For those districts using GAFE (Google Apps For Education) and specifically the ability to collaborate on work with staff and students and who have used the "Comments" part of any document, you might be interested in using "Voice Comments" extension. With "Voice Comments" you can quickly give and receive feedback on documents within Google Drive. This extension works well and is easy to use. A nice newly added touch to Voice Comments is the ability to add external links such as Youtube videos that might just help students get a little more information about their topic. Give it a try, I think you will be impressed.
3. When you first enter the site you will need to click whether you are an educator or not.
1. First you need to install the extension by going to this link. Voice Comments
2. When you first install Voice Comments you will need to click the "Accept" button.
3. When you first enter the site you will need to click whether you are an educator or not.
4. You will be asked to pick a file that you want to open.
5. Once the file is open just highlight a specific area of text. You can't highlight images though. Above the highlighted text you will be given 3 options. The first is to give a voice comment. The second is to give a comment by typing. The third is to add a resource to the highlighted area. Click on any of them.
6. If you are leaving recorded voice you will need to make sure you allow the site to use your microphone. Just click "Allow" and "Remember" and then close the window.
7. You might also get a note at the top to "Allow" or "Deny" in your browser. Make sure you click "Allow." I only had to do this once when first configuring Google Chrome.
8. Just click the "Record" button for voice commenting.
9. You and your students will just need to click the "Play" button next to the time and you can hear your comments.
10. The feedback button just lets you type some comments in like you normally would.
11. The resource button allows you to add links to more information about your students work.
12. On the student's side of things they will go to their Google Drive and check the document that they want to view feedback in.
13. They will click the "More" button at the top of Google Drive and select the "Open with" option and then select the "Kaizena" option. Your students will also be asked to go through the configuration process granting permission to use Google Drive and their Microphone.
14. Your students should now be able to view your comments and add or delete comments themselves.
Comment below describing any experience you may have had with this extension and how you might be using it in your classroom.
