Blog 10 - Technology
Mote Google Extension
I have recently discovered a fun extension for Chrome called Mote. It enables the user to leave short voice messages in most Google apps. I can use it to leave comments for my students on their work, which is novel and therefore more motivating for them. I can add voice to my Slides presentations, send voice messages in gmail, and even leave myself voice messages in a doc to remind myself what I was thinking - HA - I'm getting old!
I also love to respond to my students with emojis, because I feel like this is a language they definitely understand, and Mote makes this very easy and quick to do as well. The Mote website claims that using Mote can save teachers time because a voice message is much quicker to record than it is to type. I have not had enough experience yet to see if this is true, but I would imagine so. Saving teacher-time is something I am so on board with!
Finally, I have been thinking about suggesting this app to our ELL director, because it can translate a teacher's comments to many other languages. In supporting our 5th grade team with their English language learners, I have found that these classroom teachers feel very much at a loss for how to help the students. I think this could be one simple way for them to facilitate at least a bit of conversation that would be comfortable and comprehensible for these students.
Check out a Mote here: Click to hear my voice note... https://mote.fyi/xv778pn
I've never heard of this extension before. It is neat! I can imagine how much kids would enjoy and appreciate hearing their teacher talking directly to them. One drawback I can see is it's sometimes nice to read feedback when you're looking over it again to try and process what the teacher is saying. I think I personally do better looking at words instead of absorbing auditory information.
ReplyDeleteI have come across Mote in my own research over the last few months and haven't yet incorporated it. I am also one who likes the written comments so that they can refer back to them but I like the ease that this seems to add in giving timely feedback. I am going to give this a try!
ReplyDelete