New Voicethread launches May 27th for all UMBC users

Thu, 23 May 2024 14:10:42 -0400
new-voicethread, voicethread

Starting May 27th all Voicethread users will experience the "new" Voicethread that includes enhanced features. These include:

One Conversation – A simpler-to-use conversation structure makes presentations much easier to build and use and conversations more natural and understandable to participants.

Zoom & Pan – You can now zoom in and move around in an image during your comment, and everything you do will play back for your audience.

Jump Navigation – Open the new slide gallery and keep it open during your comment! This allows you to jump from slide 1 to slide 40 in a single click rather than flipping through them one by one.

Bulk comment management options - You can delete any comment you created, and you can delete any comment no matter who recorded it from a VoiceThread that you own.

(To see the new commenting features in action, watch this video.)

Other new features include:

Audio descriptions of slides

Multiple closed caption tracks/languages for a single recording supported

Option to sort VoiceThreads by “most recently active”

Compact list of all VoiceThreads in the home page sidebar

Media sources included in the slide upload options inside an open VoiceThread

Ability to jump to another slide while commenting without having to flip through them sequentially

View assignment thumbnails in the course view

Users will also see some changes such as:

New version is fully accessible, so VT Universal is no longer necessary for screenreaders

Comment button moved to the left side of the page

Slide navigation buttons moved to the left side of the page

Increased visibility for closed captions

Comments timelines appear inside the comment window, not at the bottom of the thread

CC button moved to the bottom-right corner of the page

Connect with Instructional Technology

As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning, and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options:

Check our extensive FAQ collection

What's new in Ultra? | Known Issues

Open a ticket via RT

Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups

Request a consult with instructional technology staff

PIVOT | Academic Continuity | Keep On Teaching | Student Technology Resources

Thumbnail-image: Voicethread logo [decorative]