Creating Multimedia Learning Content with VoiceThread to Engage Faculty in an Online Training Course

Concurrent Session 3

Brief Abstract

Providing learners with multimedia learning opportunities may help them develop deeper learning. Learn how we implement VoiceThread as part of faculty online training courses to engage them with multimedia learning content and help them develop understanding of how they can use it to create engaging content with their own students. You will leave with assignment ideas to use as part of online or in-person courses.

Presenters

Extended Abstract

Session Takeaways: 

In this discovery session, participants will:

  1. Identify the benefits of multimedia learning

  2. Explore ways to use VoiceThread to create multimedia learning content

  3. Discuss ideas of how it can be used with faculty training courses as well as with students for online or in-person courses.

Research in multimedia learning suggests that providing learners with opportunities to engage with subject matter in different modalities (text, image, audio, video) may help them develop a better understanding of the content (Sorensen, 2016). Multimedia learning aligns with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles (CAST, 2018), which promote inclusive teaching by urging instructors to:

  • Provide multiple means of representation, or various ways for students to take in information and knowledge.

  • Provide multiple means of expression, or various alternative ways for students to demonstrate what they know or have learned.

  • Provide multiple means of engagement that tap into students’ interests and increase motivation by demonstrating real-world relevance, encouraging creativity, and creating opportunities for peer collaboration.

This discovery session on VoiceThread will help participants put these ideas into practice. VoiceThread provides instructors and students an easy way to combine text, images, videos, and audio-visual content into rich multimedia presentations. These presentations can help tell stories, display research, showcase work, and more. After discussing the benefits of multimedia learning, session participants will explore an example of how we use  VoiceThread at Temple University’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching as part of a faculty online training course that takes full advantage of its multimedia capabilities and identify what aspects of this VoiceThread they find compelling and why. Participants will then learn the different ways VoiceThread can be used to create multimedia learning content in online and in-person courses. 

We plan to engage session participants by providing various examples of using VoiceThread to engage faculty in an online professional development course. We will discuss with participants how VoiceThread can be integrated into various course types.

 

References: 

CAST. (2018). Universal Design for Learning Guidelines version 2.2. http://udlguidelines.cast.org

Sorensen, C. (2016). Multimodal learning. In S. Danver (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of online education (pp. 782-785). SAGE Publications, Inc., https://www-doi-org.libproxy.temple.edu/10.4135/9781483318332.n247