Microsoft has today boosted OneNote, its Office 365 note taking app, with an interesting new feature. Specifically, the app now supports Immersive Reader in Windows 10. This feature has been available in OneNote Online since February, but is now rolling out to other Office variants.
OneNote has quickly become an important application for Microsoft. It is a communication link for education groups and organizations within Office 365. Over the last year especially, we have seen Microsoft increase the number of features for the app.
With support for Immersive Reader, OneNote now get the following capabilities:
- Read Aloud—Reads text out loud with simultaneous highlighting that improves decoding, fluency and comprehension while sustaining the reader’s focus and attention.
- Spacing—Optimizes font spacing in a narrow column view to improve reading fluency for users with visual crowding issues.
- Syllables—Shows the breaks between syllables to enhance word recognition and decoding.
- Parts of Speech—Supports writing instruction and grammar comprehension by identifying verbs, nouns and adjectives.
In an Office Blog post today, Microsoft says it is also bringing new language and region support to severable accessibility features. Namely, support will come to Read Aloud, Syllables, and Parts of Speech.
This language support will come to Outlook on the Web, Word Online, OneNote Online, and OneNote Windows 10. Microsoft also announced a new add-in for the OneNote app:
“For the OneNote Desktop Learning Tools add-in, we are launching Japanese dictation, plus bug fixes and other small improvements. See all of the details at the Learning Tools language support page.”
OneNote Class Notebook Update
Yesterday, Microsoft announced more LMS support for OneNote Class Notebook.
Among the new features in OneNote Class Notebook is new Learning Management System (LMS) assignment and grade integration for Blackbaud onCampus and eSchoolData.
Microsoft points out these additional integrations come after customer requests for more LMS and SIS (Student Information System) services to be supported. After this update, Class Notebook now integrates with over 40 LMSes and SISes around the world.