- Microsoft Learning Tools Immersive Reader
- What Is Immersive Reader
- Outlook Immersive Reader
- Immersive Reader And Microsoft Word For Mac
- Microsoft Learning Tools In Word
If you have talked to me about assistive technology in the last few months, there's a high chance that I have mention Microsoft Immersive Reader and how it can help students with vision impairments and print disabilities. I have been using this tool a lot this semester, so today I'm excited to share my review of Immersive Reader and how I use it in the classroom.
What is Immersive Reader?
Microsoft's Immersive Reader is a free tool that provides a full-screen reading experience. It is designed to increase readability of text in Microsoft applications through the use of assistive technology accommodations for people with print disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, vision impairment, and more. Immersive Reader can be used alongside the Accessibility Checker to improve the layout of documents, or can be used to make a document more accessible without editing the document further- read more about the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Word here.
- Word 2021 for Mac enables you to create compelling content with the addition of capabilities including advanced page color options in Immersive Reader and more rich media content from the Office Premium Creative Content collection. If you're upgrading to Word 2021 for Mac from Word 2019 for Mac you'll still have all the features you're.
- A step-by-step tutorial on how to use the Immersive Reader, which is inclusively designed to help all people with reading. Built-in, mainstream, non-stigmat.
OneNote iPad and Mac support for math and equations – if a student has math equations on a page, when launching the Immersive Reader, the math and equations are recognized, and all immersive reader capabilities work, including Read Aloud, Line Focus, Page Theme Colors, and more. Great for story problems as well. Immersive Reader is integrated across OneNote, Word, Outlook, as well as Microsoft Edge. As part of today’s update. Immersive Reader in Microsoft Word 365 (Windows, Mac, iPad and Teams) is a different way to read a document with tricks to help you improve reading skills, pronunciation, and fluency, and remove visual distraction by improving.
Where to find it
Microsoft Learning Tools Immersive Reader
Immersive Reader can be found in the following applications on these operating systems. No additional downloads are needed.
Windows
- Microsoft Edge (web browser)
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft OneNote- read more about Microsoft OneNote here
- Microsoft Outlook
Mac/iOS
- Microsoft Office Lens- read more aboutMicrosoft Office Lens here
- Microsoft OneNote
- Microsoft Word
How to access Immersive Reader
Within Microsoft Word and Microsoft OneNote
Users can access Immersive Reader inside Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook by doing the following:
- Click the 'View' tab at the top of the screen
- Click the 'Learning Tools' button
- Immersive Reader will open
Within Microsoft Outlook
Users can access Immersive Reader inside Microsoft Outlook by doing the following:
- Open an email in Microsoft Outlook
- Click on the '...' button to display more options
- Click 'Show Immersive Reader' on the bottom
- Immersive Reader will open
Within Microsoft Edge
Users can access Immersive Reader inside Microsoft Edge by doing the following:
- Open a website or document in Microsoft Edge
- Click the book icon in the website address field
- Immersive Reader will open
Within Microsoft Office Lens
Users can access Immersive Reader inside Microsoft Office Lens by doing the following:
- Scan a document into Microsoft Office Lens
- Under the 'Share To' section, select 'Immersive Reader'
- Immersive Reader will open
Supported file types
Immersive Reader supports the following file types:
- Microsoft Word documents (.doc, .docx)
- Microsoft OneNote notebooks (.one)
- PDF files (.pdf)
- Website/HTML files (.html)
Read more about accessible file types for vision impairment here.
Interface
When a user opens a document with Immersive Reader, they don't have to worry about messing with their previous settings. Instead, the user-enabled settings are applied to the document immediately. Users can use the scroll wheel of their mouse, swipe across a touchscreen, or use the arrow keys on their keyboard to read the document. I appreciate that I can immediately focus on reading a document and not having to manipulate settings every time. It's worth noting that Immersive Reader settings don't synchronize across apps, so users will have to configure Immersive Reader on each individual app listed.
Choosing a background
Users can change the background color of Immersive Reader by selecting the 'page color' option within Immersive Reader in Microsoft Word. For Microsoft Edge and Microsoft OneNote, users can select the 'Text Preferences' option or use the keyboard combination ctrl+shift+O in Immersive Reader. My favorite option is the dark/inverted theme as it is not harsh on my eyes- read more about reducing eye strain here.
Change font size and font type
To adjust the font size and font type in Immersive Reader, use the same Text Preferences menu to adjust the slider and increase the size of the text. Users can also choose a display font- Calibri, Sitka, or Comic Sans. Read more about choosing a font for print disabilities here.
Spacing and line blocking
For users that prefer to read one to five lines at a time, users can go into Reading Preferences in Microsoft Word or Microsoft OneNote and select how many lines they want to display at a time. This is helpful for people who only want to focus on a few lines at a time when reading.
Built-in screen reader
For users with low vision or that benefit from having text out loud, the Read Aloud feature acts as a built-in screen reader so that information can be read out loud. This can be activated by pushing the 'read aloud' button, which looks like a speaker. In addition, Microsoft Edge users can have any webpage read out loud with this function, which can be enabled by clicking the 'more options' tab and selecting 'read aloud.'
Highlighting parts of speech
For people that have trouble identifying parts of speech, Immersive Reader can highlight different parts of speech in customizable colors so that they can easily be identified. Syllables can also be separated by pressing the 'syllables' button.
