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1 SPEED READING COURSE
(A Free Online Speed Reading Course)
by 7 Speed Reading Software
1 Speed Reading Course is a free 10 lesson course aimed at providing you a one-
stop shop for all your speed reading know-how. This is in answer to the growing
demands for speed reading courses. All the lessons provided are rich in relevant and
current details about speed reading and the methods needed to develop this skill.
Learning speed reading is not an instant thing. One needs to undergo stages in order
to develop its skills. With this in mind, 1 Speed Reading Course presents the lessons
from the history or origin of speed reading to the simplest methods before moving
onto the advanced techniques. To better equip you as a learner, the lessons are filled
with proven ways and links to other resources providing speed reading strategies.
1 Speed Reading Course makes learning how to speed read uncomplicated and not
burdensome at all so you can focus more on your personal and professional growth.
The Many Benefits of Speed Reading
With the information explosion seen not only in print media but more so online,
speed reading is obviously essential in many ways. Not only executives are faced each
day with a lot of books, reports, journals and other documents waiting to be read but
students and businessmen as well. All kinds of professionals will need to face the need
to read more to be on top of their field, to stay ahead or even just simply to learn
more because of the natural need of humans for knowledge.
Whatever be the reason for the need for more information, reading is the primary
way to get these ideas absorbed into the mind. So speed reading will come in very
handy at this time so much more information can be handled in a short span only.
Speed reading not only allows for more information to be gathered in a short period
but it also helps in the improvement of other things in a person. Below are the many
reasons why speed reading is beneficial:
 One will be able to read faster than normal and so will be considered better
than the average.
 Ones' comprehension will be developed and understanding naturally follows
this.
 One will have the opportunity to become knowledgeable in different fields
because of the capacity to learn fast.
 Speed reading also develops the memory so effective recall of information will
be developed as well.
 A person's poor reading habits developed since preschool will be unlearned.
 Speed reading promotes reading strategies and so a more organized reading
process is followed.
 Ones' concentration or focus is improved.
 Speed reading promotes discipline in reading too so fluff is disregarded and the
main juice of the material is given importance.
 A person will have more time for reading more material because lesser time is
spent on just one material.
 One can manage time properly because not too much time is needed to be
spent on reading only and other equally important tasks and activities can be
given focus too.
 Speed reading can be applied to reading different kinds of materials even blogs
and RSS Feeds so reading a variety of materials will be easier.
 Speed reading opens up opportunities for new kinds of jobs especially when
one reads about different kinds of topics to learn new skills through reading.
 A person may develop his writing skills too because a wide reader can be a
good writer too.
Speed reading just opens up more benefits and more opportunities for a person
when the skills are learned already. It brings advantages both personally and
professionally to an individual.
The time you will spend in learning and training for speed reading will all be
compensated with these benefits and maybe much more once you have acquired the
skills.
Learning speed reading is not like running after the wind. All speed reading courses
are results-driven and so are beneficial.
Development of Speed Reading
Speed reading saw its roots in 1878 when French ophthalmologist, Emile Javal
made some experiments focused on eye movements. He found out that the eyes
make a series of jumps and pauses when it reads on lines of words and it is when the
eyes stop that it recognizes words.1
The 1940s saw more developments leading to the building of speed reading and its
methods. A machine called the tachistoscope2
was invented and used for the purpose
of developing the eyesight of US Air Force pilots so they can easily recognize foe or
ally airplanes. The tachistoscope would show images at varying speeds on the screen
and during the training, the researchers discovered that the pilots were able to
distinguish the images at very fast speeds and that is at one-five hundredth of a
second. This encouraged the researchers to develop a similar technique but now to
increase reading speeds. This was now to enable the pilots and other soldiers to
understand their orders at a faster rate and inhibit the need for them to listen over
the radio just to know their orders. However, the researchers were not able to
develop a very effective program so the research was unsuccessful.
But the development of methods and programs to increase reading speed did not
stop there. This failure actually paved the way for countless experiments to be done
to develop the reading ability of persons. But only a teacher from Arizona named
Evelyn Wood in the 1950s1 was able to come up with an effective method for
increasing reading speeds. Because of curiosity, she learned that those who can read
faster than the average read "chunks" of words rather than word by word or reading
everything and another thing she discovered by accident is that our eyes follow our
hand when it moves on a page. When she discovered these things, she started
training herself on the techniques and eventually was able to increase her own
reading speeds. This prompted her to write her learning in a book and teach others
about it too. The Evelyn Wood Speed Reading Institute was opened in 1959 and
speed reading classes were conducted all across the states then it spread to other
countries like wildfire.
