Introduction

This blog explains why and how to disable voice typing in Google Docs Editors to maintain focus and ensure a consistent, distraction-free writing environment. While voice typing can be a helpful tool for many users, it can also lead to inaccurate or unintended content, especially in educational settings where students may misuse the feature to bypass their writing assignments or disrupt the flow of the lesson.

By disabling voice typing, administrators can ensure that students engage more deeply with their writing and typing skills, rather than relying on speech recognition technology. This blog will also cover how Safe Doc can help administrators turn off the voice typing feature in Google Docs and Slides, allowing for a more focused and controlled learning experience. Disabling this tool helps promote better writing practices and reduces distractions, ensuring that students complete their assignments without relying on voice-based shortcuts.

For more information, please visit  Google docs support.Voice typing menu in Google Docs

xFanatical Safe Doc removes Tools > Voice typing menu in Google Docs

Why Disable Voice Typing in Docs Editors for Education?

In a classroom environment, it is essential to foster both efficient and appropriate learning practices, and while voice typing can be a helpful tool for some, it may also introduce challenges when used by students in an educational setting.

Voice typing, while convenient, can lead to a range of issues. First, it may encourage students to focus on speed rather than accuracy, potentially leading to lower-quality work. Voice typing may also misinterpret words, especially with complex or academic vocabulary, resulting in errors that may go unnoticed. Additionally, students may misuse the feature to avoid learning proper typing skills or to bypass writing tasks that require cognitive effort. The ease of voice typing can also create distractions, as students may start using it to perform other off-task activities, such as chatting or playing with voice commands instead of focusing on their assignments.

Let’s understand the scenario through a user story:

  • Problem: Teacher David, who teaches history in a middle school, noticed that several of his students had started using the voice typing feature in Google Docs during class assignments. While the tool helped some students with typing challenges, others used it to complete their work more quickly, often resulting in inaccurate transcriptions or missed opportunities to practice their writing skills. Some students also began using voice typing to produce lengthy, irrelevant content that was not connected to the assignment, leading to distractions and off-task behavior.
  • Solution: To address these issues, David decided to disable the voice typing feature in Docs Editors for his class. By removing the ability to use voice commands to type, he ensured that students would focus on their writing and typing skills, practice correct spelling and grammar, and produce more accurate, thoughtful work.
  • Result:  After disabling voice typing, David noticed that students paid more attention to their assignments and took greater care in their writing. They engaged more in the process of typing and reviewing their work, improving both their writing and typing skills. Additionally, there were fewer distractions and off-topic conversations, as the misuse of voice typing for non-educational purposes was eliminated. The students’ overall work quality and attention to detail improved, and the classroom environment became more focused and productive.

By disabling voice typing in Docs Editors for Education, administrators can help promote focused, intentional learning, ensuring that students develop critical skills in writing, spelling, and grammar, and remain on task during class activities.

What is a xFanatical Safe Doc?

xFanatical Safe Doc is a comprehensive solution for maintaining a focused and secure online environment for Google Workspace admins and users. It provides robust tools to manage and restrict access to various online content, ensuring a safe and productive digital environment. xFanatical Safe Doc integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace, offering administrators the ability to customize content filtering policies according to their needs.

Disable Voice Typing in Google Workspace with xFanatical Safe Doc

Remove Voice Typing option Google Docs

Google Docs’ Voice Typing feature allows users to dictate text directly into a document, which can be helpful for accessibility and efficiency. However, in educational settings, this feature can be misused by students to avoid engaging in the writing process, leading to a lack of development in typing and writing skills.

At this point, xFanatical Safe Doc becomes an invaluable tool. By implementing the BlockDocVoiceTyping policy, you can remove the Voice Typing option in Google Docs. Once this policy is set to true, users will no longer have access to the voice typing feature, ensuring that students focus on improving their writing skills rather than relying on voice input. This helps create a more productive and engaging learning environment, encouraging students to actively participate in the writing process.Voice typing menu in Google Docs

 xFanatical Safe Doc removes the Tools > Voice typing menu in Google DocsVoice typing menu in Google Docs

xFanatical Safe Doc removes the Help > Search the menus > Voice typing menu in Google Docs

Inactivate Voice Typing option in Google Slides

Google Slides’ Voice Typing feature allows users to dictate text directly into slides, which can be useful for accessibility or for quickly adding content. However, in educational settings, this feature can be misused by students, leading to a lack of engagement with the content and reducing opportunities to practice writing and presentation skills.

At this point, xFanatical Safe Doc becomes an invaluable tool. By implementing the BlockDocVoiceTyping policy, you can inactivate the Voice Typing option in Google Slides. Once this policy is set to true, users will no longer have access to the voice typing feature, ensuring that students focus on creating presentations and practicing their content rather than relying on voice commands. This encourages more active participation and helps develop essential communication and presentation skills.Dictate speaker notes menu in Google Slides

xFanatical Safe Doc removes the Tools > Dictate speaker notes menu in Google Slides

How to disable Voice Typing in Google Workspace using xFanatical Safe Doc

Step 1: Install Safe Doc: 

The first step is to install Safe Doc in your Google Workspace environment. Safe Doc is a browser extension that seamlessly integrates with Google workspace, providing enhanced control and security features.

Step 2: Configure Safe Doc settings: 

Once Safe Doc is installed, you can configure its settings to disable voice typing in Google Workspace.

Step 3: Access Google Admin Console: 

Now, navigate to the Google Admin Console. In the Google Admin Console, click on Devices followed by Chrome. Then, select Apps & Extensions and click on Users & Browsers.

Step 4: Copy the Policy: 

Locate the policy that you wish to apply and copy it. The policy will display in a specific format similar to the example provided below:

"BlockDocVoiceTyping": {

  "Value": true

}

Step 5: Save the Policy: 

After applying the policy, click the Save button to apply it.

How to configure Safe Doc?

Ensure the deployment of Safe Doc on your students' Chrome browsers, and review the xFanatical Safe Doc Configuration document for detailed instructions.

Conclusion

In Conclusion, Disabling voice typing in Google Docs is essential for keeping students focused on their writing and preventing misuse. By limiting this feature, educators encourage students to improve their typing skills and stay engaged with their work. This measure also reduces the chance of accidental errors or inappropriate language from voice commands. With xFanatical Safe Doc, schools can easily enforce this policy, creating a more productive learning environment.

Learn more about how xFanatical Safe Doc can support online safety in education on our website Safe Doc

This version reduces the average sentence length to improve readability.

If you have yet to install Safe Doc, please get a 30 days trial.

You may also like

Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest