Using VoiceThread to Promote Collaborative and Reflective Learning in Asynchronous Online Graduate Nursing

CoursesDr. Ola Fox

Spring Hill College Graduate Nursing ProgramSouth Alabama Conference on Teaching & Learning

May 12, 2015

Share the results of an exploratory study of students’ experiences of using VoiceThread for asynchronous online collaborative and reflective learning activities.

Objectives

Totally Online Asynchronous Format

Pros: Market demand Flexibility Outreach to rural

nurses Increase number of

nurses educated as Clinical Nurse Leaders

Challenges

Cons: Establishing social

presence Supporting learner

motivation Leveraging interpersonal

communication Social isolation by default

Text Alone

VoiceThread

Key Factors Require the use of voice or

webcam Let students know your

expectations Have clear requirements for

participation and peer interactions

Create a safe place to voice their thoughts and professionally critique others point of view

Start with a low stakes, ungraded assignment

Encourage students to build upon each other’s responses

VoiceThread Survey Responses

29%

6%18%

47%01 to 23 to 45 to 78+

Number of Online Classes Age 18%

12%29%

41%25-3233-4041-5051-60

76%

18% 6%Race or Ethnicity

WhiteAfrican AmericanHispanic

VoiceThread Survey Responses

VoiceThread contributed to making this online class feel more human 47%

29%

24% Strongly Agree AgreeNeutral

VoiceThread Survey Responses

Hearing my peers improved my ability to reach the learning objectives.

47%

24%

29% Strongly AgreeAgreeNeutral

VoiceThread Survey Responses

Hearing my instructor improved my ability to reach the learning objectives.

53%18%

29% Strongly AgreeAgreeNeutral

VoiceThread Survey Responses

How did speaking out loud vs writing all your assignments affect your learning in this online class?

I absorbed and remembered more information.

I found my self thinking of new of things as I spoke.

Definitely, increased my learning.

Made the content more interactive so I remembered more.

VoiceThread Responses

The ability to communicate effectively with online voice communication is an important 21st century skill.

59%23

%

18% Strongly

AgreeAgreeNeutral

Graduate nursing students had very positive experiences using VoiceThread.

Survey responses support the consideration of VoiceThread as a collaborative and reflective learning tool to provide multimodal interaction opportunities.

Conclusions

Allen, I. E. & Seaman, J. (2013). Changing courses: Ten years of tracking online education in the United States. Babson Park, MA: Babson Survey Research Group and Quahog Research Group. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED541571.pdf

Ching, Y. -H. & Hsu, Y.-C. (2013). Collaborative learning using VoiceThread in an online graduate course. Knowledge Management & E-Learning, 5(3), 298-314.

Pacansky-Brock, M. (2013). How to humanize your online class with VoiceThread. Retrieved from http://www.smashwords.com/extreader/read/333499/1/how-to-humanize-your-online-class-with-voicethread

References