Speed reading and its benefits became so popular that top personalities like US
Presidents learned it and also encouraged and obliged their staff to do the same. This
led to more developments of speed reading programs. Most are still imitations of the
techniques pioneered by Evelyn Wood but the courses just had some variety when it
comes to being accessible such as now it is available online too like this free course!
Speed reading software reviews like this are also worth looking at for your options on
modern software to learn how to read faster.
Speed reading has made a name for itself through the countless benefits it has given
its learners. It became popular until now because it simply does work! It works for
any person, whatever may be their age or status. The only requirements are the
willingness, determination and patience to learn.
SOURCES :
1. http://www.ehow.com/about_5339239_history-speed-reading.html
2. http://thespeedreadingreview.com/speed-reading-history.php
Know Your Reading Stance
Before undergoing any kind of training, either you are assessed by the company who
is going to provide you the training or you assess yourself if you really can undergo
the training. It depends on what kind of development you will undergo. The same
applies to learning speed reading. You need to assess yourself and see what things
you have and things you don't have but can develop to be able to acquire the skills
before really undergoing the methods or techniques.
Here are the all things you need to check before starting out on your personal
development:
Check your reading rate. You can measure how fast you can currently read
through online speed reading tests or by manually timing it and counting the
number of words you were able to read within a minute. Spreeder1
is a
recommended online speed reading application which can help you measure
your reading rate and comprehension Or you may also practice with this
online Speed Reading Trainer. Read at your normal pace when you do the
test. Knowing your normal pace and comprehension level will help you know
how much improvement you are making during your course.
Have a Proper Learning Space and Schedule. Find a suitable place and time
for training and practicing. This should be a place and time with limited
distractions or if possible, no distractions at all. This is very crucial because you
will need to be able to concentrate in learning and practicing the methods so
distractions should be kept at bay during the times you have set to learn speed
reading. Put aside mobile phones and other gadgets which might disturb you. It
is also advisable to eat your meal or have a snack before your training. This
way nothing else will bother your mind or body while practicing.
Know Your Reading Habits. Reading habits are habits formed since we started
learning how to read. These may have been formed through the influence of
our parents but often these were impressed to us by our teachers. These are
subvocalization, rereading or regression, reading word by word and insufficient
movement of the eyes. These are considered poor reading habits when it
comes to speed reading because these all slow down our pace in reading.
Observe yourself when you read at your normal pace.
Do you say each word aloud while reading or do you still pronounce the
words, even though silently in your mind as you read? This is subvocalization.
You should unlearn this and train your eyes to recognize the word even
without pronouncing it in your lips. Aloud or silently, it's still pronunciation.
Do you go back to the text or last word or even last sentence you read to be
able to understand the idea of the material? This is regression or rereading.
Some speed reading methods will help you unlearn this.
Do you read every word in a text and you only focus your eyes on one word
at a time? These are the last two of the poor reading habits: reading
everything or word by word and not enough eye movements. As you go
through the speed reading methods, you will know certain eye movements to
see more than just one word at a time and to unlearn reading all the words
you see in a text.
How Do You Feel About Learning Speed Reading? Your emotions play a big
role in your capacity to learn especially something new like speed reading.
How you feel in learning speed reading or something new for that matter will
determine how successful you will be at the venture. When you are motivated
enough then it's much more possible that it will be easier for you to learn the
skills and not feel burdened about having to invest time and effort to it. Your
emotional state is a major contributing factor to your success in anything. So
maintain your determination and commitment to learning speed reading. After
all, this is your investment for yourself.
Once you have observed yourself and know your strengths and weaknesses, it will be
easier for you to correct the poor reading habits and improve on speed reading.
SOURCES :
1. http://www.spreeder.com/
Care and Development of Your Eyes for Speed Reading
Our eyes are the primary tools we need for speed reading so proper care for the
eyes should be one of the first things we should focus on. When you properly take
care of your eyes, you can easily develop or train it to widen your eye span and be
able to read more words at a time which is one of the methods for speed reading.
First off, check if you have any vision problems. If you have blurry eyesight, make
sure to visit an ophthalmologist to have your eyes checked. It's best to visit an
ophthalmologist instead of an optometrist only so a full eye check up can be done on
you.
If a vision problem exists, follow the corrective measures given by your
ophthalmologist immediately. Get and wear glasses with corrective lenses or wear
contact lenses with the proper grades and don't delay doing these corrective
measures anymore. Delaying may only worsen the condition of your eyesight.
Sometimes, the only corrective measures needed are taking vitamin A and other
supplements or medicinal drops needed by the eyes. These may sometimes be a little
costly but nevertheless, invest in such medicines because your eyes are not easily
replaced and good vision is not easy to regain.
