How to Use Mote in the Classroom

Mote is a free Chrome extension that allows users to add voice notes to documents and assignments. Mote is a fast, flexible way to give digital feedback – in fact, it’s three times faster to leave a voice comment with Mote than it is to type one!

In today’s blog post, I’m sharing how to use Mote in the classroom. Below, I’ve included a tutorial video on how to get started with Mote for beginners.

To download this tool (and get a 60-day free trial of Mote Unlimited!), use my referral link here.

(I do not receive any financial compensation for promoting Mote, but I will receive 30-days free of Mote Unlimited if you sign up!)

Leave Voice Comments on Student Work

As a teacher, you will love that you can use Mote to leave voice comments on student work in Google Docs, Slides, and more. To leave a voice comment with Mote, you can insert a comment into a file, click the Mote icon to begin recording, and – voila! – share your voice note with students.

Since Mote is a Chrome extension, it integrates nicely with Google apps, as seen in the image below. But you can still use Mote with other platforms, like Canvas, by recording a comment in the Chrome browser and pasting the link elsewhere.

Audio comments are a great way to provide students with meaningful feedback – plus, Mote will save you time!

Share Voice Announcements in Google Classroom

After you have downloaded the Mote extension, you will be able to leave voice notes to students in Google Classroom. Much like leaving voice comments in Docs and Slides, you can record voice notes while assessing student work in Google Classroom. I also love leaving voice announcements to quickly communicate with individual students or the entire class on the Stream tab.

Transcribe, Translate, and Improve Accessibility with Mote

In addition to leaving voice notes, Mote also allows users to transcribe and translate their messages. With the free plan, users can manually transcribe and translate their voice comments, and with the unlimited paid plan, Mote will transcribe and translate your text for you automatically.

By using the transcription and/or translation features, students have the option to listen to and/or read your notes.

For first-time Mote users, you can get a 30-day free trial of Mote unlimited. If you use my referral code, you will receive 60-days for free!

While I do not receive any financial compensation for promoting Mote, I will receive 30-days free if you choose to sign up! Refer friends using your own code to get the same deal!

View Student Interaction

Sometimes, I leave comments on digital student work, and wonder if they have actually seen my feedback. Has this ever happened to you? It can be difficult to know and to keep track!

With Mote, you can actually view if a student has seen and listened to your voice note. This is a particularly useful way to ensure that you can follow up with students who may not have reviewed your feedback.

On the Activity Tab of the Mote Dashboard, the eye icon indicates that a student has viewed your comment, and the headphone icon indicates that a student has listened. To see this in action, check out the tutorial video at the beginning of this blog post.

Set Up Students with Mote, too!

Lastly, students can get started with Mote for free using their Google Accounts. I like having students use Mote to provide each other with feedback. Verbal feedback and comments can be a great strategy for peer review.

While this may not make sense for every classroom and group of students, it is an option to consider!

Please Note: You may need to reach out to your school’s administration to see if students have access to Mote. Every school has different technology guidelines and practices.

Thank You!

Thank you for reading this blog post about how to use Mote in the classroom. What other ideas do you have? Let me know in the comments below! And don’t forget to get started with a 60-day free trial of Mote Unlimited here.