Liliana Toader of Siena Heights University introduced me to the next big thing in online learning: audio interaction online.

Until now, audio interaction with students was possible, but clunky.  A student posted an audio message in one of my online classes several years ago.

But with software like Voice Thread, which professor Toader uses, audio messages can be "posted" in sequence and in conversation, just like written comments are in most all online courses today. 

It adds a whole new dimension to using audio in online courses.  I'm anxiously awaiting professor Toader's presentation on how to use interactive audio with your students at our second annual North American Faculty Development Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., March 3-4, 2014. 

If you want info on the Faculty Development Conference, email Tammy at info@lern.org or call her at 800-678-5376 for the brochure.

This post was written by William A. Draves, who authored "Nine Shift: Work, Life, and Education in the 21st Century" with Julie Coates. Their latest book is "Pedagogy of the 21st Century." This post originally appeared on the Nine Shift blog.