Eye exercises1
and enough hours of sleep are also helpful measures for any eye
problem. Free online eye exercises are available and these simple exercises have
proven helpful by many in gaining better vision. This is also sometimes called Yoga
for the Eyes.
When you have applied the proper corrective measures and you are sure that your
vision will not cause you to read slowly then you may go ahead and now widen your
eye span.
As observed by Emile Javal, our eyes make a series of stops and pauses when
reading. When our eyes focus and stop on a certain word in a text then this is what
is called "fixation." In each fixation we are able to see the other words surrounding
one word, such that we also see the words above, below, on the left and on the right
of the word our eyes are "fixed" on. The number of words we see surrounding that
one word is our eye span. For example, you see three words at a time then that is
your eye span – three words at one fixation. The average person has an eye span of
three to four words. But this can still be developed or widened.
How? By training the eyes to see more words in one fixation.
In training your eyes to widen its span, you need to keep in mind that you need to be
careful not to strain your eyes in doing this training. We would not want to force the
eyes to see more.
To start off, make sure you gaze on the 2nd
or 3rd
word in a sentence on your
chosen article. This is your first fixation. Blink then move your focus on the next 2nd
or 3rd
word of the next sentence. If the first sentence is long, then move your fixation
to the 6th
or 7th
word in the same sentence. Your blink is your signal to change
fixations. Do this slowly first then hasten your pace as your eyes get used to reading
and understanding several words at a time. Ensure your gaze is soft at all times and
that it's alright if you slow down sometimes to understand the set of words you are
reading. Have a feasible target and increase it as you improve. If at your normal rate
your eye span is 3 words then make 5 words as your first target for your eye span
development. Increase this as you become better.
SOURCES :
1. http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Eyes
Chunking and the Pacing Methods
When you have developed your eye span and can actually read more than 3 to 4
words in one fixation then you have started with the method called "chunking."
Chunking is the ability to read several words at a time remember and understand the
words then relate all of them to each other to be able to comprehend the entire
message of the material.
The eye span and your memory will work together in this method. It would be
beneficial for you if you have a wide vocabulary and if you are familiar with the
meanings of idiomatic expressions because you can understand the set of words
faster.
To practice chunking, make two lines dividing the page of your article in three
columns. You should have a page wherein the words in each line are divided into sets
of three or four words. This is to start you off slowly again. But if you have developed
your eye span with the practice on the last lesson then you may divide the lines and
increase the number of words included in a set. This practice is similar to with the firs
training you did to widen your eye span.
As you improve your speed, you may do the advanced technique for chunking
wherein you read in a diagonal pattern. This entails reading the set of words on the
right side of the first sentence then read the set of words on the left side of the
following sentence. This method is not developed instantly so patience is needed to
master this.
In doing chunking, you may incorporate the pacing methods to make your speed
faster. "Metaguiding" or the pacing methods have been developed by Evelyn Wood
herself. She saw how our eyes follow the movement of the hands so she developed
speed reading techniques based on this.
The following are the pacing methods:
1. Sweep method. This is an easy method where you cup your fingers and move
your hand as if in a sweeping motion across 3 or more words at a time. You
can move your hand faster to increase your reading speed but make sure
before you increase your speed, you can already comprehend what you have
read.
2. Hop Method. This method is similar to the sweep method but this time instead
of moving your hand in a sweeping or dragging motion, make it bounce or
hop from one set of words to another.
3. Zigzag Method. This is an advanced pacing method which can be incorporated
with the advanced chunking method. The finger and hand position is the same
with the sweeping method but the movement is in a zigzag or diagonal line.
The main point, like in chunking, is to capture just one set of words in a line
then move on to the next set on the next sentence or line. This is advisable to
use on material which you have some familiarity already for easy
comprehension.
4. Card Method. This method works the same way as the sweeping method but
with the use of a card or a piece of paper to cover the set of words which you
have read already. This helps eliminate regression or rereading.
Scanning For Better Comprehension
In all the methods of speed reading, comprehension is not taken for granted. It
should be retained or better yet, improved as the pace in reading increases. One of
the oldest methods in speed reading for better comprehension is scanning1
. It is the
ability to read keywords within the text which will give you an insight or overview of
the whole meaning or message of the material. This method can be done with the
pacing methods too.
The goal of scanning is to get the main idea in the text and other vital information
just by giving it a quick look. The habit of reading everything should be inhibited in
scanning and looking out for keywords is the primary objective. The keywords are the
following:
The keywords are the following:
1. Trigger Words. The trigger words are the titles, subtitles, headings, subheadings
and table of contents. Other trigger words are the underlined, italicized and
bold words. These are the words which give additional insight on the message
of the article or book.
2. Names & Numbers. Look for names and numbers in the text. Names and
numbers often cite facts. When you find these words in a text read the details
on the sentence mentioning these. Give more focus on these sentences than
the others.
