MOTE – A Revolutionary Audio Recording Tool for Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets

By: Matt Rhoads, Ed.D

Dr. Matt Rhoads is a Tech and Instructional Leader and Innovator with hands in Adult Ed, K-12, and Higher Education. He is the author of several books and is the host of Navigating Education – The Podcast.

Introduction to MOTE – A Game-Changing Audio Recording Tool for Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets

Mote is a voice recording and voice player, which can be integrated into directly Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Sheets. This is one of my favorite tools that can help improve student accessibility and differentiate instruction. It is free for 30-second recordings that can be used to play instructions and can be utilized to comment on student work to provide them voice feedback.

 Let’s discuss how to use it and how it can benefit your students. As you go through this post, watch how MOTE works by watching it in action through this video. It will help you see how each of its uses outlined throughout the post can be put into action and utilized by your students. 

Mote is a Free Audio Recording Tool for Feedback or Directions

As you can see here, MOTE allows you to comment on text and record a voice comment students can listen to when they hover over the text or comment where the recording is located. It can be utilized to provide student feedback and outline directions.  Once you go to mote.com and download the extension, you can highlight text, comment, and then provide a voice recording on Docs, Slides, and Sheets. As shown above, this is what MOTE recording looks like after it’s been recorded on a Google Doc. 

Getting Started with MOTE

To get started with MOTE, go to www.mote.com and download the extension and sign up for the free plan. Sign up and create an account, download the extension on the website, close your internet browser, and then open up a Google Doc, Slide, or Sheet. The Mote will then appear with its symbol either at the top of the application or on the comment feature.

To watch this happen in real-time, watch Getting Started with MOTE – Step by Step. 

Note: One note to make about the video, you cannot download the extension in the extension store. Rather, you need to install directly from the www.mote.com website. 

Mote on Google Slides

Mote can be directly integrated into a Google Slide. Create a Google Slide and then click on the MOTE icon above the slide. Then, record your directions or feedback directly into the slide. An audio symbol will then appear for students to click on when they want to hear the recording. Additionally, a MOTE recording can be integrated into a Google Slide by clicking on the text and recording a MOTE recording through the comment feature.  

Mote on Google Docs Beyond Comments – HyperMotes

Motes can be directly integrated into the text of a Google Doc. HyperMotes provide an opportunity for your directions to be hyperlinked directly in a text. A HyperMote can be recorded by clicking on the Hypermote icon on the Google Doc and then place directly into the text you’ve underlined. 

Conclusion – MOTE Is a Game-Changing Tool to Make Learning Accessible for All

MOTE is a great tool to help differentiate instruction and can make learning much more accessible to our learners. It can be used for any form of content within any of our classes! We hope you check it out as it can be a game-changing tool for your instruction that can help amplify student learning.

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