Add an Assignment to Your Course
As the instructor, you can choose the best approach for your students. With VoiceThread, you have the option to assign both graded and non-graded activities.
Assignment Type | Create Assignment Links in Blackboard
Assignment Type
Non-Graded VoiceThread Activities
Design VoiceThread assignments that encourage peer engagement without the pressure of grades.
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Displays all VoiceThreads shared with your course. Any content not explicitly shared will not appear. This option is ideal for peer interaction and exam preparation. Students can view and comment on each other's work. Additionally, they can review all course materials in one place. |
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Ideal for creating a discussion board or lecture focused on a single VoiceThread. Individual VT directs students straight to the specific presentation you want them to view. To set it up, select the VoiceThread from the left-side menu and click Share with Class—this will be the only VoiceThread visible to students. |
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Displays all of a student’s VoiceThread content in a single view. This includes VoiceThreads for all of a student’s courses that belong to them. This option is useful if you want to create a simple portal into VoiceThread without directing students to any specific content. |
Graded VoiceThread Activities
Use graded VoiceThread activities to assess student understanding, gather feedback, and enhance engagement.
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Students must create a new VoiceThread to earn credit. You’ll be prompted to enter an assignment description. |
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Students must submit a comment on a selected VoiceThread to earn credit. You’ll be prompted to choose an existing VoiceThread. |
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Students must watch a VoiceThread to earn credit. Comments are disabled, making this ideal for narrated presentations. You’ll be prompted to select or create a VoiceThread. |
For more information, visit the Blackboard VoiceThread for Students and/or Blackboard VoiceThread for Faculty help articles.
Create Assignment Links in Blackboard
To access VoiceThread from inside Blackboard, you will need to add the VoiceThread integration. There are two ways to do this.
- Navigate to your chosen Blackboard Ultra course.
- Navigate to the Details and Actions panel on the right.
- Click View Course & Institutional Tools under Books and Tools.
- Locate the VoiceThread integration under the Available Tools menu. If you do not initially see this tile, scroll to the bottom and select Browse All Course Tools.
- Select the plus (+) icon to add the VoiceThread integration to your course content.
Alternatively, you can add the VoiceThread integration directly from your course content area.
- Select the Plus (+) icon in the content area where you want to place the integration.
- Choose Content Market.
- Locate the VoiceThread integration.
- Select the plus (+) icon in the lower-right corner of the tile.
To set up a non-graded assignment link:
- Click the VoiceThread integration link you just created.
- A new window will open; select your desired assignment type:
- Course View: link grants users access to their course group on VoiceThread. This will display all VoiceThreads shared within the course.
- VT Home: link allows users to access all VoiceThreads and all courses they are enrolled in.
- Individual VT: link grants users direct access to specific VoiceThreads.
To set up a link to a graded assignment, instructors will first need to mark the integration link as a graded assignment in Blackboard.
- Click the VoiceThread integration link you just created.
- Navigate to the Options Menu (three dots to the right of the link).
- Select Edit.
- Customize the title, description, and publishing settings. Ensure that you have selected "Create gradebook entry for this item."
- Select Save.
Once grading is enabled, instructors must set the points possible, which will be linked to the gradebook.
- Click the graded link you just created.
- A new window will open—select Assignment Builder.
- Set an assignment type:
- Create a VoiceThread: Students create and submit a VoiceThread.
- Submit a Comment: Students must provide a set number of comments.
- Watch a VoiceThread: Students view a VoiceThread without additional interaction.
- Consult the VoiceThread Support site for specific instructions on setting up each assignment type.