Better Reading Implementation Study Announced
The University of Oregon, ReadWorks, LMU iDEAL Institute, and Readability Matters
August 8, 2023 – Readability Matters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving readability for all, is partnering with literacy experts, funding research to improve educational outcomes through personalized reading solutions. Personalized reading formats are the next offering in personalized learning models.
Previous research has demonstrated that small personalized changes to text format–including changes to font, text size, character and line spacing, character width and more–can improve reading speed, accuracy, and comprehension for readers of all ages. Better reading is critical for education; the readability of learning and testing materials impacts student success and educational trajectory. It improves both learning outcomes and student engagement. Developing new personalized reading implementation models is a necessary first step to taking advantage of these educational benefits.
Research Goals
Readability Matters values research-informed solutions. The planned implementation study will be led by literacy experts Drs. Joseph Nese and Gerald Tindal of the Behavioral Research and Teaching (BRT) Lab at the University of Oregon. The reading portion of the study will be conducted using the high-quality reading content platform, ReadWorks.org.
The study will evaluate the impact of personalized text formats on oral reading fluency scores and compare changes in oral reading fluency scores over time. If students engage in reading more and comprehend more fully, improved learning is expected. The delivery of personalized reading and testing materials requires new educational technology implementations, which can be informed by this research.
Research Team
The study team includes Drs. Joseph Nese, Gerald Tindal and Julie Alonzo of the University of Oregon, Drs. Susanne Nobles and Anh Hua of ReadWorks.org, Shannon N. Tabaldo of the Innovation in Digital Education and Leadership (iDEAL) Institute at Loyola Marymount University, and Kathy Crowley and Marjorie Jordan of Readability Matters.
The Better Readability research study is made possible by grants from Sobrato Philanthropies and Adobe.
For more information or to learn how to get involved, please email Readability Matters at [email protected].
About the Behavioral Research and Teaching (BRT) Lab at the University of Oregon: The BRT concentrates on student learning information systems and teacher decision-making by researching and developing basic skills and content assessments, and supporting accessibility to state accountability systems that document academic standards proficiency.
About ReadWorks: ReadWorks is committed to helping to solve America’s reading comprehension crisis and student achievement gap. Driven by the scientific study of reading, ReadWorks creates proven high-quality content, teacher guidance, and integrated tools that improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement.
About the iDEAL Institute at Loyola Marymount University: The iDEAL Institute is a professional learning organization that provides training and support to educators on how to integrate technology into their teaching and leadership. The institute seeks to advance learning by fostering forward-thinking and sustainable educational practice.
About Readability Matters: Readability Matters is a tech-for-good nonprofit organization with the mission to engage an ecosystem of partners to deliver personalized reading environments, empowering everyone everywhere to achieve more.
