This document discusses how Microsoft Office tools can help struggling students with writing, learning, studying, and reading. It provides examples of how Word, PowerPoint, and other Office features address issues like disorganized writing, spelling errors, and reading difficulties. Specific tools highlighted include templates and wizards in Word, outlining views, task panes for research, and options to modify fonts, colors and zoom levels to aid reading comprehension. The document stresses that technology alone is not a solution and students must be taught skills to use these tools effectively.

1. Unleashing the Power of MS Office: Tools for Struggling Students Wendy S. Homlish Bonnie N. Young Assistive Technology Consultants Carbon Lehigh IU 21 Schnecksville, PA

3. Universal Design for Learning or Assistive Technology? Students with or without IEPs and 504s Differentiated instruction Learning styles and multiple intelligences

4. Using MS Office Applications to Address: Writing Learning and Studying Reading

5. PROBLEM: Handwriting is… illegible to reader illegible to author too large for paper/age too slow, too fast too light (not enough pressure) Ineffective spacing of letters and words Production

6. PROBLEM: Student exhibits… Disorganized ideas Topic jumping Difficulty expanding thoughts and ideas Short, simple sentences Poor grammatical structure Difficulty with word retrieval Poor vocabulary choices Process

7. PROBLEM: Mechanics of writing… Too many misspellings – choose words that are “safe” Difficulty applying spelling rules Little variety in sentence structure Cannot recognize correct spelling from a list Production Process

8. MS Office Supports for Writers

9. Important Points Technology alone will not solve the problems. Good teaching strategies must also be included. Students must be taught the skills to use technology. Sitting a child in front of a word processor does not make them instantly competent

10. Word Features for Production, Mechanics, Organization Templates and Wizards (spelling; book report, etc.) Auto Correct AutoText Forms Using the “Right-click” Thesaurus Synonyms Spellchecker Views – for pre-writing organization

11. Production Templates and Wizards (spelling; book report, etc.) Auto Correct AutoText Forms

12. Wizard and Templates Wizard – a feature that asks questions and then creates an item, such as a form or a calendar, according to your answers available in MS Word as well as on the Microsoft Office Online website Template – a file or files that contain the structure and tools for shaping such elements as the style and page layout of finished files (i.e. book report, spelling test)

13. Auto Correct Located in TOOLS MENU Contains data base of commonly misspelled/mistyped words Can add or delete from list Can also use for abbreviation expansion to reduce keystrokes

14. Auto Text Decrease keyboarding effort Increase efficiency Text pops up above typing & is inserted on “enter” (example)

15. Forms Feature Forms toolbar How to create Examples of use

16. Moveable Word Banks Create text boxes for use in a fill-in-the blank activity (word bank) Save as…. Student clicks and moves text box rather than writing/typing the answer (Example)

17. Mechanics Using the “Right-click” Thesaurus Synonyms Spellchecker

18. Using the Right- Click Spellchecker Visually, can turn red line off/on dependent upon student/teacher preference Can be disabled dependent upon activity Can use the Right-click or menu bar Synonyms Assists with vocabulary and word choices Right-click on word for suggestions Thesaurus Right click - brings up task pane

19. Spelling & Grammar Right click on misspelled word-possible word choices appear Right click on correctly spelled word to see choice for synonyms Spelling/Grammar preferences Readability statistics Under Tools Options click Spelling & Grammar Tab 26 fundamental rules Choose style of writing that Word grammar check will apply

20. Spell-check Options

21. Organization Organize for pre-writing Power Point Word

22. Brainstorming Create outline quickly in PowerPoint Get ideas down quickly Use slide layout with title and bulleted text Go to Outline View for more “traditional” layout/view

23. Outline View in PowerPoint

24. PP to Word Go to File – Send to… Choose Microsoft Word This opens a document in Word Select all text (Edit – Select All) and click on the Bullets icon in the toolbar to remove bullets

25. Send to…Word Outline View

26. Outlining in Word Why use? Organize, reorganize Quick overview of bigger picture Can move large blocks of text easily Collapse view to reduce clutter Electronic studying Found in View – Outline Students need instruction in using these tools! “Cheat sheets” at computer?

27. Learning and Studying

28. PROBLEM: Disorganization – of personal materials and of ideas Overwhelmed by large amounts of material Unable to “get started” Difficulty knowing “what’s important”

29. Word Features That Support Research and Studying Task Panes AutoSummarize Outline Features

30. Task Panes (View – Task Pane)

31. Click – Research to open research task pane

32. Obtaining the information Type your Topic here Definition and pronunciation from search

33. Modify Topic Search (Internet Access required)

34. Results

35. Captured Information (from the Web via the Research Pane)

36. AutoSummarize Looks for keywords in document Can produce a summary or abstract Does well with reports, articles, scientific papers Doesn’t do well on fiction, correspondence Go to TOOLS menu to AutoSummarize You can determine type of summary and length

37. Summary information highlighted by importance

38. PowerPoint Flashcards for studying Electronic bulletin board Make learning fun! Role playing Test reviews Q and A

39. PowerPoint Flashcards for Studying Use flashcard template or create your own Type in question and answer (teacher or student) – one per slide Use for test review, studying, independence Example

40. Electronic Bulletin Board Visual representation of: daily schedule activities assignments instructions special information example

41. Access to Text

42. PROBLEM : Learning disabilities Dyslexia Read slowly, must re-read to extract meaning. Struggle to decode unfamiliar words Fatigue easily, need frequent breaks

43. Visual Changes Change font, spacing, size of text Fonts that are easy to read : Arial Tahoma Verdana Comic Sans “De-clutter” the toolbar Use highlighter for important information (student or teacher input)

44. Toolbar Options Why change the toolbar Student overwhelmed Student click happy Just learning MS Word Reducing amount Changing the look Making changes View – Toolbars – Options Can make changes right from tool bar

45. Reduced and enlarged

46. Visual Changes to a DocumentReading Issues Zoom – Go to View – Zoom – choose % Highlighting – Option under Formatting Toolbar Background Color – Format - Background Font Color – Option in Formatting Toolbar Font – what is best? Ask the student! Character Spacing – Format - Font Word Spacing – Edit – Find - Replace Line Spacing – Format - Paragraph

47. Word Count and Readability

48. Text Readers ( NOT part of Office, but work WITH Office Talking Word Processors (copy and paste text) Free Downloads BrowseAloud (talking web browser) HelpRead ReadPlease 2003 Read-e (talking web browser) NaturalReader TextAloud MP3

49. LINK to this and more at: www.cliu.org Special Programs and Services Assistive Technologies (on left) Launch Power of Office CD