Picture dictionary
Having trouble figuring out the meaning of a word? Select a word by clicking or tapping on it, and a picture illustrating the word will pop up. This service is powered by BoardMaker, so frequent users of assistive technology may recognize a lot of the illustrations.
What I use it for
Here are some of the many ways I have used Immersive Reader:
- Reading websites
- Listening to classwork assignments
- Simplifying the display of a complicated document
- Scrolling through an online article
- Focusing on one line at a time in my programming assignments
How my professors have reacted
All of my professors have been fascinated with Immersive Reader and frequently ask me questions about how to use it. One of my professors even uses Immersive Reader to share information on the board- read more about making things on the board easier to see here.
Verdict
Immersive Reader is a free tool that has truly revolutionized reading for students with print disabilities, primarily because it is so widely accessible. Many schools utilize Microsoft products such as Microsoft Office and Windows operating systems, so Immersive Reader can easily be located and used to read a document. I highly recommend trying Immersive Reader and seeing how it can help you!
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Learning Tools are free tools from Microsoft that implement proven techniques to improve reading and writing for people regardless of their age or ability. These Learning Tools are available in various versions of Microsoft OneNote and Microsoft Word. Microsoft yesterday announced ten new improvements coming to Learning Tools including translation features, Math Assistant support, Line Focus in Word Desktop app and more. Read about them below.
1. Translate comes to the Immersive Reader
We’ve added the ability for anyone to translate a page, or single word into another language, in real-time all within Immersive Reader. This new capability will support Read Aloud, Syllables, Parts of Speech and Picture Dictionary. Translate in Immersive Reader will be available in: Word Online, OneNote Online, OneNote for Windows 10, OneNote iPad, OneNote Mac, Outlook Online, Teams and Flipgrid. Translate will begin rolling out worldwide this week and into next week and you’ll find the list of supported languages here.
2. Immersive Reader reading the Math Assistant’s Step-by-Step solutions
In OneNote for Windows 10 and OneNote Online, we are now combining the power of step-by-step solving in Math Assistant and the reading aloud in Immersive Reader. Math pane now has an additional button that launches the Immersive Reader for math step-by-step solutions.
3. Immersive Reader math in Word Online
In addition to being able to read math equations from your page in OneNote for Windows 10 and OneNote Online, the Immersive Reader will now read math equations from your Word Online documents, both in view and edit modes.
4. The modern Immersive Reader interface comes to OneNote Desktop Learning Tools
With many students and schools still using the original OneNote 2016 Learning Tools addin, we wanted to allows the students to get many of the benefits of the updated capabilities of the immersive reader. With the most recent update of the Learning Tools Addin to version 1.9, IT Administrators can now push out the Immersive Reader app from the Microsoft tore that interacts with the Learning Tools addin.
5. Word Desktop Line Focus
A popular capability of the Immersive Reader is Line Focus, which allows a focus of 1, 3, or 5 lines of text. Line Focus is coming to Word Desktop, and can be accessed on the View tab, and then clicking Learning Tools –> Line Focus. This feature has begun to rollout to Office Insiders, and will slowly be rolling out worldwide to all Office 365 customers. Later in spring, Line Focus will also be coming to Mac and iOS Word.
6. Page Colors in Word Desktop
One of the most popular features of the Immersive Reader has been page theme colors, which allows the changing of the background color of the page. Many people have challenges reading with an all-white or all-black background, so we’ve expanded the choice of colors in Word Desktop. This will start rolling out to Office Insiders in January, and roll out more broadly after January. Page Colors will be coming to Mac and iOS Word later in spring. To try this out, go to the View tab and choose Learning Tools, and then Page Color.
7. Parts of Speech and Picture Dictionary support for Korean, and coming soon for Arabic and Hebrew
Korean support for parts of speech (nouns/verbs/adjectives/adverbs) and picture dictionary are starting to roll out today, and in early February, we will be rolling out Arabic and Hebrew support for parts of speech and picture dictionary. These new languages will be supported in Word Online, OneNote Online, Windows 10 app, iPad and Mac, Outlook Online, Teams and Flipgrid.
8. Dictation in OneNote Online – rolled out 100% worldwide
What Is Immersive Reader
As previously announced in October, Dictation is now rolled out 100% worldwide for all OneNote Online customers. Just look for the Dictate button on the Home tab.
9. Dictation in Word Online
Outlook Immersive Reader
As announced in October, Dictation is rolling to Word Online for Office 365. This is currently about 50% rolled out worldwide and was delayed for some improvements, but now we’ve resumed rollout, and we aim to have this at full 100% worldwide by February.
Immersive Reader And Microsoft Word For Mac
10. Auto-language detection
Microsoft Learning Tools In Word
Auto-language detection is helpful Immersive Reader feature that is also rolled out 100% worldwide. An example of how auto-language detection works is to copy text from a Spanish website and pasting into Word Online. Now go to the View tab and choose Immersive Reader. The text will be automatically detected as Spanish, and switch to the proper text-to-speech language, syllables, and parts of speech. Auto-language detection is supported in Word Online, OneNote Online, OneNote for Mac and iOS, Teams, and Flipgrid.
Source: Microsoft