Improving Reading and Listening Skills With Immersive Reader

Empowered Learner, Creative Communicator

Overview

Immersive Reader is a free assistive tech tool for Office 365 that brings assistive technology tools into the Office 365 environment to improve reading and writing. Immersive Reader can improve reading comprehension and increase fluency for English language learners.

It is accessible on the Office 365 Platform including Word Online, OneNote, Outlook, and PowerPoint. This is a great tool for your low readers and well as special needs and English Language Learners. It is also available in the apps listed.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Be able to use Immersive Reader to assist them in improving reading and language skills.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words:

Assistive technology: Assistive Technology or AT includes any products, equipment, and systems that enhance learning, working, and daily living for persons with disabilities.
English-language learners: English Language Learners or ELLs, are students who are unable to communicate fluently or learn effectively in English, who often come from non-English-speaking homes and backgrounds, and who typically require specialized or modified instruction in both the English language and in their academic courses.
Visual impairment: A visual impairment is also known as vision impairment or vision loss, is a decreased ability to see to a degree that causes problems not fixable by usual means, such as glasses.

Pre-planning

To prepare for this lesson:

To use Immersive Reader, you must have an Office 365 account. If you plan to use this with students, they must have an account as well.
This will need to be taught through a 1:1 environment, so the number of machines you have will help you decide whether to teach in a full group or in stations.
Also keep in mind that if you download Microsoft Edge as your internet browser, Immersive Reader will work on your internet searches as well. But it will work fine on other browsers, specifically Chrome.
Watch the videos provided through Microsoft to acclimate you with what immersive reading can do.
Here is a great Quick Start Guide.
Decide how to roll this out with your students. You can do this whole group, or specify what students you would like to use this with and teach the tool in smaller groups. This is GREAT for
- Lower level readers
- Visually Impaired students
- Students with Special Needs
- Students who use English as a second language

Accommodations

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources.

Steps

Directions for this activity:

The teacher says to students, ”Today I’d like to show you an easy tool that will help you to become a stronger reader:”
Demonstrate Immersive Reader to the students. Show them the tools that would best meet their needs.

IR example

Assessment Options

Different options for assessing the students:

Observations
Check for understanding
Immersive Reader is an Assistive Technology tool that students can use to gain a bigger understanding of any text in any content area.

MITECS COMPETENCIES & ISTE STANDARDS

MITECS: Michigan adopted the "ISTE Standards for Students" called MITECS (Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students) in 2018.

Empowered Learner
1a. Students develop learning goals in collaboration with an educator, select the technology tools to achieve them and revise the learning process as needed to achieve goal.
1b. Students build networks and customize their learning environments in ways that support the learning process.
1c. Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
1.d. Students explore age-appropriate technologies and begin to transfer their learning to different tools or learning environments.

Creative Communicator
6a Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.