1. How do I access Penn State VoiceThread?
2. How do I give someone access to a VoiceThread that I created?
3. How do I create course groups using VoiceThread and ANGEL?
4. How do I give someone without a Penn State Access Account access to a VoiceThread?
5. How do I view and comment on a VoiceThread?
6. How do I create a VoiceThread?
7. How do I draw on a VoiceThread?
8. How do I edit a VoiceThread?
9. How can I give another person the ability to edit a VoiceThread that I created?
10. How do I turn on comment moderation?
11. How do I delete a VoiceThread?
12. How do I share a VoiceThread with a group?
13. How do I remove an individual from a group?
14. How do I delete a group?
15. How can I give another person the ability to moderate comments on a VoiceThread that I created?
16. How do I export a VoiceThread?
17. How can I make my VoiceThread appear on the public Browse page?
18. Can I embed or link to a Penn State VoiceThread on another website so that anyone who visits that site can view the VoiceThread?

1. How do I access Penn State VoiceThread?

To create VoiceThreads on voicethread.psu.edu, you must have a Penn State Access Account.
1. Go to http://psu.voicethread.com (link will open in a new window).
2. Click Sign-in/Register.
3. When prompted for a user name and password, enter your Penn State ID and password. If you have a VoiceThread.com account, you will be prompted to enter your VoiceThread.com password to upgrade your account and merge any threads you created on the .com site to the Penn State site.
4. A terms of use agreement (link will open in a new window) will be displayed. Read the agreement carefully, and click Yes to accept the terms.
5. Your account has now been created. Click the Browse tab to view VoiceThread tutorials and VoiceThreads that other Penn State VoiceThread members have opened for other members to view. Back to Top.

2. How do I give someone access to a VoiceThread that I created?

1. Click the MyVoice tab and locate the thread.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Click the My Contacts button, then select PSU. (If this person is a member of one of your groups, choose that group instead.)
5. Begin typing the person's last name in the search field. If necessary, scroll to view his or her record.
6. If you would like for him or her to be able to:

• add comments, click the comment icon.
• only view, click the eye icon.
• edit, click the pencil icon.

7. Optional: click elsewhere on the record button to select the record, then click the Invite button to send this person an automated e-mail message that includes a direct link to the VoiceThread. Back to Top.

3. How do I create course groups using VoiceThread and ANGEL?

Creating a group is one of the first things you will want to do. It will simplify sharing as well as organize the work that is being shared within a group. You can create as many groups as you like, but you should create at least one per course. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to create a group, and e-mail the link to your students through ANGEL. Back to Top.

4. How do I give someone without a Penn State Access Account access to a VoiceThread?

Individuals without Penn State accounts can be given access to threads on Penn State VoiceThread, but you must invite them to each thread that you want them to access.

When the invitee clicks the link to the thread included in the e-mail invitation, he or she will be taken to a page with two buttons for signing into VoiceThread: one for those with Penn State accounts and one for those without. Clicking the "No, I do not have a PSU Userid" button will prompt the person to sign in with or register for a free VoiceThread.com account.

To share a VoiceThread with someone without a VoiceThread account:

1. Click the MyVoice tab and locate the thread to edit.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Under My Contacts, click the Add+ button.
5. Enter the individual's e-mail address and name, and then click add. An entry for him or her will now appear in your list of contacts.
6. Click Send Invite, and VoiceThread will send an e-mail message with a link to the thread.

If you have created a VoiceThread (or have permission to edit it), you can also access the menu (gear) -->Edit options while viewing the VoiceThread. They are available at the top left corner of the VoiceThread player. Back to Top.

5. How do I view and comment on a VoiceThread?

View tutorial: http://voicethread.com/share/409/ (link will open in a new window). Back to Top.

6. How do I create a VoiceThread?

View tutorial: http://voicethread.com/share/8381/ (link will open in a new window).
After you upload the first file to a VoiceThread, you will be prompted to select an option that best describes purpose of the thread before you can continue adding materials to the thread. You will also have the option of choosing whether or not other members of your audience can export a movie of the VoiceThread, including any comments that have been added. Back to Top.

7. How do I draw on a VoiceThread?

Drawing, or "doodling," on a still image: http://voicethread.com/share/711/ (link will open in a new window).

"Doodling" on an uploaded video: http://voicethread.com/share/21651/ (link will open in a new window). Back to Top.

8. How do I edit a VoiceThread?

At any point after you have created a VoiceThread, you can edit it. You can delete or replace files, add other files, reorder slides, or edit the title and description.
You cannot edit an existing comment; however, you can delete it and create a new one.

1. Click the MyVoice tab and locate the thread to edit.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click the Edit button, which opens the Create tab for that VoiceThread.
Note that if you have created a VoiceThread (or have permission to edit it), you can also access the menu (gear) -->Edit options while viewing the VoiceThread. They are available at the top left corner of the VoiceThread player. Back to Top.

9. How can I give another person the ability to edit a VoiceThread that I created?

1. Click the MyVoice tab and locate the thread to edit.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Under Groups, select Penn State University. (If this person is a member of one of your groups, choose that group instead.)
5. Under My Contacts (right side of the screen), begin typing that person's first or last name in the search field. If necessary, scroll to view his or her record.
6. Click the pencil/edit icon on his or her record.
7. Optional: click elsewhere on the record button to select the record, then click the Send Invite button to send this person an automated e-mail message that includes a direct link to the VoiceThread.
Note that if you have created a VoiceThread (or have permission to edit it), you can also access the menu (gear) -->Edit options while viewing the VoiceThread. They are available at the top left corner of the VoiceThread player. Back to Top.

