Today, we take you on an insider tour of Kaligo. In our new article series “The Little-known Features of Kaligo” we regularly showcase product features of Kaligo that may not be immediately apparent. The first of these little-known features that we’ll look at today is the “Encouragements”. Discover how this little-known but essential feature of Kaligo can encourage pupils and improve their motivation in the classroom.
Why use the teacher’s voice to improve pupils’ motivation?
Because we believe that the teacher is at the heart of teaching and Kaligo serves as an empowering tool, it has always been our priority to involve the teacher in the educational resources. Using your own voice with Kaligo has been possible for quite some time. All lesson units created from the teacher’s area can be enhanced with a personal recorded instruction. However, we wanted to go a step further, as the teacher’s voice plays an essential role in the classroom. According to a study from The University of Essex and the University of Reading, “a supportive-sounding voice inspires a connection to a teacher which increases their intention to cooperate”. Even teachers who regularly use Kaligo tell us that using their own voice with students leads to better performance due to increased motivation.
For all these reasons, we decided to develop the use of the teacher’s voice beyond just recording instructions. From this consideration, the “Encouragements” were born. But what exactly are they? Encouragements are short voice recordings made for each level of feedback. So, when a child receives specific feedback, Kaligo will play the corresponding encouragement. In this way, children who have the most difficulties receive the most motivating encouragements.
How to set up encouragements in five steps
So, how does it all work ? Here are all the details on how to set up the Encouragements in just five easy steps:
- From your teacher’s web portal, select the profile of a student in the “Classes and Students” section2. Click on “Settings”
3. Choose the “Feedback” tab
4. Turn on the button under “Record Encouragements”
5. Record encouragements for each feedback by clicking on the microphone
The encouragements must be systematically set at the student level and apply to all exercises. Since these are voice recordings, we also recommend ensuring that the sound on the tablet is appropriately adjusted or that the children use headphones if necessary. Another advantage: since the encouragements are linked to the student’s profile, they can also be played during homework if the tablet’s sound is on. This can help children immerse themselves in a classroom situation and concentrate better.
What can teachers say to encourage pupils in classrooms?
Do you want to test our encouragements but lack inspiration? Here are a few ideas for successful encouragements for children who:
- master the exercises without difficulty: “Great job, another success!” or “You’re already doing this very well.“
- find the exercises a bit challenging: “Well done, you’ve mastered that with flying colors” or “Keep it up!“
- struggle with the exercises: “With a little more practice, you’ll get it” or “You’ll get there soon!“
You are now fully prepared to make the most of the encouragements with your class. We wish you lots of fun and success! Do you have any questions, comments, or would you like to test Kaligo for free? On our website, you’ll find the corresponding contact form and a chat where you can directly interact with our team. We look forward to hearing from you!