From Richard Byrne

richard@byrne.media

Kaizena is a Google Docs add-on that lets you add voice comments to your students' documents. With the Kaizena add-on installed simply highlight a word or a sentence in a document and then record a voice comment about that highlighted word or sentence. Voice comments can be used in conjunction with text comments. Students need to have the add-on installed in order to listen to the audio comments. 

"Using Kaizena enhanced teachers’ relationships with students."

In her doctoral dissertation, "The Impact of Audio Feedback Technology on Writing Instruction,” Dr. Bless case-studies teachers in the U.S and around the world who use Kaizena and explores how Kaizena impacted their classrooms. Dr. Bless found that Kaizena audio feedback "was more personalized and efficient than written feedback” and that “using Kaizena enhanced teachers’ relationships with students.” By speaking their feedback, teachers felt more personally connected to their students, and the time saved from grading papers and writing feedback afforded more time and energy for teachers to interact with students in person.

Teachers also reported that students preferred and understood audio feedback better than written feedback. By hearing the tone of their teacher’s voice, students were more likely to feel supported in their writing. Hearing comments, instead of reading them, left students more receptive to the feedback and increased their desire to improve.

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