Commenting is hands down the most important feature of a VoiceThread. This is what allows you and others to interact and respond to the media and really transform your VoiceThread from a simple presentation to a conversation over the cloud.
There are two ways to access the comment section:
- The main way to access the comment section is by clicking on the VoiceThread in your main menu. This works whether or not you can edit it.
- If you can edit it, you’ll notice near one of the “add media” buttons in the editing screen that there’s also a “comment” button.
![Screenshot from VoiceThread](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/380755/images/VT8.png)
On the bottom is the playback bar for comments and, if the original slide is a video or audio recording, for the original slide. Above that is the add comment button, shown with a speech bubble and a plus. To the right of the playback bar are two arrows that allow you to switch between slides. On the left side of the screen are all the other comments that have been made on that particular slide.
Adding a comment to the slide:
Clicking on the “add comment” button, a radial menu will pop up around it.
![Screenshot from VoiceThread](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/380755/images/VT9.png)
Going from left to right, the options are:
Text: Leave a simple text comment Phone: Enter your number, it will give you a phone call which acts as a mic Audio Recording: Exactly what it sounds like.
Video/Webcam Recording: Exactly what it sounds like.
File upload: Will let you respond with any audio or video file on your computer.
When doing an audio or video recording, you will be given a countdown to when you will have to start recording. It is also worth noting that during your video or audio recording, you can change slides, and if the slide’s media is a video, you can play, pause, and otherwise manipulate the media during the recording. This will show up when someone plays your comment.
Responding to Comments:
To the left of the presentation, there’s a list of all the comments that have been made. Clicking on them will let you see/hear them. Hovering over them will bring you the option to reply (the arrow button on the right). This will open the same menu as seen when making a comment on the slide, with the same five functions. The user who made the comment you’re replying to will get a notification and your comment will be organized as a reply, meaning it will appear under the original comment.
Private Replies:
When you hover over someone else’s comment, there’s also the option to make a private reply, shown by the comment bubble that’s shaped into a lock. Private replies are only visible to people who made the original comment. You can only make private replies on comments from other accounts.