UDL, Universal Design Learning, is a principle for designing lessons that accommodate all students. What is good for a student with special needs is also good for other students. Students with Dyslexia benefit from using Microsoft Immersive Reader. It takes text and puts it into a distraction free screen and reads the text to the student. This technology is great for all students!
Install the Chrome Extension
Game of thrones font mac. If your students are using Chromebooks, there is a free extension.
- It is available in OneNote, Word, and the web version of Outlook. It is also available in Office Lens for iOS. Tell Me a Bit More. Why Should I Use Immersive Reader? Immersive Reader lets you: Change font size, text spacing, and background colour. Split up words into syllables. Highlight verbs, nouns, adjectives and sub-clauses.
- Beginning in February, Microsoft plans to offer a new feature for young students: Immersive Reader dictation, a new feature within Office 365 apps for Windows and the Mac.
Right Click
After installing the extension students highlight the text they want read and right click. From the right click choosing “Help me read this” launches the immersive reader.
Click the play icon at the bottom to start the text reading.
Does Not Work in Google Docs
Unfortunately, this Chrome extension does not work in Google Docs. Google Docs has it’s own right click menu that does not include Immersive Reader.
You can use Read Aloud on its own or within Immersive Reader for Word in Windows, MacOS, and iOS. Immersive Reader is a set of tools that help improve reading fluency and comprehension. For more information about Immersive Reader, see Learning Tools in Word. Speak reads only the text you've selected. Speak is available for Windows only.
Publish to the Web
![Microsoft word immersive reader Microsoft word immersive reader](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Outlook.gif)
To get around this, use the File menu in Google Docs and choose “Publish to the web.” This will give you a publish link that turns your Google Doc into a webpage. The Immersive Reader Chrome extension works with webpages. Share this link with students rather than the traditional Google Docs link so they can use it with Immersive Reader.
Try It
CLICK HERE to see a Google Doc that has been published to the web. After you have installed the Immersive Reader Chrome extension, try it out on this Google Doc.
Parts of Speech
![Install immersive reader for word Install immersive reader for word](https://www.eiu.edu/office365/images/applauncher365_09182018_800.png)
In addition to reading the text to the student, the parts of speech can be highlighted. Use the sidebar icons to turn on parts of speech color coding.
Students can also use a visual dictionary with the Chrome extension. Use the 3rd icon, looks like a book, in the sidebar to enable this.
Related Alice Keeler blog posts:
What is Immersive Reader
Immersive reader is a tool that enhances the readability and accessibility of Microsoft documents.
When immersive reader is enabled, the text is displayed in a large font on a plain background with no additional distractions on the screen. Users can customise the way the text is shown and change the font, size and style, background colour and adjust the spacing between letters and lines.
The features include:
- Text-to-speech – users are able to set the narrating voice and its speed, as well as have the spoken word highlighted on screen.
- Syllables – words are broken down into syllables.
- Line focus – show a limited number of lines on a page.
- Grammar tools – highlight nouns, verbs and adjectives.
- Pronunciation tool.
- Picture dictionary.
- Translate words or entire text into a number of languages
Number of immersive reader functions available vary depending on whether the document is accessed via the desktop app or online. From our experience, best immersive reader functionality is available using Microsoft Office 365 online.
Watch the video below for an in-depth overview of the Immersive reader
Benefits of using the Immersive Reader
Improves comprehension
Tools that read text out loud, break it into syllables, and increase spacing between lines and letters.
Encourages independent reading
Microsoft Word For Mac Free
A teaching aid that helps teachers support students with different abilities.
Simple to use
Immersive Reader And Microsoft Word For Mac Free
Test drive Immersive Reader with your own content.
Immersive Reader And Microsoft Word For Mac 2020
Available for free
Immersive reader is available to use for free on the following platforms:
- Word (Online, Desktop and Mac, iPad and iPhone app)
- Outlook (Online and Desktop)
- OneNote (Online, Universal App, Mac and iPad, free add-in in Desktop)
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft Edge browser
- Office Lens (iPhone and iPad)
LIPA staff and students can access the Immersive Reader in the supported apps using Microsoft Office 365.
Where do I find the Immersive Reader?
Immersive Reader can be found in the supported Microsoft Office 365 apps (see list above) and can be accessed in a variety of ways.
For example, in Word document preview mode you will see it at the top right of the page:
In Word editing mode you will find it in ‘View’ tab at the top menu:
Immersive Reader In Word
Guidance adapted from Microsoft. More information is available here.
Microsoft Word Immersive Reader
Last updated: 21/5/2020