10. How do I turn on comment moderation?

By default, comment moderation is off; any comments made to a thread are posted immediately, and anyone who can access the VoiceThread will also be able to access the comments. Turning on comment moderation allows you to preview comments before deciding whether or not to make them viewable to others.
It is always the case that a) a VoiceThread's creator and b) any individuals the creator has given editing permissions can delete any comments made on that VoiceThread. However, deleting a comment completely removes it from the system.

1. Click the MyVoice tab and locate the thread to edit.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Click the Publishing Options button at the bottom of the page.
5. Click the check box next to Moderate Comments? and click Save.
6. You will notice that as a comment is playing, a curtain icon appears next to the commenter's thumbnail photo/avatar. Click the curtain to make that comment viewable to others. The chronological order in which comments are made visible determines the sequence in which they appear in the VoiceThread.
Note that if you have created a VoiceThread (or have permission to edit it), you can also access the menu (gear) -->Edit options while viewing the VoiceThread. They are available at the top left corner of the VoiceThread player.

View tutorial: http://voicethread.com/share/718/ (link will open in a new window). Back to Top.

11. How do I delete a VoiceThread?

Only the creator of a VoiceThread can delete it. If you delete a thread, you delete all materials in it, including comments. Once deleted, a thread cannot be recovered.

1. Click the MyVoice tab and locate the thread to edit.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click Delete, and then confirm that you want to delete the thread. Back to Top.

12. How do I share a VoiceThread with a group?

1. If you are not already editing the VoiceThread you wish to share, click the MyVoice tab and locate that thread.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Under Groups, click New+.
5. Enter a name for the group and, optionally, a description. Click Save.
6. Click Copy the Link to copy the subscription web address to your computer's clipboard. Students will use this link to sign up for the group. You can share it with them either by pasting it into an e-mail message or by posting it to your course website.
7. Under Groups, mouse over the group that you just created. If you want to the group to view the thread, but not comment on it, click the eye icon. If you want to group to be able to comment on the thread, click the comment icon.
You recopy the group's subscription web address by clicking Edit and then Add Members.
If you already have people in your My Contacts list whom you want to add to a group, you can also drop and drag their records onto the group name.

View the tutorial: (http://voicethread.com/share/325897/)Back to Top.

13. How do I remove an individual from a group?

1. Click the MyVoice tab, and click any the menu (gear) icon for any thread.
2. Click the Share button.
3. Under Groups, scroll to locate the group.
4. Under Contacts, scroll to locate the individual.
5. Mouse over the individual's record and click the x in the top-right corner. Back to Top.

14. How do I delete a group?

1. Click the MyVoice tab, and click any the menu (gear) icon for any thread.
2. Click the Share button.
3. Under Groups, scroll to locate the group you wish to delete.
4. Mouse over that group, and click Edit.
5. Click Delete Group and Save.
6. Click Delete to confirm that the group should be deleted.

Only group owners can delete a group.
Deleting a group will not delete a) group members' VoiceThread accounts or b) any VoiceThreads and comments that members have shared with the group. Back to Top.

15. How can I give another person the ability to moderate comments on a VoiceThread that I created?

1. Click the MyVoice tab and locate the thread to edit.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Click the My Contacts button, then select PSU. (If this person is a member of one of your groups, choose that group instead.)
5. Begin typing that person's first or last name in the search field. If necessary, scroll to view his or her record.
6. Click the pencil/edit icon on his or her record.
7. Optional: click elsewhere on the record button to select the record, then click the Invite button to send this person an automated e-mail message that includes a direct link to the VoiceThread.

Note that if you have created a VoiceThread (or have permission to edit it), you can also access the menu (gear) -->Edit options while viewing the VoiceThread. They are available at the top left corner of the VoiceThread player.  Back to Top.

16. How do I export a VoiceThread?

If you are the creator or editor of a VoiceThread, you can export it to a movie file.

1. Click the MyVoice tab and locate the thread to export.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Click the Export button at the bottom of the screen. A prompt displays, letting you know how many remaining export credits you have left. The University's license with VoiceThread has paid for up to 30 export credits for each user. Click Export to confirm.
5. As the next prompt indicates, you will receive an e-mail message when the exported files are available, with a link to the download page. The thread is exported into two formats: "Full" (.mov) and "iPod" (.mp4). Back to Top.

17. How can I make my VoiceThread appear on the public Browse page?

When you log into VoiceThread, the threads that appear on the Browse page are those that have been made available to any Penn State user. You can share your thread with the Penn State VoiceThread community, too.

1. Click the MyVoice tab and locate the thread you would like to share.
2. Click the menu (gear) icon.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Click the Publishing Options button at the bottom of the screen.
5. Check Allow Anyone to View and Show on Browse Page.
6. Click Save. Back to Top.

18. Can I embed or link to a Penn State VoiceThread on another website so that anyone who visits that site can view the VoiceThread?

You cannot embed a Penn State VoiceThread so that it is publicly available. However, you can post a link that will allow members of the public to join a group that has access to a particular VoiceThread:

1. Follow the instructions for creating a group.
2. Add the group's link to your website.
3. When a person clicks on that link, he or she will be taken to a web page.

On this page, he or she will select whether or not he or she has a Penn State account. If no Penn State account is selected, he or she will be prompted to create a free VoiceThread.com account. If I have a PSU account is selected, he or she will create a Penn State VoiceThread account.
Penn State VoiceThread accounts permit unlimited commenting. Free VoiceThread.com accounts permit up to 15 comments. Back to Top.