A HIGH-TECH approach to learning is set to benefit students and staff as tutors switch from written to verbal feedback for college assessments.
Darlington College, which prides itself on being at the cutting edge of new technology, will use new software for student feedback.
Instead of reading lecturers’ comments in a written format, from January, students will receive a spoken critique thanks to Mote, an audio toolkit for educators and learners.
The technology allows tutors to ‘type less and talk more’, thereby reducing their workload and increasing empathy and engagement with students.
Research has shown that talking is three to five times faster than typing and, because it increases empathy by being more personalised, authentic and sincere, it is 30 per cent better than the written word in relation to students’ responses and outcomes.
Darlington College has been piloting the technology in several curriculum areas including teacher training.
PGCE programme leader Jamie Pearson said: “In teaching there is always a trade-off between detailed and developmental feedback and teacher workload. However, because of Mote we don't need to make such a trade-off anymore as it allows us to provide detailed developmental feedback in a fast and efficient way.”
Mote chief executive and co-founder Will Jackson added: “We're delighted to be partnering with Darlington College to help better connect staff and students through verbal feedback and voice messaging. We have seen time and again how verbal feedback delivers improved learning outcomes and helps teachers to efficiently and effectively connect with their students.”
Mote Technologies was founded in 2020 by Will Jackson and Alex Nunes. Today, the Mote Chrome extension has more than 2m installations and the company partners with thousands of schools and colleges around the world.
Darlington College’s strategic projects and skills manager Alan Jones said: “We are very conscious that teachers are under ever-increasing pressure and this new technology should help them reduce their workload and improve mental wellbeing.
“So often tone and context can be lost in the written word so this audio system is a means to reduce any chances of misunderstanding, anxiety, and conflict. Teachers will be able to be much more encouraging when marking work and will be able to talk around what the students are doing well as well as how best to improve.”
Darlington College principal David Gartland added: “At Darlington College we pride ourselves on supporting staff workload and this is an exciting addition to our toolkit. Rich verbal feedback will no doubt be preferred by many of our students so this is a win on both sides.”
Mote also helps accelerate linguistics and will prove invaluable to the many international Darlington College students whose first language isn’t English.
It is designed to boost listening skills, be more efficient, engaging and accessible to all learners. Tutors can even add an expressive emoji and view whether the audio feedback has been listened to.
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.as.uk.