3. Key Sentences. The first and last sentences in a paragraph are the key
sentences. The first sentence is a key sentence because this is the part where
the author often provides the whole ides he wants to explain in the paragraph.
The last sentence on the other hand, is a key sentence too because this is
often the gist of the message of the author within the whole paragraph.
Now, practice scanning these keywords with the following exercises:
 For Trigger Words: In your chosen material, read the title, subtitles, headings,
subheadings, and table of contents if there's one. If it is a book, read the
chapter titles and subtitles. Write down the trigger words as you see them on a
piece of paper and formulate questions based on the trigger words. These
questions should be what you expect the outcome of the topic of the material
will be based on the trigger words. You should also be able to answer your
questions based on the next trigger words you will be reading.
 For Names & Numbers: Scan for names and numbers now on your material.
When you chance upon a name or number, give focus on the sentence
surrounding it and say it in your own words. Now watch out if the same
information will show up on the text again.
 For Key Sentences: On your material, practice reading all the first sentences
first on each paragraph. Go back to the paragraphs to gauge your recall and
understanding of its concept based on your understanding of the first
sentences.
Then move on to reading all the last sentences only and do the same to gauge
your comprehension. If you wish to read both key sentences, you may do so
and incorporate the zigzag pacing method in this instance.
Practice each of the exercises separately for mastery. Don't rush into doing all of
these exercises in just one practice session. Give yourself enough time to hone the
skills of your eyes and mind in recognizing these keywords.
SOURCES :
1. http://www.slideshare.net/leticiaeoimairena/skimming-scanning
SQ3R Reading Method
As what we have mentioned in the previous lesson, comprehension is given
importance in all the methods for speed reading because the primary purpose of
speed reading is to enable a learner to read fast but still understand what he is
reading. The reading method known as SQ3R targets the same goal of speed reading
so it has been incorporated as not just a reading method but a speed reading
technique as well.
SQ3R stands for SURVEY, QUESTION, READ, RECALL & REVIEW1
. It was
developed by Francis Pleasant Robinson in 1946 for university students to serve as
a method of study, for them to actively understand and expand the meaning of the
text by themselves. It is also sometimes known as the PQRST method which means
PREVIEW, QUESTION, READ, SELF-RECITATION & TEST. The second acronym
sums up how the SQ3R method is done and below are the details2
on how to do
this reading method:
1. SURVEY
Surveying is simply scanning of the material. As what we have discussed with
regards to scanning, it is looking out for keywords to get or understand the
main point the material is conveying. The keywords you need to seek are titles,
subtitles, headings, subheadings, the 1st and last sentences in the paragraphs,
descriptions for pictures and references, and words in bold or italics. Don't
read any long text at this time yet try to see if you can get an idea or two
from just the keywords.
2. QUESTION
Formulate a question for each chapter you read. If you are practicing with an
article then formulate a question from the title and/or headings of the article.
Think of what the chapter could be all about or a question which might be
answered in the chapter based on its title. Apply this art of questioning in all
the titles, subtitles or headings you read.
3. READ
You will need much concentration on this step so ensure that you are in a
place with no distractions. This is where active reading comes in but your goal
is to find the answers to your questions only. You must skip lines and words
which don't give you the answer.
4. RECALL
In the previous step, you may write down the answers you find but write it in
your own words so you can remember it better. After writing or after you have
finished reading to find the answers to your questions, say your answers out
loud now. You may look at the notes you've written in your own words before
reciting your answers but don't look at it and just read it aloud. Your notes are
meant to serve as your guides to remember the ideas in the article or book.
5. REVIEW
This is the easiest and hardest step in this process. It's easy because what you
need to do is to just recall what you can remember from the material. It's hard
because you need to gauge how much you can remember from the questions
you made up to the answers you found. If you cannot remember much from
the material then you need to go back and practice the steps again. But don't
fret if at first, you have a hard time remembering much of the ideas in what
you have read. This method really needs time and practice just like all the
methods in speed reading. But many, especially schools and colleges have
found the SQ3R Method to be beneficial to the development of the memory
of their students despite reading a lot.
SOURCES :
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQ3R
2. http://gradschool.about.com/cs/reading/a/sq3r.htm
Mind Mapping Method
Mind mapping is a pretty simple technique which has been popularized by the British
psychology author Tony Buzan1
. It is especially popular in the business sector for
visual organization of plans and processes. But since it is very simple to create, it can
be applied in different aspects of learning such as speed reading. Tony Buzan even
promotes mind mapping as a necessary tool in speed reading. This is because
retaining comprehension is needed in speed reading and mind mapping allows for
recall and understanding through images which is faster and more accurate since the
information is logged in a pattern and not just a word list.
