Speed Reading Course

speed reading has become an essential business and academic success tool in the knowledge economy. With the onset of PCs, and the internet, live classes have diminished as a result of “instant access.” One of the seemingly easiest choices someone might take to learn the skills is to buy a software program. But does software training work?

Although I can’t state that I have reviewed all software programs, I have reviewed the most popular ones on the market. The benefit of learning speed reading with software in general, is that the software does allow for interesting eye pattern simulation training. By that I mean, software addresses one of the components of speed reading somewhat well – the mechanics, or getting the eyes to move more efficiently.

When you read, the eyes must first “see” the words. The eyes stop for a very brief moment to “fixate” on the words. Untrained readers see only a single or a few words per fixation. This is inefficient. You can picture this by imagining a photograph taken with a zoom lens focused in. If you zoom out with the lens, you see more of the foreground and background of the picture. Your camera takes in “more.”

Similarly speed reading software trains the eyes to see more for each fixation, or stopping (snapshot) of the eyes. Software can help with this. But it is only one piece of the speed reading puzzle, and some software training programs teach you to expand this visual focal area wider than what the eyes can naturally see during these fixations. This can cause terrible eye muscle strain.

With software training you can learn to “see” thousands and tens of thousands of words per minute. For that aspect of speed reading training, software can be beneficial as well as harmful. Different software programs teach different approaches to the fixation issue. But what good is it to merely see thousands of words per minute if you don’t understand the material?

Understanding the meaning, or comprehension, is other component of the speed reading puzzle that none of the programs I have seen do not cover, or barely touch. Without addressing the cognitive aspect, or comprehension, the training is ineffective. Both aspects of learning to speed read must be covered.

Another problem I have observed with some of the speed reading software programs is with the technical aspects of what is called “fixations.” In reading a fixation happens when the eyes stop to focus on a word or group of words. Neuro-science theorizes that during the stop phase of the eyes moving over the print, the brain is interpreting the visual data. Inefficient readers tend to only take in one or two words at time. Speed reading software trains the eyes to see more for each fixation. This can be a benefit to the beginning speed reader.

Some speed reading software programs however, tend to focus on developing a more efficient eye fixation pattern using an outmoded tachistoscopic approach leading the reader to stretch the natural visual focal area beyond its natural limitations of about one to three inches in diameter. For example, the software may train to see an entire line or even a paragraph with one fixation. This can be damaging and strenuous to the eye muscles.

To demonstrate this, open a book to a page with lots of text where the width of the print is 5-7 inches. Focus somewhere in the middle of a paragraph. Now, without trying to read or understand the material lock your eyes without focusing on a particular word. Just notice the clear focal area. How much can you see within that area? Use a pencil and draw a boundary around what you can clearly see. If you measure the dimensions, it is probably somewhere between 1-3 inches in diameter. If speed reading software is used, many times this natural focal area is wider and deeper. It is an unnatural strenuous stretching that will cause fatigue.

In conclusion, speed reading software programs may be helpful for increasing speed of the eyes and enlarging the area of fixations, but they may in fact be damaging. Additionally, if the program does not directly train how to get your mind responding (dealing in-depth with comprehension) to these greater inputs of visual data, then the training is useless.

About the Author:

Ed Caldwell is the creator and publisher of the “Masters Online Program: Dynamic Reading, Memory, and Recall” and other live and web-based learning programs. As former National Director of Instruction and Certification for the world famous Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics program, Ed has 30 years experience teaching and testing new strategies to help people from all walks of life learn more efficiently. Trainer, speaker, and writer, he can be contacted at inquiry@productivelearn.com. He is the creator and president of Productive Learning Systems, Inc, and ProductivElearn.com, Inc. You can learn more at www.speedreadingtactics.com and download the free eBook, “The 10 Top Mistakes When Learning Speed Reading.”

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Speed Reading Tactics: Does Speed Reading Software Training Work?

How To Do Speed Reading at 600 words per minute right now!

Tony Buzan: Speed Reading Book (New) $8.99 Imagine the time you could save, and all the amazing new information you could consume, if you were able to read at speeds of over 1000 words per-minute. And we don�t mean just simple skim-reading, but also properly and completely comprehending, understanding and retaining the information you�ve read. This fully revised and updated edition of the powerful book from the world-renowned authority Tony Buzan, will show you exactly how you can quickly start to read at amazing speeds. Speed Reading is simple to follow, easy to understand and fun too. You�ll find out how fast your reading speed is now and then discover how you could be reading dramatically faster in no time. And you won�t just improve your reading speed, but your concentration and comprehension levels will soar too. The techniques in the book are ideal for teachers, students or executives � indeed, anyone who wants to improve the speed, comprehension and quality of their reading. The benefits of speed reading are numerous, no matter where or why you read. You�ll be able to zip through whole novels in one sitting; you�ll speed through newspapers and magazines in minutes; you�ll be the envy of your colleagues as you consume and understand business reports in record time. Speed Reading will revolutionise the way you read. You�ll save days, weeks even months of your precious time; you�ll learn more efficiently and quickly; and you�ll be left marvelling at your new-found speed-reading abilities.

