Microsoft Immersive Reader is a reading support tool available in Quercus (Canvas), Microsoft applications such as Word, OneNote, Outlook, and Teams, and supported webpages in Microsoft Edge. It allows users to customize how text is displayed and read aloud, supporting different reading preferences, language needs, and accessibility requirements.
Instructors can introduce Immersive Reader to students as an additional way to engage with course materials, including listening to text, adjusting its appearance, and using translation and reading support features.
Using Immersive Reader in Quercus
At the University of Toronto, Immersive Reader is enabled by default in Quercus. Instructors and students can access it without needing to enable the feature themselves.
Immersive Reader is available when viewing supported course content, including:
- Course Home Page
- Individual Assignments
- Pages
- Syllabus
To access Immersive Reader:
- Open a supported area of your Quercus course.
- Select Immersive Reader near the upper-right corner of the page.
- Use the available reading tools to customize the text or listen to it read aloud.
- Select Exit to return to the original Quercus page.
Note: Immersive Reader does not support all Quercus content. For example, it cannot read external tool content embedded in the Rich Content Editor and is not available for external tool assignments.
For detailed instructions, consult Canvas’s How do I use the Microsoft Immersive Reader in a course as an instructor? and How do I use the Microsoft Immersive Reader in a course as a student?
Using Immersive Reader in Microsoft Applications
Immersive Reader is also available in several Microsoft applications, allowing instructors and students to customize how they read documents, messages, and other text-based content.
Microsoft Word and Other Applications
In supported Microsoft applications, such as Word, OneNote, and Outlook:
- Open the document, note, or message you want to read.
- Locate Immersive Reader, often under the View tab or an application-specific menu.
- Select Immersive Reader to open the reading interface.
- Adjust the available preferences or use Read Aloud.
The location and availability of Immersive Reader vary by application and version.
For detailed instructions, consult Microsoft’s Use Immersive Reader in Word and Use Immersive Reader in Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge includes a reading mode that can simplify supported webpages and provide reading support tools.
To use it:
- Open a webpage in Microsoft Edge.
- Select the Reading mode or Immersive Reader icon in the address bar, if available, or press F9 on a supported webpage.
- Use the available tools to adjust the text display, listen to the content, or translate text.
- Select the reading mode icon again or press F9 to return to the webpage.
Not all webpages support reading mode, and some content may not appear in the simplified view.
For additional guidance, consult Microsoft’s Use Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge.
Exploring Immersive Reader Features
Immersive Reader provides several tools that allow users to customize their reading experience. Available features may vary depending on the application.
Read Aloud
Read Aloud converts text into speech, allowing users to listen while following along with the displayed text.
To use Read Aloud:
- Open Immersive Reader.
- Select Play to begin listening.
- Use Voice Settings to adjust the reading speed or select a different voice, where available.
- Pause or stop playback as needed.
Text Preferences
Text Preferences allow users to adjust the appearance of text according to their reading preferences.
Depending on the application, options may include:
- Text size: Increase or decrease the size of displayed text.
- Text spacing: Increase spacing between letters, words, or lines.
- Font: Select from available fonts.
- Page themes: Change background and text colours to improve readability.
Grammar Options
Grammar Options provide additional ways to examine the structure of words and sentences.
Options may include:
- Syllables: Divide words into syllables to support pronunciation and word recognition.
- Parts of speech: Highlight nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs using different colours.
Reading Preferences
Reading Preferences provide tools for focusing on and understanding text.
Options may include:
- Line Focus: Highlight one, three, or five lines at a time while reducing visual distractions.
- Picture Dictionary: Display visual representations of selected words, where supported.
- Translation: Translate individual words or longer passages into another language.
These features can support different reading preferences, language learning, and comprehension. Users can choose the tools that work best for them.
For more information, consult Microsoft’s Use Immersive Reader in Word.
Supporting Accessible Reading
Immersive Reader can help students engage with course materials in different ways. Instructors can introduce the tool as an option for students who prefer to listen to text, customize its appearance, or use additional reading and language supports.
When incorporating Immersive Reader into teaching, consider:
- Introduce the tool to students: Show students where to find Immersive Reader in Quercus and explain that they can choose which features to use.
- Support different reading preferences: Encourage students to explore read-aloud, text customization, line focus, and translation without requiring everyone to use the same approach.
- Create accessible source materials: Use meaningful headings, descriptive links, appropriate language settings, and alternative text for informative images. In Quercus, Immersive Reader can read image descriptions when alternative text is provided.
- Recognize limitations: Some embedded materials, external tools, complex tables, mathematical expressions, and document formats may not be fully supported. Provide accessible alternatives where needed.
- Support student choice: Students may use Immersive Reader for accessibility, language learning, concentration, or personal reading preferences. They should not need to disclose a disability to use it.
Immersive Reader supports different ways of reading and engaging with course materials, but it does not replace accessible content design or the functionality of a screen reader.
For guidance on identifying and addressing accessibility issues in source materials, consult Microsoft Accessibility Checker and Quercus (Canvas) Accessibility Checker.