Vocaroo is a very simple to use web application. All you have to do is click on the record button, state your piece, listen and then either save or redo your recording. You need to be sure to download your Vocaroo recording if you plan to keep it for any length of time. The url provided on the Sharing option only allows you to use your recording for a short period of time. You can load your recording to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your own blog. You are also provided the option of saving your recording in the form of a QR code. This option would be useful when giving students directions and information for an independent assignment, center, or station. Student could in turn record their own responses to you by creating their own recording in Vocaroo. This one is probably the easiest one to do with your students. There is no need to build a classroom site, no login information to be kept, and it is totally free.
Voki is by far my favorite of the audio tools. It speaks to my creative side. There are just so many options for creating your avatars. There is definitely a learning curve involved with this one. It is not nearly as streamlined as the Vocaroo site. However, this one is much more likely to gain the attention of those you are trying to reach. It is really cool to watch the avatar talking to you using your own voice. I love the way the avatar follows the cursor movements with their eyes. On this site, you are required to put in your email information. And, in order to use it with your students you must purchase Voki Classroom. In Voki Classroom you have the option of setting up several different classrooms which is helpful to those of us who departmentalize or work with many different groups. I did try this one out with my homeroom class of 5th graders. The students absolutely loved creating their avatars and spent a great deal of time to get it just right. However, they really struggled with the recording portion. The site allows for up to 90 seconds of speech. Only 5 of my 19 students were able to successfully save their work. So, although I love this site and do plan to continue to use it, there will definitely need to be many attempts to get the students to become fully proficient. My next goal is to learn to insert my Voki onto my daily/weekly Smartboard lessons.
Blabberize is also one that I have used in the past and enjoyed using with my students. It was fun for my students to create and record. The students were given the choice of several famous scientists. They had to research the scientist that they chose and gather information such as when and where the scientist was born, what the scientist was known for, challenges they faced, and any other interesting facts. The students then wrote a script as if they were that scientist. They used pictures of the scientist that I had posted to the handout folder (I needed to make sure the pictures were appropriate to use.) The students and I both enjoyed this activity. However, as I was working with this site for this assignment, I became very frustrated. For some reason, every time I uploaded a picture to begin making a new Blabber, my picture uploaded sideways! I tried and tried to find a way to adjust or rotate the pictures to no avail. I was so disappointed as I really want to be able to use this with my students next year since I will be teaching science once more.
