread reply to comment after submitting

Slide Requirements

Create and comment assignments can require students to add a specific number of slides before they can submit. Set this requirement in the same place you set a required number of comments.

Example of minimum slides required option

Point Value Grading

Instructors can make VoiceThread assignments worth a specific number of points instead of using percentage grading. You can set the points possible in the "Assessment" section when you are creating the assignment. Previously you had to grade based on a percentage scale.

Example of an assignment with points value assessment

When it's time to grade, just enter the number of points you want to give each student. No more need to convert to percentages first!

Example showing grading of an assignment with points

Want more information?

VoiceThread Instructor Support
Add VoiceThread to your Course
How to use new VoiceThread assignments
Submitting new VoiceThread assignments – Students
VoiceThread FAQ

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Brightspace Known Issues
Continuous Delivery release notes
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Try these Brightspace How-To documents.
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or schedule a one-on-one session, email, or
call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418.

Note: Are you doing something innovative in Brightspace or perhaps you've discovered a handy tip? Share how you are using Brightspace in your teaching and learning in The Orange Room.

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