Miguel Guhlin Another Think Coming Challenge Claims, Uncover Reality

by mguhlin

Voicethread Reneges?

EdTech

Please complete the survey that appears online here.

What are the implications of Voicethread’s decision to do away with simultaneous logins? Simply that a teacher with 2-3 computers in her room won’t be able to have several kids—using different identities—logged in to work on the same VoiceThread.

Beginning January 1, 2009 VoiceThread will no longer allow multiple simultaneous logins to the same account. The good folks at the VoiceThread blog explain the rationale and acknowledge simultaneous log ins are convenient but they also pose security risks and could be in violation of COPPA.
Source: Colette Cassinelli

How will this impact users who DO NOT want to switch to the Ed version of VoiceThread? Is this an attempt to coerce those teachers into the the Ed version and therefore force them to pay? Simply, is it a reneging of the promise of Voicethread to remain free for individual educators as it restricts multiple logins?

Should we be concerned that there is a push to move people to commercial accounts?

A subscription to the secure K-12 ed.voicethread network gives every student their very own account (student email addresses not required) and students can then choose which classmates to collaborate with - but the projects are still viewable by the teacher.

Though Wes Fryer is quoted, does this quote endorse VoiceThread in limited function for educators still hoping to use the multiple identities in VT?

As great as VT is, do these points hold up to scrutiny…and do educators have any choice but to accept this decision? And, does one of those choices include PAYING for service? Here are some of those points from the VoiceThread blog:

  1. Why: Allowing students to log in under a teachers login and then participate unsupervised is a violation of the terms of service and for good reason. It is effectively giving accounts without those students having to agree to the terms of service, and many of these students are under age 13 and wouldn’t qualify any way because we adhere to COPPA.

  2. How: despite the security change you can still use the service, for free, and with your students, only it may not be as convenient. Here’s the basic workflow/choice for using voicethread in the classroom:

    If your students are under 13, or your district rules prevent them from having or using their own email accounts, you will either have to join Ed.VoiceThread and get a school or class subscription, or create ‘Identities’ which allow your students to work under your account.

Thoughts? Is this way off?

Update 12/21/2008: Removed full disclosure question for Colette, since she addressed it in blog comments. Thanks, Colette!

Update 12/21/2008: Please complete the survey that appears online here.

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