Topics Map > Instructional Resources > Canvas

VoiceThread - Exporting a VoiceThread to a Video File

Exporting a VoiceThread is a three-part process:

1. Prepare your VoiceThread for exporting by creating a copy that does not contain student comments (or, if you need to share student comments, get your students' written permission to share their work outside of the class).
2. Initiate the export process in VoiceThread. The process then runs on VoiceThread's servers and may take up to a few hours to complete.
3. After the export completes, return to VoiceThread and download the exported video file.

TIP: You do not have to wait for the export of one VoiceThread to finish processing before starting another export, so, if you need to export multiple VoiceThread projects, it is most efficient to perform parts 1 and 2 of the process for each VoiceThread, then return to VoiceThread the following day (or once all of the exports have finished processing) to download each export (part 3).

Part 1: Create a Copy of the VoiceThread

If you want to reuse your VoiceThread as a video presentation in a future class, to protect the privacy of your past students, you must export it without the comments made by those students. The quickest method to accomplish this is to create a copy of the VoiceThread. While creating a copy of a VoiceThread you are presented with options to include only instructor comments or include no comments in the copy. Selecting either of those options will remove all student comments from the copy. You can then export the copy to a video file.

If you have reason to share a VoiceThread including its student comments and/or slide contributions with a future class you must, from each student who contributed work to the VoiceThread, get written permission to share their name and work with future classes.

Here are the steps for creating a copy of a VoiceThread that does not contain student comments:

1. From your Canvas course, open the VoiceThread. If your VoiceThread was shared as an assignment, click the Assignment Content button inside of the VoiceThread grading interface to access the VoiceThread.
   
   
2. Click the menu button in the top-left corner of the VoiceThread, then click Make a Copy.
   
   
   
   
3. Perform the following steps in the menu window that appears:
   1. Enter a title in the "New Title" field and enter a description of your presentation in the "New Description" field. Your exported video will begin with an introductory slide that contains this title and description.
   2. Switch the selection in the "Which comments would you like to keep?" drop-down menu to either Include only my comments (if you wish to retain instructor comments) or Don't include any comments (if you want the copy to contain only the slides and no comments).
   3. Click the Copy and open VoiceThread button to create the copy and open it in your browser.
      
      
      
      
4. At the top of the VoiceThread creator interface that opens, click the Comment link to navigate to the standard commenting interface of your new VoiceThread copy.
   
   

Part 2: Initiate the VoiceThread Export

Perform the following steps to export your copy of the VoiceThread:

1. If you still have the VoiceThread copy you made in Part 1 of this article open in your browser, proceed to step 2. If you need to reopen the VoiceThread copy you made in Part 1 of this article, follow these steps:
   
   1. Open any VoiceThread activity in your Canvas course. Doing so will ensure you are automatically logged in to your UWGB VoiceThread account.
   2. Open a new tab in your browser and navigate to https://www.voicethread.com/myvoice.
   3. Locate the VoiceThread in the list of your projects on the "Home" screen, then click its thumbnail image to open the VoiceThread.
      
      
2. With your copy of the VoiceThread open, click the menu button in the top-left corner, then click Export.
   
   
   
   
3. In the menu window that appears, click the Export button.
   
   

Part 3: Download the Exported Video

After initiating the export, the export process runs on VoiceThread's server. You will need to wait for this process to complete before you are able to return to VoiceThread and download the exported video file. It can take up to a few hours for an export to be ready to download. Exports remain available to download for 90 days. Perform the following steps to download a completed export from VoiceThread:

1. Navigate to your VoiceThread home page by performing the following steps:
   1. Open any VoiceThread activity in your Canvas course. Doing so will ensure you are automatically logged in to your UWGB VoiceThread account.
   2. Open a new tab in your browser and navigate to https://www.voicethread.com/myvoice.
      
      
2. From your VoiceThread home page, click your email address in the top-right corner, then click My Account.
   
   
   
   
3. Select the Exports tab.
   
   
4. In the Exports tab, you will find a tile with your recently exported VoiceThread under "Previous exports". Click the Download button in this tile to start your download.
   
   

If you need to share the exported video in a future class, we recommend uploading the file to your Kaltura My Media library. Please see the following KnowledgeBase article for more information: Kaltura My Media and Canvas.

For more information on VoiceThread exports, you can view the official VoiceThread vendor documentation.