A Discussion of the First Use of the Virtual Readability Lab with College Students Readability Matters recently virtually sat down with Dr. Shelley Rodrigo, Senior Director of the Writing Program and Associate Professor in Rhetoric, Composition at The University of Arizona. Dr. Rodrigo was the first university professor to pilot the use of the…
United Nations Focuses on Improving Learning Outcomes to Benefit Business and Society This week the United Nations marked the 75th anniversary of the signing of the U.N. charter. Leaders gathered virtually to address challenges and issues facing our global community. The UN site notes, “The UN is marking its 75th anniversary at a time…
Increase Readability, Reduce Cognitive Load Freeing Working Memory for Processing Meaning Meaghan Crowley-Sullivan, M.Ed., M.A. How does Readability Affect Cognitive Load, Fluency, and Comprehension? Research studies have shown a direct connection between reading fluency and comprehension. Individuals who process and recognize words quickly can determine the meaning and engage in critical thinking skills faster…
Adjust Readability Features to Improve Your Reading Outcomes Many different audio signals can be adjusted for a better sound experience. In the same way, visual components of digital text format can be adjusted to create a better reading experience. Technology offers new opportunities for you as an individual to Tune Your Text. Adjust readability…
Remote Work The coronavirus pandemic has changed how millions around the globe work, are educated, and stay connected. While the toll on human life and economies continues to rise, it is clear that the world will not return to the way it was before COVID-19 arrived; new business models have emerged. As the economy…
ReadWorks’ High-Quality Content in Readability Research Readability Matters is excited to announce that we have teamed up with the nonprofit ReadWorks to enhance testing materials used in research with K-12 students. ReadWorks uses cognitive science research to create world-class content. They currently serve over 16 million students and are growing rapidly as learning becomes…
The global pandemic has changed how students are educated. Worldwide, 9 out of 10 children, or 1.57 billion learners, are out of school (UNESCO, April 2020). Education looks different with students now at home being educated by their parents and by teachers remotely. To tackle this challenge, organizations across sectors are working together with new…
Add or Subtract Character Spacing Background: Tune Your Text to Improve Readability To improve reading performance, individuals need the ability to “Tune their Text” or change how words appear on the screen using a full set of “Readability Features.” These include character shape (base font determines character shape and also weight; additional features can…
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers. I love reading both because it’s enjoyable and it plays a critical role in helping me become a better leader.” Harry S. Truman Great Leaders are Readers Most leaders read four to five books a month. Leaders from the c-suite, the board…
“Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, readers must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently. When reading aloud, fluent readers read in phrases and add intonation appropriately.” Reading Rockets Fluency: The Canary in the…