Using Word’s Learning Tools

Microsoft Word’s Learning Tools, available to Office 365 subscribers, are designed to enhance reading comprehension, fluency, and overall learning. Here’s an overview of what these tools offer and how to use them effectively.

Overview of Learning Tools

Learning Tools in Word provide features to improve:

• Reading comprehension
• Focus and fluency
• Pronunciation and word recognition

However, not all features support every language. For example:

• Text spacing doesn’t work for complex or connected scripts.
• Read Aloud doesn’t support certain register transfer languages.
• Syllabification is unavailable in some languages.

Accessing Learning Tools

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Go to the View tab.
3. Select Learning Tools to access its dedicated tab.
4. You’ll see six key options, each offering unique benefits.

Features of Learning Tools

1. Column Width

• Adjusts the number of words per line to reduce reading anxiety for new learners.
• Steps:
  1. Select Column Width.
  2. Choose a width (options range from narrower to wider lines).
• Tip: Start with fewer words per line and increase as comfort improves.

2. Page Color

• Changes the background color to reduce eye strain and improve text visibility.
• Steps:
  1. Click Page Color.
  2. Hover over colors to preview or select your preferred one.

3. Line Focus

• Highlights one, three, or five lines of text to improve focus.
• Steps:
  1. Click Line Focus.
  2. Select the number of lines to highlight.
  3. Use the up/down arrows on the screen to navigate through the document.

4. Text Spacing

• Adds extra white space between characters, words, and lines to enhance fluency.
• Steps:
  1. Click Text Spacing to enable it.
  2. Observe increased spacing for easier reading.

5. Syllables

• Breaks words into syllables for better pronunciation and word recognition.
• Steps:
  1. Enable Syllables to see syllable breaks in the text.

6. Read Aloud

• Reads the content aloud while highlighting each word.
• Steps:
  1. Click Read Aloud.
  2. Use the controls in the top-right corner to:
     • Play/Pause the audio.
     • Skip between paragraphs.
     • Adjust reading speed.
     • Change the voice.
  3. Highlight specific text to focus the reading.

Keyboard Shortcuts:

• Start/Exit Read Aloud: Ctrl+Alt+Space
• Pause/Play: Ctrl+Space
• Speed Up: Alt+Right
• Slow Down: Alt+Left
• Next Paragraph: Ctrl+Right
• Previous Paragraph: Ctrl+Left

Use Cases

• For Educators and Young Readers: Helps children improve fluency and pronunciation.
• For Language Learners: Aids in recognizing syllables and reading at a comfortable pace.
• For Accessibility: Supports users with reading disabilities or vision impairments.

By leveraging these features, Learning Tools can transform the way readers engage with content, making Word a powerful ally in education and accessibility.

Unlock powerful features with a genuine Office 2021 Professional Plus Key – get the best deal at the lowest price today!