Many kinds of software and templates for mind mapping have been created but using
the old pen and paper will suffice just as well. It consists of the main ideas and the
supporting ideas. A mind map can also be in a radial or graphical form and may be
as simple as lines and shapes or a little complex with colors, labels and symbols. But
the main point of creating and using mind maps for speed reading is to enable the
mind to understand and remember the key concepts in the reading material.
Here is a simple way to incorporate mind mapping in your speed reading in order to
retain or make your comprehension better:
1. Scan your material it may be the whole article if it's just one article or just a
section or chapter if it is a book.
2. Determine the main idea or message of the material from the words you were
able to scan.
3. On the middle of your paper, write down in your own words, the main idea
you have determined. Enclose the word or words in a circle, square or
rectangle or any other shape you prefer.
The point is for you to associate the shape to the idea you have written down
so you can easily remember it. But keep your words minimal, just enough for
you to remember the concept.
4. Now, read the material again and you may use the pacing methods in this
instance for faster reading. Look for concepts which are sub-ideas of the main
idea or simply, the words or sentences which give a clear explanation of the
main idea. Write down these words, phrases or sentences in your own words
on your paper beside the main idea and enclose them too in shapes. Draw
lines linking the shapes to one another.
5. If there are other details you read which deem relevant to the main idea or
supporting the supporting ideas then write them down and link them too.
When you have a mind map created for your material, you may review it and then
without looking at it, recall the mind map and the concepts you have written down.
You can gauge your comprehension of the material with how much you remember
from the mind map. Remember that this method is flexible and it depends on your
memory. You may add concepts or "words inside shapes" after speed reading a
paragraph or even after reading the whole article. But just like the other methods and
if you are a beginner, start slowly then build up your pace.
SOURCES :
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Buzan
Other Helpful Guides for Speed Reading
To further equip you in your learning you may look into other resources which can
contribute to your skills. Below is a compilation of sites and articles which can assist
in your progress in speed reading.
Some sites and articles directly tackle speed reading while others only pertain to
reading methods but which can be beneficial in retaining or improving your
comprehension level when speed reading:
1. U O learn.com
This is a website providing downloadable practice exercises for speed reading
and other personal development courses. Some tools are provided for free
while some needs to be purchased.
2. Providence College Office of Academic Services: Reading Comprehension Tips
and Speed Reading Strategies
This is an article in the Providence College website which is intended as a
study aid for its students to help them improve their reading comprehension.
At the end of the article, links to other school sites are also provided.
3. Cuesta College Academic Support Guides Reading Comprehension
This is a free eBook provided by the Cuesta College website for its students to
develop their reading rates and comprehension levels along with tips and
techniques for concentration and remembering.
4. The Literacy Web of the University of Connecticut: Reading Comprehension
This is a page on the University of Connecticut website which provides links to
comprehension improvement sites for grade school students up to college
students. The comprehension development materials range from text
instructions to comprehension practice materials.
5. Reading a-z Reading and Word-Attack Strategies
Reading a-z is a reading resource center and this page on their site provides
strategies for teachers on how to help their students understand any text they
are reading.
6. The University of Melbourne Academic Skills Unit Reading Strategies
This is a collection of strategies provided by the University of Melbourne to
help their students develop their reading competencies and study skills.
7. Think Literacy Reading Strategies
This is a free eBook provided by the Ministry of Education in Ontario in PDF
format which covers common speed reading techniques such as previewing,
SQ3R and visualization.
8. About. Com Graduate School Reading Tips and Strategies
This is an article in About.Com Graduate School category which gives tips on
how graduate students can improve their reading skills to surpass the
challenges of graduate school.
9. Reading Programs: Program Locator
This is a website which helps US Citizens to find a reading program within
their vicinity. Programs can range from vocabulary training to study skills
development and comprehension training.
10. Language and Learning Online Efficient Reading Strategies by Monash
University
This is an article provided by Monash University in Australia to serve as a
quick reference for students in reading skills improvement.
11. UNSW The Learning Centre Effective Reading
This is a student's resource in The University of New South Wales' website
which provides reading techniques especially for taking notes and critical
reading.
Check out these sites to reinforce your speed reading skills and learn other methods
for comprehension and memory skills improvement.
Speed Reading on eBooks
Speed reading is a kind of skill which needs practice in order to be learned and still
needs constant practice to become an expert at it until it becomes like second nature
to a person. Speed reading practice can be as long as two hours and as short as 15
minutes a day depending on how much time one is willing to invest in it but the point
is to allot some time for practice.
But nowadays, reading has seen a different trend and that is with the use of the
internet and devices for reading. eBooks are very rampant and these kind of books
can be read online, by downloading it on your PC or by installing it on a device.
