Creating a discussion board with VoiceThread is a great way to facilitate asynchronous, multimedia discussions. Below is a step-by-step guide for faculty on how to set up a VoiceThread discussion board:

Step 1: Accessing VoiceThread via Canvas

1. Log into Canvas.
2. Access course for which you intend to include the VoiceThread assignment.
3. Click on the “Assignments” tab on the left column of the screen.
4. Click on gold “+ Assignment” button on top right of screen.
5. Set up assignment parameters (due date, instructions etc.)
6. Under “Submission Type,” select "External Tool," then click “Find.” Scroll down and click on “VoiceThread.”
7. Click on “Assignment Builder”
8. Select “Comment” and then “Continue” at the bottom of pop-window. Canvas will log you into VoiceThread automatically.  

Step 2: Create a New VoiceThread

1. Click on the “Create New VoiceThread” on homepage (if you have a previously created VoiceThread you would like to use, you will be able to choose that option here).
2. Under the “Let’s Get Started” tab, you can add different types of media, such as video, images, documents, or slides. If you are creating a discussion, it is typical to make the "prompt" in the form of a recorded video or slides with questions or topics you want students to discuss.
   • To record a video:
     1. Select “Record Video Slide”. Note: you may see a pop-up window requesting permission for this website to use your webcam and/or microphone. You must choose to "Allow" in order to proceed.
     2. Click on red dot at bottom of screen to record. A countdown will begin.
     3. Record video; click on red square at the bottom of the screen when finished.
     4. Click Save
     5. Next you will see a thumbnail of the video you just created. In top-left corner of thumbnail, check empty box.
     6. Optional: At this point it is also possible to add more "slides" (an additional video or other media) although that is not common. To do this you would click "+Add Media" at the top right. Additionally, you can give a name/title to each slide. Below the thumbnail of the video slide, you will see that is called "Untitled". To change the slide title, click on the More menu (three dots) to the right of the title and then click on the pencil icon to edit the slide information, including title. Click "Save" when finished. This step is not required, and is usually not done unless the Voicethread has a large number of slides.
     7. Click "continue" twice. This will take you to the "Participation Requirements" screen. 
   • To use a Powerpoint slide (or other document) with a written Prompt
     8. Select "Add from Device"
     9. Your system's file selector dialogue will open. Navigate to where the file is stored. You can choose .ppts, Word documents, PDFs and more. You could even use this workflow to upload a previously recordede audio or video file. Select the file and Click "Open."
     10. In the next window, your document will load. If the document has multiple pages/slides, each will load as separate slide. Select the slides you wish to use in the Voicethread and click the checkbox in the upper left corner of that slide(s).
     11. Click "continue" twice. This will take you to the "Participation Requirements" screen. 

Step 3: Set Discussion Parameters

1. Choose settings for how the students will engage with this Voicethread. The most important settings to set are "number of comments required" (if you intend to use automatic grading) and "Select which comment types will be allowed" (Video, Audio, text, etc).
2. Click "Continue"
3. Fill out “Assignment Name,” “Assignment Instructions,” “Due Date” and any other information as desired. It is not necessary to fill out all these fields, especially if you have already input an assignment description and/or due date in Canvas. Click “Publish” when finished.
4. You will be redirected to back to the "Configure External Tool" pop-up window in Canvas. Click "Select" again. Finally, scroll down and Click “Save” or “Save and Publish.”

Tips for Faculty:

• Clear Instructions: Make sure the instructions for participation are clear and concise. Let students know what format you expect for responses (e.g., video, audio, or text).
• Be Present: Regularly interact with the posts to keep the conversation lively and demonstrate your engagement.
• Time Management: Set a deadline for the discussion board to ensure timely responses from students.

By following these steps, you can create an interactive and engaging VoiceThread discussion board that leverages multimedia for deeper student interaction.