Free study skills tools

Grammarly

• Spelling punctuation and grammar suggestions
• Supports you in composing bold, clear, mistake-free writing
• Works on sites across the web, as you move between apps, social media, documents, messages, and emails

Grammar and spelling to style and tone, Grammarly’s suggestions are comprehensive, helping you communicate effectively and as you intend.

Download for free here: https://www.grammarly.com/ 

Microsoft editor

Microsoft Editor is an AI-powered service that helps bring out your best writer, whether you are writing a Word document, composing an email message.

• The free service lets you nail the basics of grammar and spelling.
• Editor offers advanced grammar and style refinements like clarity, conciseness, formality, vocabulary suggestions, and more.

To learn how to access this Microsoft feature click here: Microsoft Editor

or just for Word Documents here: Editor for Word

Mindmaps

A super easy way to organise information and explore ideas!

• Mindmaps are diagrams which consist of one central starting point which you then add several different branches to. Each branch relates to a different idea and you keep expanding until you’ve added all the information you need to.
• If your brain is full to the brim with lots of excellent ideas, but they’re all tangled up this is the perfect way to get them all down in an orderly way. It also helps show how they all link together.
• If you are a visual learner, this resource is your best friend. Linking all your different ideas within a single topic means you can (at a glance) notice trends and relationships while also being able to focus on smaller details too.

Download for free here: https://getrevising.co.uk/make/mindmaps 

Dictate in Microsoft 365 

Use your voice to quickly create documents, emails, notes, presentations, or even slide notes.

•  You will need a microphone and reliable internet connection

To learn more about dictate in Microsoft 365 watch this Video  and read this page Dictate in Word PowerPoint and Outlook 

Listen with Read Aloud 

Read aloud is a feature in in Microsoft 365, it reads all or part of your document, which is a good way to support you with proofreading your assessments.

• Highlights each word as it reads your document to you.
• Use Read Aloud to hear your document narrated to you
• Can support your understanding when reading any Word document.

Learn how to use this Microsoft feature here: Read Aloud

Turnitin

Turnitin is an originally checker, you can use it to see how well you have paraphrased and acknowledged others work within your own writing.

Immersive Reader

Immersive Reader is a free tool that uses proven techniques to improve reading for people regardless of their age or ability.

• Improves comprehension by reading text out loud, breaking it into syllables and increasing spacing between lines and letters.
• Easy to use

To learn more about this free Microsoft feature watch this Video of Immersive reader and explore theses links:

• Immersive Reader interactive training
• Use Immersive Reader in Word 
• Use Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge 
• Use Immersive Reader in Microsoft Teams 
• Use Immersive Reader in Outlook 
• Use a screen reader with Immersive Reader in Microsoft Lens 
• Use the Reading view to hide distracting content from web pages 

Minimize visual distractions

Turn off animations, background images, and more.

Click here to learn more: Minimize visual distractions 

Clean up taskbar clutter

Choose which icons appear on the taskbar and reduce the number of items in view.

Click here to learn more: Clean up taskbar clutter 

Simplify The start menu

You can select what to show in the Start menu—keeping distractions at a minimum and finding what you need quickly.

Click here to find out more: Simplify the Start menu 

Quiet down those notifications

Do not disturb allows you to define which notifications you see and hear and when. The rest of the notifications will go to the notification center where you can see them any time.

You can also modify the notifications settings to choose which apps display notifications.

Click here to find out more: Quiet down those notifications