Microsoft today announced the general availability of Learning Tools for Word Online and OneNote Online for all customers with Office 365 or a personal OneDrive account. The announcement comes after the company originally announced in October of 2016 that they would deliver the experience. Now any user on any device will get the same reading and writing benefits seen in Learning Tools for OneNote.
To use Learning Tools in Word Online or OneNote Online, you can go to the View menu and click Immersive Reader. According to Microsoft, the Immersive Reader features help improve reading skills, including those with dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, emerging readers or a combination of the broad range of unique student abilities. Other features of Learning Tools can be seen below.
- Read Aloud—Reads text aloud with simultaneous highlighting that improves decoding, fluency and comprehension while sustaining the reader’s focus and attention.
- Spacing—Optimizes font spacing in a narrow column view to improve reading fluency for users who suffer from visual crowding issues.
- Syllables—Shows the breaks between syllables to enhance word recognition and decoding.
- Parts of Speech*—Supports writing instruction and grammar comprehension by identifying verbs, nouns and adjectives.
The company also coupled today’s announcement with the news that Learning Tools are available in more languages, including new Text-to-Speech languages and voices, Syllables languages, and Parts of Speech. You can head to this webpage to learn more about how you can use Learning Tools to improve reading and writing skills.
