---
title: "Adding a Comment or Reply on a VoiceThread Assignment"
canonical: "https://kb.uconn.edu/space/TL/10888020146/Adding%20a%20Comment%20or%20Reply%20on%20a%20VoiceThread%20Assignment"
format: markdown
---
This article is to guide instructors on how to create VoiceThread comments and replies.
# Overview
On VoiceThread, there are three types of comments, ‘Comments’, Replies’, and “Private Comments”. All three types of comments appear on the left side of the VoiceThread assignment.
- **Comments** appear as squares with the commenters initials.
- **Replies** appear as circles with the initials of the person completing the reply. Additionally, there is a small arrow “connecting” the reply to the comment.
- **Private Replies or Comments: **Private reply comments are only visible to the participants in that private conversation. Because instructors may not have access to private replies created between students, these comments may not be appropriate for assignments that require instructor review or graded participation. Private comments can be enabled or disabled when adjusting the settings of a VT assignment.
---
# **Commenting**
1. VoiceThread users can comment and reply on VoiceThread Slides.
2. To create an initial comment on a VoiceThread slide, click on the Comment icon (1) to open the commenting panel (2).
3. The commenting panel provides up to 4 options for commenting/replying. The these options are set by the VoiceThread creator.
1. **Text comment**: Textual commentary on the slide being displayed.
2. **Audio comment**: Record a voice-only comment using your computer microphone.
3. **Video comment**: Record a video + audio comment using your microphone and webcam.
:warning: Note: If you have multiple cameras installed, toggle between cameras by clicking on the video display window.
4. **Upload an audio file**: Upload an audio file (mp3, m4a, wav, FLAC, AAC, etc.).
---
# **Replying**
1. To reply to someone else's comment, hover the cursor over the comment indicator in the left side comment pane and click on the reply icon.
> ⚠️ Note: There is an option to reply privately to others indicated by the lock button. This option allows ***only*** the commenter and replier to view the reply.
2. This will open up the Commenting Panel and provide the available commenting methods. The Commenting Panel will indicate that the comment is a reply to someone else's comment.
3. Once the comment has been recorded, it will appear in the left side commenting pane as a circle that is connected with a line to the original comment. Any subsequent replies will continue as circles connected to the other comments in the thread.
---
# **Private Reply Comment Settings**
> ❌ Private reply comments are only visible to the participants in that private conversation. Because instructors may not have access to private replies created between students, these comments may not be appropriate for assignments that require instructor review or graded participation.
Instructors can control who can start private reply comments. To help ensure that student comments are visible for assessment purposes, instructors should consider whether private reply comments are appropriate for their activity and adjust the setting accordingly.
This setting is available under **Participation requirements > Limit who can start private reply comments**. Available options include:
- Allow anyone to make private reply comments
- Only allow Pro or Instructor users to start private reply comments
- No one can start private reply comments
---
# **Other Commenting Features **
While recording Comments, there are several features that can assist the creation of a quality recording.
### **Countdown**
Click for more information
Countdown provides a visual cue to help you get ready to record an audio or video comment. Countdown can be toggled on/off at the bottom left corner of the recording screen.
### **Playback**
Click for more information
After recording an audio or video comment, VoiceThread will automatically play your recording back to you. If you are satisfied with the comment, click **Save**. If you would like to re-record the comment, click **Cancel** and record again.
### **Annotation**
Click for more information
VoiceThread calls their annotation tool the "doodle" tool.
1. To use this tool, click on the **pencil icon** at the bottom of the window while recording an audio/video comment. This will open the annotation panel.
2. From here you can select a color with which to "doodle" or annotate your slide.
3. You can toggle on/off **Fade**. If Fade is off, annotations will remain visible on the slide for the duration of the recording. If Fade is on' annotations will gradually fade away as your recording continues.
4. Once you have finished recording your comment, viewed the playback, and approved the comment, it will appear in the left side comment pane in the sequence in which it was recorded with the profile picture or initials of the commenter. A new comment is indicated in the comment pane as a square shape with no lines connecting it to other comments.
:warning: Note: Instructors can manually re-arrange the sequence of student comments.
> ℹ️ For more information or assistance with VoiceThread, contact the Educational Technology Office at [edtech@uconn.edu](mailto:edtech@uconn.edu) or (860) 486-5052
> ℹ️
> ℹ️ For help with technical issues, please contact VoiceThread at **[support@voicethread.com](mailto:support@voicethread.com)**
## Related Articles
> Macro (contentbylabel)
> Macro (details)
>
> | Related issues | |
> | --- | --- |