Sight Words (First Grade) (Hardcover) $29.57 Sight words, or high frequency words, are words that appear repeatedly in your children’s reading material. Knowing these words "by sight" is essential for reading speed and comprehension. Consistent short vowels and simple stories mean children sound out (decode) most of the story, and must memorize only three sight words per book. Your child will continue to build confidence and sight word fluency, with Bob Books Sight Words – First Grade. These ten books provide 30 more sight words, in slightly longer stories, to build confidence and success in the progressing reader. Inside the box you`ll find: * 10 easy-to-read, charming books, 12 pages each. * Slightly longer and more complex stories. * All stories told in three, four and five letter words, plus sight words. * Consistent short vowels mean easy decoding in the rest of the story. * Three new sight words introduced in each book. * Context clues and illustrations give sight word hints. * 30 two-sided, sight words flash cards. Sight words introduced in this set: after, are, ate, before, bring, come, find, good, he, into, like, little, long, make, my, new, now, old, play, pretty, said, she, than, that, too, under, what, will, with, you. With Bob Books Sight Words, your child will soon be joining the three million happy kids that say, "I read the whole book!"

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Speed Reading for Success (Unabridged) $11.99 Speed Reading for Success will show you how to read faster – and understand and recall what you have read….

Sight Words (Kindergarten) (Hardcover) $25.58 Sight words are common words that appear again and again in your children`s reading material. Knowing these words "by sight" is essential for reading fluency. Children learn to easily recognize these words in Bob Books Sight Words. Consistent short vowels and simple stories mean children sound out (decode) most of the story, and must memorize only three sight words per book. With plenty of repetition and context clues, your young reader will quickly master early sight words. Inside the box you`ll find: * 10 easy-to-read, hilarious books, 12 pages each. * All stories told in three and four letter words, plus sight words. * Consistent short vowels mean easy decoding in the rest of the story. * Three new sight words introduced in each book. * Context clues and illustrations give sight word hints. * 30 two-sided, sight words flash cards. Sight words introduced in this set: a, as, can, did, down, fly, get, go, goes, had, has, home, in, is, jump, look, not, off, on, over, ran, saw, see, she, some, they, to, was, went, who. With Bob Books Sight Words, your child will soon be joining the three million happy kids that say, "I read the whole book!"

Reading Pathways $33.89 Now in its fifth edition, Reading Pathways (with help from Dewey the Bookworm™) offers an easy-to-use, highly effective approach to teaching reading accuracy and fluency to students of all ages, using a unique pyramid format.   Reading pyramids begins with one word, and slowly build into phrases and sentences of gradually increasing complexity. As the student moves from the pinnacle to the base of each pyramid, the phrase or sentence becomes a more interesting and expansive, and the student’s confidence grows with each line completed. Progressively building up the amount of text per line increases eye span, strengthens eye tracking, and develops reading fluency. The book also features more challenging multi-syllable word pyramid exercises and games to further develop fluency and vocabulary. Learning to  read long words by syllables removes the fear and mystique of multi-syllable words and helps students build the strong vocabulary so critical for success in reading and writing.  

Triple Your Reading Speed $14.38 A complete program of practice exercises designed to improve reading speed and comprehension includes tips on study habits and test-taking skills. Reprint.

Reading Beyond Words, 6th Edition $105.99 This sixth edition of READING BEYOND WORDS continues to provide instructional materials to help students develop reading-study skills, not only for college success but for lifetime use. As the title suggests, reading beyond words implies not only comprehending what the words are saying, butinterpreting, questioning, comparing, and evaluating what an author means. Comprehension exercises lead students from the basics of finding main ideas to realizing that some questions have no ready answers and require thought and discussion. Reading selections vary in length, difficulty, and subject matter, accommodating a variety of student skill levels and interests. Selections by Malcolm X, John Gonzales, and Richard Rodriguez provide inspiration and encouragement to students.

Speed Reading for Dummies (Paperback) $19.81 A guide for time-pressed students and employees reveals how to change reading methods in order to process information more quickly and accurately while improving retention and recall, in a guide that outlines the latest speed-reading techniques for a variety of media. Original.

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Speed Reading For Professionals $23.03 Barron`s Business Success books offer useful advice to career-minded men and women who are looking to get ahead in the business and corporate world. Titles touch on all levels of management, marketing, organization, and related business operations. Reading and comprehending a large number of documents and reports—many of them specialized and technical—is a vital task that is intrinsic to fulfilling management and executive responsibilities. The authors of this practical book recommend techniques and exercises designed to increase reading speed dramatically and to retain important information more easily. They also offer tips on methods for comprehending dry and often difficult reading matter.

Rise Against – Revolutions Per Minute $20.84 Track Listing: Black Masks & Gasoline To The Core Torches Amber Changing untitled – (hidden track) Heaven Knows Dead Ringer Halfway There Like The Angel Voices Off Camera Blood-Red, White & Blue Broken English Last Chance Blueprint

Talib Kweli – Revolutions Per Minute $31.22 Disc 0:No track list available

Kindergarten Page Per Day (Paperback) $14.38 Learn the Basics with Just One Page of Activities Each Day!Sylvan Learning`s Kindergarten Page Per Day: Reading Skills uses engaging games and activities to help children become familiar with early reading skills, including: Consonant Sounds Short Vowel Sounds Beginning & Ending Sounds Story Characters Story Setting Story SequenceChildren improve their reading skills while they complete fun activities, such as: Playing hide & seek by hunting in pictures for words starting with specific letters Matching pictures that start or end with the same sound, like ladder and lion or truck and duck Reading brief stories and picking out characters and settings from accompanying pictures And much more!With perforated pages that can easily be removed for short, portable lessons, Kindergarten Page Per Day: Reading Skills will help give your child daily exposure to activities that are both fun and educational!