Blackboard Enhances Discussion Tools with VoiceThread

Blackboard has partnered with VoiceThread in an effort to improve discussions between instructors and students with the use of video, voice and text comments.

Though Blackboard currently offers voice and text commenting, "the addition of VoiceThread technology will increase the breadth of commenting options for teachers and learners, enhance Blackboard's teaching and learning solutions and expand its partner ecosystem," according to a news release. "VoiceThread is making the asynchronous environment feel synchronous."

"VoiceThread integration with Blackboard has provided a seamless experience for our faculty," said Olena Zhadkho, manager of course development at the New York Institute of Technology's Center for Teaching and Learning, in a prepared statement. "Our faculty were able to create VoiceThread assignments from within a Blackboard course in just seconds. Many faculty who might be reluctant to go to yet another Web site were relieved to know that VoiceThread was available in Blackboard. Students' accounts and course groups are set up automatically, and setting up a VoiceThread assignment was very easy for all faculty with varying technological skills."

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • vibrant abstract light streaks

    OpenAI Discontinuing Custom GPTs and Moving to Plugin Architecture

    OpenAI has announced it is preparing to retire Custom GPTs and move the specialized workflows built around them to a new plugin architecture spanning ChatGPT and its Codex coding agent.

  • shattered digital cloud with red warning alert icons

    CSA's Top Cloud Threats: Identity, AI

    Cloud Security Alliance's 2026 Top Threats report ranks identity first while adding two AI-related risks to its list of 11 leading cloud security concerns.

  • circuit patterns

    Anthropic Launches Lower-Cost Claude Sonnet 5

    Anthropic has released Claude Sonnet 5, positioning the model as its most autonomous mid-tier offering to date and a lower-cost alternative to its flagship Opus 4.8 system. The company said the model can plan multi-step tasks, operate tools such as browsers and terminals, and complete agentic work at a level that previously required larger and more expensive models.

  • abstract malware attack

    Report: AI Ransomware Can Now Run Much of an Attack Without Human Help

    Ransomware attacks are becoming more automated, and AI could take that much further, according to global cybersecurity company NCC Group's July 2026 threat intelligence report.