HELP & FAQ
A little direction.
Then you’re on your way.
Answers for getting into your class, starting a conversation, and making sense of your workspace.
ASK SPEAK EXACTLY
What would you like to know?
Ask about using the site. Your answer can include videos from the guides available to your account.
Please leave out passwords, student work, and private course materials. AI answers may be incomplete; your professor decides course-specific requirements.
Getting started
How do I join a class?
Create an account and confirm your email if prompted. Sign in, open My courses, and enter the code supplied by your professor. Each course section has its own code.
Can I use Speak Exactly for more than one course?
Yes. Use the same account and join each class with its own code. Your courses keep their activities and course vocabulary separate.
I am a professor. Why do I see student tools?
Use the email address invited by the Speak Exactly owner. Invited, verified accounts receive professor access when they sign in. If you were not invited, request professor access from the For professors page.
I have not received a confirmation email.
Check your spam folder and make sure you used the intended email address. Delivery may be limited during the pilot. If it does not arrive, contact Speak Exactly; do not send your password.
Conversations & assignments
What happens if I say “I don’t know”?
During a baseline or later assessment, it is recorded as your response and the assessment moves forward without teaching the answer. During guided practice, it asks for support without consuming one of the planned follow-up questions.
Do I need a microphone?
Account setup normally includes a microphone check and spoken samples. If you cannot complete voice setup, use “Unable to complete voice setup?” to request an alternative. After setup, written and spoken options depend on your professor’s assignment requirements.
Can I leave and come back?
Submitted answers are saved to your account. Reopen the same activity to resume. Submit or save your current response before leaving; an unsubmitted recording or draft may not be saved.
How does “Explain submitted work” work?
Your professor creates the activity and instructions. Open the assigned activity to see its submission controls, add your work, and follow the steps to begin the explanation conversation.
Who can see my work?
Your professor can review assigned course conversations and course learning evidence. Optional personal practice is separate. The owner dashboard shows account and participation information, not your private practice transcripts.
Are these automatic grades or AI-detection results?
No. Completion, practice observations, and suggested interpretations are not automatic grades. Professors review the evidence. Speak Exactly does not claim to determine whether someone used AI or cheated.
For professors
What can I upload?
Course materials accept PDF, DOCX, and plain text. Review the extracted text before saving; scanned or image-only PDFs may need conversion to readable text first. Only upload material you have permission to use.
Why are materials divided into passages?
Passages connect proposed questions and vocabulary to a specific part of the source. They help you check the basis of an activity. Review the selected source passage alongside each question before publishing.
Can I edit the questions before students see them?
Yes. Review and edit the draft objectives, questions, source references, and any target vocabulary. Students encounter the activity after you approve and publish it, subject to its schedule.
How do I view a whole class or an individual student?
Use Learning progress in the professor workspace. Select the course and activity, use the student filters, and open a student’s evidence to review individual responses.