The most popular eBook reader now is the Kindle by Amazon. Other famous devices
are BeBook Neo, Sony Reader Touch, Apple's iPad and Barnes and Noble Nook.
Both fiction and non-fiction books can be read in these devices and they are very
good options for those who travel or are always on the go but want to read on their
way.
So the question is, can speed reading still be applied when using these devices?
The answer is definitely yes. Speed reading techniques can still be applied even when
one uses reading devices such as the Kindle. These devices actually make speed
reading more possible because of their navigation features. For example, the Kindle
has buttons which are easy to control while the Apple's iPad and Sony Reader Touch
have touch screens so moving from one sentence to another as well as from one
page to another can be done by touching and swiping on the screen.
But there are also disadvantages in using these reading devices but below are some
tips you can do to adopt the speed reading techniques despite the disadvantages the
reading devices may give in your speed reading:
1. If your device has a touch screen, you may still do the pacing methods but use
a card or bookmark instead of your fingers and hands in applying the methods
on the device. The pacing methods would be more convenient to do on the
Kindle because it's not a touch screen.
2. You may still apply the scanning method and other methods which need
skimming at first by placing your hand to the control button or other
navigation control on the screen which will turn the page. This way you can
control the pace of the flip of the page easily. Also make sure that you view
the article or page on a full screen so it'd still be the same view as if you were
reading it on paper.
3. For chunking of words, using your fingers to jump from word group to word
group can be done on the Kindle while the other reading devices may require
an application for reading sets of words. For example, the iPad needs the
QuickReader Lite so the device can display a set of words. The good thing is it
can be set to your desired number of words to read and this can help in your
practice of chunking.
Again, practice is the main key to attain the skills and be better and better in
speed reading. Whichever way you decide to train and practice yourself for speed
reading, it will all lead to your personal improvement as long as hard work and
dedication is invested along with it.
Resources List
• History of Speed Reading
LINK : http://www.ehow.com/about_5339239_history-speed-reading.html
This is an article in eHow under Family about the history and development of speed
reading.
• How to Identify the Three Factors for Determining your Reading Speed
LINK : http://www.ehow.com/how_8075669_identify-factors-determining-
reading-speed.html
This eHow article provides detailed instructions on how to calculate for your reading
speed on your own.
• The History of Speed Reading
LINK : http://thespeedreadingreview.com/speed-reading-history.php
This article provides a brief history of speed reading and the impact of using
machines for learning the skill.
• Spreeder
LINK : http://www.spreeder.com/
This is an online application to gauge your reading rate.
• How to Exercise Your Eyes
LINK : http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Eyes
This is a wikiHow article providing simple eye exercises to minimize eye strain and
promote relaxation.
• Skimming and Scanning
LINK : http://www.slideshare.net/leticiaeoimairena/skimming-scanning
This is a shared page from the Reading and Study Skills Lab manual of the Anne
Arundel Community College.
• SQ3R
LINK : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQ3R
This is a Wikipedia page about the SQ3R Reading Method with a brief explanation
of its steps.
• Reading Strategies: SQ3R Method
LINK : http://gradschool.about.com/cs/reading/a/sq3r.htm
This article from About.com provides detailed instructions in doing the SQ3R
Reading Technique.
• Tony Buzan
LINK : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Buzan
This is the Wikipedia page providing a short biography of Anthony Peter Buzan, a
psychology author who popularized Mind Mapping.

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1 Speed Reading Course

  • 1. 1 SPEED READING COURSE (A Free Online Speed Reading Course) by 7 Speed Reading Software 1 Speed Reading Course is a free 10 lesson course aimed at providing you a one- stop shop for all your speed reading know-how. This is in answer to the growing demands for speed reading courses. All the lessons provided are rich in relevant and current details about speed reading and the methods needed to develop this skill. Learning speed reading is not an instant thing. One needs to undergo stages in order to develop its skills. With this in mind, 1 Speed Reading Course presents the lessons from the history or origin of speed reading to the simplest methods before moving onto the advanced techniques. To better equip you as a learner, the lessons are filled with proven ways and links to other resources providing speed reading strategies. 1 Speed Reading Course makes learning how to speed read uncomplicated and not burdensome at all so you can focus more on your personal and professional growth. The Many Benefits of Speed Reading With the information explosion seen not only in print media but more so online, speed reading is obviously essential in many ways. Not only executives are faced each day with a lot of books, reports, journals and other documents waiting to be read but students and businessmen as well. All kinds of professionals will need to face the need to read more to be on top of their field, to stay ahead or even just simply to learn more because of the natural need of humans for knowledge.
