Forget the needle and thread; welcome to VoiceThread.

     In this technological age it seems the skills that were valued by previous generations have virtually disappeared, in favour of new skills for the virtual world. It is no longer considered necessary for children to be able to mend their own clothes or whip up a set of curtains using a needle and thread, as technologies such as VoiceThread become the new essentials.
     VoiceThread is a site that allows users to upload content to present to others and collaborate with others. A thread begins with one user, and the conversation grows as others add their comments to it. The thread is versatile, and comments can be left in the form of video footage from a webcam, an audio file, images, or a voice recording from a phone or microphone.
     The site has some great built in features including security that can be a public or private as the user chooses, and the fact that one user account that can contain multiple identities (or avatars) so that within one class each student does not need to worry about creating their own account or to waste time logging in. Best of all, the site is free, which makes it accessible to all schools! There are particular packages available for educators allowing extra usage, and although there is also a paid account option, it seems unnecessary for most basic uses.
     After being introduced to VoiceThread in class, I can definitely see the benefits of the technology and the potential learning experiences that it unlocks for children. It could be used for virtually any activity; from class book reviews to uploading art work and commenting on it, narrating stories with their own illustrations, or even having a class debate on a given topic. I found this great example from a year 2 class who have created a thread to share tips to look after the environment. 
     Examples such as the one above are quite inspiring, and present a professional finished 'product' that children can be proud of. After being exposed to this website, I hope to be able to use it in my teaching in the future, and although I will happily embrace this new technology, I am not in a hurry to dispose of my old-fashioned sewing tools...

Thanks for flickr for Image: 'Imagine...' 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25691430@N04/5384600558