Conference Proceedings Published
Engineering for Better Reading Performance Improves Educational Outcomes:
Applied Learning Engineering Practices
Kathy Crowley, Susanne Nobles, Rick Treitman, & Marjorie Jordan
At the 2024 IEEE ICICLE Learning Engineering Conference, a powerful idea took center stage: what if simply changing the appearance of text could dramatically improve how students read and learn? Kathy Crowley (Readability Matters), Rick Treitman (Adobe), and Dr. Susanne Nobles (ReadWorks) presented compelling evidence that personalized text formatting—adjustments to font, spacing, and layout—can boost reading speed and comprehension by up to 20%. Their research highlights how small changes can make a big difference.
Moving beyond the outdated “one-size-fits-all” approach, the team advocates for flexible, individualized reading experiences. They promote a learning engineering model built on iterative design, testing, and feedback—constantly evolving to meet the diverse needs of learners. This model is grounded in interdisciplinary collaboration and leverages technology to personalize reading at scale.
One standout innovation is Adobe’s Liquid Mode, which emerged from this partnership. Liquid Mode lets users reformat digital text to suit their preferences, making reading on screens more accessible and efficient. In classrooms, this technology showed clear benefits, empowering students to engage more deeply with content.
The authors connected their work to broader educational movements, including the latest Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines, which now emphasize customizable text as a key to inclusive instruction. By enabling students to read in ways that work best for them, this approach supports equity and success for all learners.
In short, the paper made a strong case: personalized readability isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s a transformative shift in how we think about reading, learning, and accessibility in the digital age.
Read the Engineering for Better Reading Performance paper:
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About IEEE ICICLE Learning Engineering Conference: The ICICLE’s Learning Engineering conference, co-hosted with ASU Learning Engineering Institute, revolves around the overarching theme of “Solving for Complexity at Scale,” focusing on solving the implicit complexity of learning challenges at different scales, from the individual tutor to massive open online courses and everything in between.
The conference covers a blend of theoretical insights and practical applications across topics related to the learning engineering process, learning sciences, learning analytics, cognitive science, teamwork, technology innovations, and human-centered learning. Engaging sessions, such as Lightning Talks, Show and Share Presentations, Active Learning Sessions, Stations of Exploration, and Showcase Your Work, will actively involve participants and contribute to the advancement of learning engineering.
