Are you looking for a read aloud tool for your classroom? Mote 2.0’s read aloud tool transforms digital text into a natural, human-like listening experience, making reading more engaging and accessible for students. While some tools can sound robotic or be tricky to set up, Mote keeps it simple and user-friendly for effortless learning.
Mote has been on my list of go to formative assessment tools in the past thanks to the powerful voice commenting features. Now, Mote has expanded its capabilities significantly. They’ve introduced read aloud and translation features that work seamlessly across the web. Using the Chrome extension, you can now access read aloud and more on assessment platforms like Google Forms and Canvas Quizzes.
Today on the blog, we’ll take a look at Mote and how this simple yet powerful tool can enhance accessibility for your students!
Read Aloud to Support Accessibility
Many educators are already familiar with the EdTech tool Mote. It’s a voice recording tool that makes it easy to provide spoken feedback and boost accessibility in the classroom. If you’ve joined me for a webinar or workshop about formative assessment, you’ve certainly heard me mention Mote. And of course, Regular readers of the blog might remember how we highlighted Mote’s accessibility benefits, particularly in supporting students with diverse learning needs through voice recordings.
The new updates make Mote an excellent option for creating accessible learning environments for students. Mote’s read aloud feature offers students a smooth and natural reading experience with human-like voices that bring digital text to life. Unlike some read-aloud tools that sound robotic or unnatural, Mote is designed to be both easy and fun to use.
Mote’s Read Aloud Feature
With Mote’s read aloud feature, students can:
- Listen to an entire page, a paragraph, or even embedded images with selectable text.
- Choose from a wide range of voices to match their preference.
- Adjust the playback speed to slow down or speed up reading as needed.
These features are especially beneficial for students who struggle with reading fluency, need additional support processing text, or simply prefer auditory learning. With Mote’s word tracking synchronized to the text-to-speech, students can follow along as words are highlighted in real time, reinforcing their reading comprehension.
One of the biggest advantages of Mote read aloud is how well it integrates with student assessments. In platforms like Google Forms and Canvas Quizzes, students can listen to questions read aloud before selecting their answers. This option helps learners who benefit from auditory reinforcement by giving them the choice to “press play” and hear text read aloud.
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Translation for Multilingual Classrooms
As a former classroom teacher, the read aloud feature in Mote certainly grabbed my attention, however it’s not the only new tool now available in Mote. For students who are learning English or working in multilingual environments, Mote’s translation feature is another fantastic option to explore. This tool allows students to:
- Select and translate any text on a page—whether it’s a single word or an entire passage.
- Hear the translated text read aloud in their preferred language.
- Access over 50 supported languages, making it a valuable resource for diverse classrooms.
This feature provides support for English Language Learners (ELLs). Students can toggle between their native language and English to deepen comprehension. Unlike traditional translation tools that only display text-based translations, Mote adds the extra auditory layer. This option can be a game-changer for students who benefit from hearing words spoken aloud in different languages. Particularly, if they may not be able to read a language they speak fluently.
Mote now includes updates related to document navigation. This updated version can read and translate text from PDFs online. By selecting areas of text on a PDF, students can hear the content read aloud. They can also translate specific words or passages into their preferred language. While Mote doesn’t yet offer a full PDF reader solution, the Mote team told me that this functionality is coming soon – so you’ll certainly want to stay tuned!
Mote’s Read Aloud and Translation Features
Mote has powerful accessibility tools for learners of all ages. It supports teachers in social studies discussions, ELA quizzes, and more. With Mote, students can use read-aloud technology with high-quality, human-like voices. It also includes translation tools and voice recording for easy feedback and engagement.
For students, voice recording makes it easier to share ideas without typing. They can record a voice note or use Mote’s voice typing to convert speech into text. This helps with expression and accessibility across different learning needs.
Try the free class trial! You can try it out for free—along with your entire class. This link takes you to a free 30-day trial. Beyond the free trial, Mote offers subscription plans designed to fit different budgets. Whether you’re an individual teacher, part of a school district, or looking for tools to support diverse learners, there’s an option available to help make Mote part of your classroom experience.
And if you want to extend the trial (or you are already signed up for the free plan), educators can access a 90-day free trial of all Mote features for themselves and up to 40 students. All you have to do is complete the ‘Empowering Students with Mote’ training course. The course is short (about 10 minutes) and covers all of Mote’s accessibility tools in action.
Are you ready to give Mote a try? Take advantage of the free trial and see how these features can enhance accessibility and engagement in your classroom!