  • 2. Whatever be the reason for the need for more information, reading is the primary way to get these ideas absorbed into the mind. So speed reading will come in very handy at this time so much more information can be handled in a short span only. Speed reading not only allows for more information to be gathered in a short period but it also helps in the improvement of other things in a person. Below are the many reasons why speed reading is beneficial:  One will be able to read faster than normal and so will be considered better than the average.  Ones' comprehension will be developed and understanding naturally follows this.  One will have the opportunity to become knowledgeable in different fields because of the capacity to learn fast.  Speed reading also develops the memory so effective recall of information will be developed as well.  A person's poor reading habits developed since preschool will be unlearned.  Speed reading promotes reading strategies and so a more organized reading process is followed.  Ones' concentration or focus is improved.  Speed reading promotes discipline in reading too so fluff is disregarded and the main juice of the material is given importance.  A person will have more time for reading more material because lesser time is spent on just one material.  One can manage time properly because not too much time is needed to be spent on reading only and other equally important tasks and activities can be given focus too.
  • 3.  Speed reading can be applied to reading different kinds of materials even blogs and RSS Feeds so reading a variety of materials will be easier.  Speed reading opens up opportunities for new kinds of jobs especially when one reads about different kinds of topics to learn new skills through reading.  A person may develop his writing skills too because a wide reader can be a good writer too. Speed reading just opens up more benefits and more opportunities for a person when the skills are learned already. It brings advantages both personally and professionally to an individual. The time you will spend in learning and training for speed reading will all be compensated with these benefits and maybe much more once you have acquired the skills. Learning speed reading is not like running after the wind. All speed reading courses are results-driven and so are beneficial. Development of Speed Reading Speed reading saw its roots in 1878 when French ophthalmologist, Emile Javal made some experiments focused on eye movements. He found out that the eyes make a series of jumps and pauses when it reads on lines of words and it is when the eyes stop that it recognizes words.1 The 1940s saw more developments leading to the building of speed reading and its methods. A machine called the tachistoscope2 was invented and used for the purpose of developing the eyesight of US Air Force pilots so they can easily recognize foe or ally airplanes. The tachistoscope would show images at varying speeds on the screen
  • 4. and during the training, the researchers discovered that the pilots were able to distinguish the images at very fast speeds and that is at one-five hundredth of a second. This encouraged the researchers to develop a similar technique but now to increase reading speeds. This was now to enable the pilots and other soldiers to understand their orders at a faster rate and inhibit the need for them to listen over the radio just to know their orders. However, the researchers were not able to develop a very effective program so the research was unsuccessful. But the development of methods and programs to increase reading speed did not stop there. This failure actually paved the way for countless experiments to be done to develop the reading ability of persons. But only a teacher from Arizona named Evelyn Wood in the 1950s1 was able to come up with an effective method for increasing reading speeds. Because of curiosity, she learned that those who can read faster than the average read "chunks" of words rather than word by word or reading everything and another thing she discovered by accident is that our eyes follow our hand when it moves on a page. When she discovered these things, she started training herself on the techniques and eventually was able to increase her own reading speeds. This prompted her to write her learning in a book and teach others about it too. The Evelyn Wood Speed Reading Institute was opened in 1959 and speed reading classes were conducted all across the states then it spread to other countries like wildfire. Speed reading and its benefits became so popular that top personalities like US Presidents learned it and also encouraged and obliged their staff to do the same. This led to more developments of speed reading programs. Most are still imitations of the techniques pioneered by Evelyn Wood but the courses just had some variety when it comes to being accessible such as now it is available online too like this free course! Speed reading software reviews like this are also worth looking at for your options on modern software to learn how to read faster.
  • 5. Speed reading has made a name for itself through the countless benefits it has given its learners. It became popular until now because it simply does work! It works for any person, whatever may be their age or status. The only requirements are the willingness, determination and patience to learn. SOURCES : 1. http://www.ehow.com/about_5339239_history-speed-reading.html 2. http://thespeedreadingreview.com/speed-reading-history.php Know Your Reading Stance Before undergoing any kind of training, either you are assessed by the company who is going to provide you the training or you assess yourself if you really can undergo the training. It depends on what kind of development you will undergo. The same applies to learning speed reading. You need to assess yourself and see what things you have and things you don't have but can develop to be able to acquire the skills before really undergoing the methods or techniques. Here are the all things you need to check before starting out on your personal development: Check your reading rate. You can measure how fast you can currently read through online speed reading tests or by manually timing it and counting the number of words you were able to read within a minute. Spreeder1 is a recommended online speed reading application which can help you measure your reading rate and comprehension Or you may also practice with this online Speed Reading Trainer. Read at your normal pace when you do the test. Knowing your normal pace and comprehension level will help you know how much improvement you are making during your course.
