VoiceThread Assignment - Watch a lecture or presentation

This is a faculty tutorial on how to create a watch assignment for students on VoiceThread.

If this is your first time creating a VoiceThread from scratch, please create a VT Homepage link before continuing with this tutorial.
If you have created a VoiceThread in the past, please continue viewing the tutorial.

This type of assignment enables you to keep a record of whether your students watch your lecture or presentation.

Follow the steps in the linked tutorial below to create such an assignment. Afterward, a grade column is added automatically in your Bb course Grade Center.

This assignment will be auto-graded to show whether students complete watching the lecture or presentation.

Creating a Watch assignment (Video format)

Creating a Watch assignment (Text and Screenshots format)

Follow the instructions below on how to create a Watch assignment. If you prefer to watch a video tutorial, click on "Creating a Watch assignment (Video format)" above.

Creating a VoiceThread link to add your assignments

To create any VoiceThread (VT) assignments, you will need to create a space to put all your assignments. This is a tutorial on how to create an "Assignment Builder" space in your Blackboard (Bb) course.

VoiceThread is integrated into Bb. It works best on Google Chrome and Firefox.

1. Go to a content area page in your Bb course.

2. Click "Build Content" > "York VoiceThread."

Adding VoiceThread in Bb course

3. On the Create VoiceThread screen, type in an appropriate name and description/instruction.

4. When creating an assignment, click Yes for "Enable Evaluation".

5. Fill in possible points, set up a due date, and click "Submit".

Enable evaluation in a VT assignment

6. Click on the newly created VoiceThread link.

7. Under "Choose an activity type" page, click on "Assignment Builder".

Creating a Watch Assignment

1. From the Assignment Builder page, click "Watch," then "Continue".

Click Watch

2. You will see previous VT videos that you've created. If you want the student to comment on a previously created VT video, click on the thumbnail, select which comments you would like to use for this assignment, and click "Continue".

Add comment

If you have not created a VT video, click "+ Create New VoiceThread" on the top-right-hand corner," add your video/slide, and click "Continue".

Gettting started to add new media in Assignment builder

3. Add media and edit slides if necessary, then click "Continue".

Add and Edit media in assignment builder

4. To record additional comments for students, click on the "+ Comment" in the middle, and press "Continue" when you finish adding the comments.

Add faculty comments

5. Setup the playback and permission settings if necessary, then click "Continue".

Playback and Permissions in Watch assignment

6. Add Assignment Name, Instructions, and Optionally Example URL.

Add Name and Description

7. Setup your date restrictions:

Start date is when the assignment is available to students.
Due date is when the assignment is due.
Close date is when the assignment is not visible to students.

8. Check-box if you want to allow students to view their assignments after submission.

Date and checkbox in a watch assignment

9. Click "Publish" and your VoiceThread watch assignment is created.

Additional Resources

Setting up a watch assignment - provides a detailed description of each option mentioned here.
Creating videos, voice-over-PowerPoint or mini-lectures on VoiceThread
Creating a Presentation assignment that requires students to present course-related topics with audio or video/webcam.
Creating a Comment assignment that requires students to answer your questions at any point in your lectures, or comment on your VT presentations in text, audio, or video format.
VoiceThread FAQs for students