Dept. of Landscape Architecture and
Regional Planning
Online instructors often reflect on and discuss effective strategies for enhancing their teaching and learning environments (Sun & Chen, 2016). Common questions typically focus on whether to teach synchronously or asynchronously (Sun et al., 2024), how to design engaging and effective video lectures (Lange & Costley, 2020), ways to increase class participation (Bedi, 2023), and strategies to support students with limited broadband access (Cullinan et al., 2021).
Dr. Darrel Ramsey-Musolf, a faculty member in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, faced similar considerations. While on sabbatical during the early days of the pandemic, he observed from the sidelines as universities worldwide raced to find effective online teaching solutions. This period of observation sparked his interest in identifying a tool that could support his interest in teaching asynchronously. He found VoiceThread, a tool that he considered to be suitable for his online classrooms.
Why VoiceThread?
When Dr. Ramsey-Musolf returned from a sabbatical in 2020, the landscape of pandemic-era teaching was still evolving (Pokhrel & Chhetri, 2021). Like many educators, he explored tools like Zoom and Echo360, but VoiceThread stood out for its versatility and impact.
One important feature that Dr. Ramsey-Musolf likes in VoiceThread is its multimodal engagement ability. It allows students to interact via video, audio, or text, accommodating diverse learning preferences. Designed with universal learning principles such as action and expression (CAST, 2024), it fosters inclusivity by recognizing that students differ in how they engage with content, process information, and demonstrate their knowledge. Integrating tools like VoiceThread can, therefore, help instructors create more dynamic and accessible learning experiences.
“VoiceThread allows you to upload videos. You can record videos yourself. You can do it with just your voice. You can even call it in. And students can also text it in. So, in my case, I allowed students to use all of them.” - Darrel Ramsey-Musolf.
Tips for Using VoiceThread in Online Classrooms
Dr. Ramsey-Musolf shares key strategies for effectively using VoiceThread to enhance student engagement and create dynamic online learning experiences.
Click each item below to learn more about the strategy.
Reflections on Personal and Professional Growth
For Dr. Ramsey-Musolf, adopting VoiceThread has been both a personal and professional learning experience. While minor technical issues, such as browser conflicts, occasionally arise, they are rare and manageable. Ultimately, the benefits—increased engagement, improved accessibility, and the ability to track participation—make VoiceThread an invaluable tool for online and hybrid instruction (Delmas, 2017).
Discover how Dr. Ramsey-Musolf implemented VoiceThread in his GenEd: SCD 125 Engaging with Global Cities and Global Issues class.
References and Additional Resources
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