Best School News

A Guide To Using Microsoft Learning Tools 

Microsoft Learning Tools are a free set of tools designed to help people of all ages and abilities with reading, writing, communication, and math. They’re particularly popular with students and have even been proven to improve learning outcomes.

For example, Learning Tools students gained an average of 123.6 points in an academic year, while regular students gained only 89.2 points on average, a study by RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute, found. By knowing how to make the most out of Microsoft Learning Tools, you can successfully improve a host of key skills.

A Guide To Using Microsoft Learning Tools 

Dictating your work

Microsoft Word’s Dictate feature lets you dictate your work by voice and your words are then transcribed automatically to the document. To use this feature, you’ll either need your laptop’s built-in microphone, or a headset microphone, and a solid internet connection. Simply move the cursor onto your Word document and click “dictate” in the home tab in Word. A red light will then appear on the Dictate icon, while a chime will also sound. After you’ve finished narrating your work, click the Dictate icon to switch it off.

By taking care to speak clearly with correct pronunciation, you can help ensure Dictate best understands you and keep potential occasional mistakes to a minimum. And, if you want to use a language other than English, Dictate has you covered. Simply click the cog icon in the Dictate menu and select the language of your choice (US and UK English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Italian, and German). Similarly, it’s also just as easy to change language in Word Online. Fortunately, there’s over 100 language options available to choose from worldwide.

Microsoft Immersive Reader

Microsoft Immersive Reader is a reading tool designed for users of all abilities and reading levels. It reads texts out aloud, while highlighting the words as it goes, and is particularly beneficial for those learning a second language. Immersive Reader lets you select the narration voice, speed, and even the on-screen font size and word spacing. It can also highlight aspects like adverbs, verbs, nouns, and adjectives, as well as break individual words into syllables and narrate words in different languages.

Math understanding

Learning Tools can further be used to support math thanks to its Math Solver feature. This useful tool breaks down math problems step-by-step, resulting in a simple model to help users land on the correct answer — these steps can also be referenced as they work on similar problems. Immersive Rader can even be used to help with math as it can read math problems aloud — this feature is particularly useful for auditory learners, as well as users with visual impairments, Dyslexia, or Dyscalculia.

Microsoft Learning Tools can help users strengthen a host of key skills, including reading, writing, communication, and math. By knowing how to make the most out of the Dictate feature, Immersive Reader, and Math Solver, in particular, you can successfully improve these vital skills.

Related Articles