CEDU 531--Week 2: VideoThread in Business Education

http://voicethread.com/#b101929

After we completed our Rosa Parks group VoiceThread last Tuesday, it occurred to me that my Business Venture students could utilize this multimedia tool as a most engaging method in which to present their business plans. This culminating project has always been done in Word. Students enjoy this; however, I believe they will be more engaged if they can use pictures of their business layout and products, maps of their location, sample ads, and organizational charts for their personnel. Adding their voices on top of these graphics will create an authentic assessment as their peer audience raises the LOTI level.

In order to prepare for this new multimedia learning opportunity, I will need to do the following:
▪ Work with our building tech coordinator to get microphones. In addition, she and I will need to come up with a game plan on e-mail addresses required for student VoiceThread registration. My initial thoughts are Gaggle, Gmail, or students’ own existing e-mail addresses. She can advise me on which option is most in line with our district technology policies and budget.
▪ Make sure students do not get blocked from the VoiceThread site. Our filter will block new sites once students start to use them.
▪ Create my own business plan VoiceThread. I may use my grandfather’s stories of his gas station in the Third Ward and/or his hardware store in Wauwatosa. I cannot wait to try this out!
▪ Decide how much I will shorten the Word portion of the project. As recommended in our textbook by Garr Reynolds, this document would serve to provide detailed elements that connect to the VoiceThread.
▪ Decide if the Word portion will make up the business plan grade and the VoiceThread serve as the exam grade. These would serve as assessments of all units in Business Venture.