You may remember, Microsoft brought Learning Tools to Office 365 in October, 2016. The capability was originally debuted last summer for OneNote. Office 365 integration brought the tools to Microsoft’s cloud productivity suite. Learning Tools brings various techniques that help people read more effectively. Users find the feature in the modified reader view. New languages come to the feature for the first time today. It is also the first time the service has been on Word Online and OneNote Online. Users access the feature by heading to the View menu and selecting Immersive Reader. Microsoft points out that Learning Tools comes with the following abilities:
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.
Microsoft says the Parts of Speech ability is not integrated into the Immersive Reader for Word Desktop.
Learning Tools
Microsoft’s read-aid feature is a tool that helps people improve their reading comprehension. This is now ideal for someone wanting to improve reading in another language. Learning Tools are available in more languages, including new Text-to-Speech languages and voices, Syllables languages, and Parts of Speech. Beyond personal skills, the Immersive Reader can help those with ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia and other problems that impair learning capabilities.
