Start with tools you already have
If you are not sure where to begin, begin here. Every LJMU student already has these tools through their account, so there is nothing to buy and usually nothing to install. They also include accessibility and study features that many students do not realise are available, so it is worth seeing what your current software can do before looking for something new.
Software and tools
- Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, OneDrive): your whole Microsoft suite, free through your LJMU account, on your laptop, phone and the cloud.
Install Microsoft 365 at LJMU. - Microsoft Learning Tools (Immersive Reader, Read Aloud, Dictate, Editor): accessibility features built into Word and Edge, and into Canvas. Have text read aloud, space out the lines, dictate instead of type, and check your writing. Free, and already on your account.
How to use Immersive Reader (Microsoft).
You can also use Immersive Reader inside Canvas. - Microsoft Copilot: our recommended AI assistant, because you get the full, secure version free through LJMU rather than a limited free tier. There is more on using it well in the AI section below.
About Copilot in education (Microsoft). - Microsoft To Do and Outlook calendar: to-do lists and a calendar that sync across your devices.
- Microsoft Teams: you may have used Teams for video calls, but it also has a live transcription feature that captures what is said in a session as text.
- Canvas: your virtual learning environment, where your modules, materials and deadlines live.
Canvas help and support.
