Readability Can Create a Positive Social Impact on Education Systems
In their new series, “Technology Making An Important Positive Social Impact,” Authority Magazine interviewed leaders creating tech products that are making a positive change in people’s lives. On that list is Readability Matters’ co-founder, Kathy Crowley.
The interview covered Kathy’s childhood — growing up as the daughter of a printer — her early career at Hewlett-Packard Company, and the work she is now doing to bring better reading to the world.
Authority asked Kathy to describe the critical problems that Readability Matters is trying to solve. She noted that only 30% of students in the United States are proficient readers. “This problem has a significant impact on people’s lives, and it can lead to lower incomes, fewer job opportunities, and even health problems.”
Kathy and co-founder Marjorie Jordan believe offering personalized reading solutions to deliver improved readability and better reading outcomes can help address these problems. Kathy stated that “there is great power in personalization — but harnessing it requires collaboration and cooperation from a large number of players. At the core, we need two things. First, we need fast and efficient assessment to accurately identify the best reading format for a particular reader. Second, we need the systems that distribute content to present the content in the reader’s best format. As you know, reading happens in many places — you might read on a news site, a textbook or a novel, or in a learning app… there are many platforms involved. We advocate for researchers to create research-informed recommendations and for technology and educational technology companies to implement this opportunity at scale.”
Kathy believes that better readability can change the world by making it possible for everyone to reach their full potential. “Personalization is critical for students learning to read and reading to learn. We must not limit their potential. Education technology and assessment companies should implement the necessary technology to support the personalization of text formats. Allowing students to learn — or test — in a text format better suited to their unique needs can shift their learning trajectory. If we can deliver personalization at scale, imagine the possibilities that could open for all of us.”
Read the interview to learn more about Kathy’s passion for her work and her commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others.
About Authority Magainze. Authority Magazine, a Medium publication, is devoted to sharing in-depth, and interesting interviews, featuring people who are authorities in Business, Pop Culture, Wellness, Social Impact, and Tech. We use interviews to draw out stories that are both empowering and actionable. They believe that good stories should feel beautiful to the mind, heart, and eyes.
