Microsoft has announced that its AI-powered reading tutor, Reading Coach, is now available for free to users with a Microsoft account.
Reading Coach, introduced in 2022, is designed to enhance reading fluency in students by offering personalized reading practice. The tool allows learners to identify challenging words and provides tools such as text-to-speech, syllable breaking, and picture dictionaries for individualized practice.
Educators can monitor students’ progress, view their attempts and tools used, and share information with students. The tool recently added a “choose your own story” feature, allowing learners to create narrative adventures using AI-generated content. Microsoft plans to integrate Reading Coach with learning management systems in late spring.
While some experts express skepticism about AI tools accurately measuring comprehension, teachers generally view tools like Reading Coach as beneficial. According to an EdWeek Research Center survey, 44% of educators believe adaptive tech is better at assessing students’ reading levels than non-adaptive methods.
