Unleashing the Power of MS Office:

Tools for Struggling Students

Wendy S. HomlishBonnie N. Young

Assistive Technology ConsultantsCarbon Lehigh IU 21

Schnecksville, PA

Universal Design for Learning or Assistive Technology?

• Students with or without IEPs and 504s

• Differentiated instruction• Learning styles and multiple

intelligences

Using MS Office Applications to Address:

• Writing

• Learning and Studying

• Reading

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

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

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

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

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

Production

• Templates and Wizards (spelling; book report, etc.)

• Auto Correct

• AutoText

• Forms

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)

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

Auto Text

• Decrease keyboarding effort

• Increase efficiency

• Text pops up above typing & is inserted on “enter” (example)

Forms Feature

• Forms toolbar

• How to create

• Examples of use

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)

Mechanics

• Using the “Right-click”

• Thesaurus

• Synonyms

• Spellchecker

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

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

Spell-check Options

Organization

• Organize for pre-writing

– Power Point– Word

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

Outline View in PowerPoint

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

Send to…WordOutline View

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?

PROBLEM:

• Disorganization – of personal materials and of ideas

• Overwhelmed by large amounts of material• Unable to “get started”• Difficulty knowing “what’s important”

Word Features That Support Research and

Studying

• Task Panes

• AutoSummarize

• Outline Features

Task Panes (View – Task Pane)

Click – Research to open research task pane

Type yourTopic here

Definition and pronunciation from search

Obtaining the information

Modify Topic Search(Internet Access required)

Results

Captured Information (from the Web via the Research Pane)

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

Summary information highlighted by importance

PowerPoint

• Flashcards for studying• Electronic bulletin board• Make learning fun!

– Role playing– Test reviews– Q and A

PowerPoint Flashcards forStudying

• 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

Electronic Bulletin Board

• Visual representation of:– daily schedule– activities– assignments– instructions– special information– example

PROBLEM:

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

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)

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

Reduced and enlarged

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

Word Count and Readability

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

LINK to this and more at:www.cliu.org

•Special Programs and Services•Assistive Technologies (on left)

•Launch Power of Office CD