The best learning technologies do one thing well:they get out of your way.
These learning tools allow teachers and students to focus on what is being taught.
Learning Tools for OneNote it is designed to meet these two goals for anyone who wants to understand any part of the text. The landing page describes it best:
But maybe this table says it best..
The Learning Tool plugin works with OneNote 2013 and 2016. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available. Close any running instances of OneNote before starting the installer. Close all running instances of OneNote (including the "New Sticky Note" icon) and click on the downloaded installer. After installation, you should see a new tab on the OneNote ribbon called Learning Tools.
The tab has only two buttons and that's where all the magic is hidden.
This simple toolbar was born out of a company-wide OneNote Hackathon. The development team led by program manager Jeff Petty asked themselves…
The toolbar brings together a set of pre-existing technologies, such as enhanced dictation powered by Bing, immersive reading that uses Windows services for simultaneous audio text playback with highlighting, and natural language processing from Microsoft Research.
The simple goal of improving the way we read and solve text is not only intended for dyslexic students. Ultimately, this means a better shot at challenging information overload. Managing Digital Information Overload:Is Technology the Cause and the Cure? [Opinion] Managing Digital Information Overload:Is Technology the Cause and the Cure? [Opinion] 'Drinking from the fire hose' is a turn of phrase you may not be familiar with. But trust me, if you're reading this blog and many others like it, that's exactly what you're doing... Read More
Click the Immersive Reader button in the Plugin Tools group to launch a distraction-free reading environment. Close reading needs an escape from any fun. Use the Following and Previous Page buttons to move between pages. You will notice that the reader does not display any images, but recognizes and displays the text in images.
You can also use a tool like Office Lens on your smartphone to take a photo, scan it for any text, and bring it into OneNote. Immersive Reader learning tools can quickly read text using text-to-speech technology, and grammar aids can be used on photo text.
press Play and OneNote will launch the Microsoft Text to Speech engine to read the text to you. You can change the playback speed and voice choice from the Settings menu. You can go with Microsoft David or choose the smoother Microsoft Zira.
When you want the narration from a different point in the text, just click on that word and the narration will pick up from there.
Each word is highlighted with the narration. This is an important instructional feature as it increases word identification with the benefits of voice and double-barrel reading. It can be compared to the Neurological impression method , which is believed to benefit reading fluency in children. The Immersive Reader learning tool aims to make everyone independent readers.
Even native English speakers struggle with grammar. In the most severe cases, specific language impairment affects 7 to 8 percent of children in kindergarten and continues into adulthood. Even without this communication disorder, most of us have struggled with the nuances of grammar 7 Apps To Help Anyone Improve Their English Grammar 7 Apps To Help Anyone Improve Their English Grammar You may cringe at the thought of those endless grammar worksheets from elementary school. Fortunately, apps are a more fun and modern tool for learning grammar. Read More
Click the book icon in the top right to open a menu with five language aids. These reading aids highlight different parts of speech with color codes and help improve learning outcomes.
the Nouns , Verbs and Adjectives buttons, highlight all nouns, verbs and adjectives on the page. You can enable all three together or enable and disable them individually. Each part of speech is identified with a different color code.
Recognizing parts of speech is a basic element in learning a language. How I finally learned a different language. And you can too. How I finally learned a different language. And you can too. No single language learning app is the magic wand. The secret to learning a new language is a combined solution. With desire and motivation you too can learn any foreign language. Read more . Students can use this to build their vocabulary and understand the different contexts behind the use of words. For example, we know that a noun can be used as the subject of a verb and also as the object of a verb. Students can instantly see this usage as they go through the highlighted nouns in the reader.
the Understanding button shows a reading comprehension mode. Color codes, verbs and their dependent subordinate clauses are highlighted. Subordinate clauses are enclosed in small, triangular brackets, and verbs are shown in color. You can toggle the display of the verbs and just leave the sub-clause brackets too.
the Syllable The s button helps with pronunciation. Break any long word into syllables, and the word becomes easier to read. Each word is divided into its syllables and displayed on the screen with small separators between each part of the word.
You can easily use it with the text-to-speech feature to get the correct way a word is pronounced. Teachers can include creative syllable teaching activities and help their students pronounce the words correctly. 8 online audio pronunciation guides that help you pronounce the words correctly. 8 online audio pronunciation guides that help you speak correctly. Read more.
The above features are much more effective if you use the high contrast dark theme.
There are some simple ways you can enhance the reading experience for yourself, your children, or your students. Modify some of these settings and see what works for you.
Back on tape, the Dictate The button allows you to talk to OneNote and enter text with the help of Microsoft speech recognition technology. The first time you use dictation, you will need to sign in with a valid account. You can use an Office 365 ID, or you can use your Microsoft account.
You'll need a good microphone to help Microsoft recognize your speech. This accessibility feature is useful when you want to talk instead of type. From this standpoint, it's a marked improvement over the default dictation tool available with OneNote. And back to the tips we talked about in OneNote and its unique uses 10 Unique Ways to Use Microsoft OneNote 10 Unique Ways to Use Microsoft OneNote OneNote is one of the most underrated apps from Microsoft. It is available on almost all platforms and can do a lot of tricks that you would not expect from a note keeping app. Read More
Remember, voice memos can also be searched in your notes. Just enable the search from File> Options> Audio and Video .
The main goal of the OneNote literacy tool is to help students become independent readers. This goal may overlap with OneNote's many wonderful collaboration features that make it an indispensable classroom tool for teachers and students. How to Use OneNote in School:10 Tips for Students and Teachers How to Use OneNote in School:10 Tips for Students and Teachers OneNote can transform the modern classroom. Microsoft's note-taking app is designed for both students and teachers. Go ahead, organize, collaborate, and share with these tips for taking better notes. Read more.
It doesn't just have to be for the learner alone..
I can already see a classroom where a teacher uses it interactively To teach grammar and parts of speech to a whole class. Using OneNote with a projector can be a better replacement for a whiteboard. With Wi-Fi and mobility, the classroom doesn't need to be in the classroom either. never again.
The number of non-native English-speaking children is increasing in the United States and US adults are also struggling to improve their speaking skills. Learning tools can play a vital role in ESL (English as a Second Language) learners. Pronunciation is always a stumbling block. The Syllables button and Microsoft David or Microsoft Zira could be invaluable in learning different sounds and sound distinctions. Learning the mystical idiomatic expressions may require some doing or even the most common verbs. But learning tools could provide the first mortar for correct grammar.
Jordan Shapiro, while writing for Forbes.com, calls it "a game changer for everyone." The inspiration for the plugin came from the learning challenges faced by dyslexics, but as he explains, a truly disruptive educational tool must reach everyone. - should be able to improve learning for all .
This is why you should make Learning Tools for OneNote a part of your education.
Do you think that the digitization of reading will improve with the help of these tools? Do you have a struggling reader in your family? What are the daily challenges you face?