  • 6. Have a Proper Learning Space and Schedule. Find a suitable place and time for training and practicing. This should be a place and time with limited distractions or if possible, no distractions at all. This is very crucial because you will need to be able to concentrate in learning and practicing the methods so distractions should be kept at bay during the times you have set to learn speed reading. Put aside mobile phones and other gadgets which might disturb you. It is also advisable to eat your meal or have a snack before your training. This way nothing else will bother your mind or body while practicing. Know Your Reading Habits. Reading habits are habits formed since we started learning how to read. These may have been formed through the influence of our parents but often these were impressed to us by our teachers. These are subvocalization, rereading or regression, reading word by word and insufficient movement of the eyes. These are considered poor reading habits when it comes to speed reading because these all slow down our pace in reading. Observe yourself when you read at your normal pace. Do you say each word aloud while reading or do you still pronounce the words, even though silently in your mind as you read? This is subvocalization. You should unlearn this and train your eyes to recognize the word even without pronouncing it in your lips. Aloud or silently, it's still pronunciation. Do you go back to the text or last word or even last sentence you read to be able to understand the idea of the material? This is regression or rereading. Some speed reading methods will help you unlearn this.
  • 7. Do you read every word in a text and you only focus your eyes on one word at a time? These are the last two of the poor reading habits: reading everything or word by word and not enough eye movements. As you go through the speed reading methods, you will know certain eye movements to see more than just one word at a time and to unlearn reading all the words you see in a text. How Do You Feel About Learning Speed Reading? Your emotions play a big role in your capacity to learn especially something new like speed reading. How you feel in learning speed reading or something new for that matter will determine how successful you will be at the venture. When you are motivated enough then it's much more possible that it will be easier for you to learn the skills and not feel burdened about having to invest time and effort to it. Your emotional state is a major contributing factor to your success in anything. So maintain your determination and commitment to learning speed reading. After all, this is your investment for yourself. Once you have observed yourself and know your strengths and weaknesses, it will be easier for you to correct the poor reading habits and improve on speed reading. SOURCES : 1. http://www.spreeder.com/ Care and Development of Your Eyes for Speed Reading Our eyes are the primary tools we need for speed reading so proper care for the eyes should be one of the first things we should focus on. When you properly take care of your eyes, you can easily develop or train it to widen your eye span and be
  • 8. able to read more words at a time which is one of the methods for speed reading. First off, check if you have any vision problems. If you have blurry eyesight, make sure to visit an ophthalmologist to have your eyes checked. It's best to visit an ophthalmologist instead of an optometrist only so a full eye check up can be done on you. If a vision problem exists, follow the corrective measures given by your ophthalmologist immediately. Get and wear glasses with corrective lenses or wear contact lenses with the proper grades and don't delay doing these corrective measures anymore. Delaying may only worsen the condition of your eyesight. Sometimes, the only corrective measures needed are taking vitamin A and other supplements or medicinal drops needed by the eyes. These may sometimes be a little costly but nevertheless, invest in such medicines because your eyes are not easily replaced and good vision is not easy to regain. Eye exercises1 and enough hours of sleep are also helpful measures for any eye problem. Free online eye exercises are available and these simple exercises have proven helpful by many in gaining better vision. This is also sometimes called Yoga for the Eyes. When you have applied the proper corrective measures and you are sure that your vision will not cause you to read slowly then you may go ahead and now widen your eye span. As observed by Emile Javal, our eyes make a series of stops and pauses when reading. When our eyes focus and stop on a certain word in a text then this is what is called "fixation." In each fixation we are able to see the other words surrounding one word, such that we also see the words above, below, on the left and on the right
  • 9. of the word our eyes are "fixed" on. The number of words we see surrounding that one word is our eye span. For example, you see three words at a time then that is your eye span – three words at one fixation. The average person has an eye span of three to four words. But this can still be developed or widened. How? By training the eyes to see more words in one fixation. In training your eyes to widen its span, you need to keep in mind that you need to be careful not to strain your eyes in doing this training. We would not want to force the eyes to see more. To start off, make sure you gaze on the 2nd or 3rd word in a sentence on your chosen article. This is your first fixation. Blink then move your focus on the next 2nd or 3rd word of the next sentence. If the first sentence is long, then move your fixation to the 6th or 7th word in the same sentence. Your blink is your signal to change fixations. Do this slowly first then hasten your pace as your eyes get used to reading and understanding several words at a time. Ensure your gaze is soft at all times and that it's alright if you slow down sometimes to understand the set of words you are reading. Have a feasible target and increase it as you improve. If at your normal rate your eye span is 3 words then make 5 words as your first target for your eye span development. Increase this as you become better. SOURCES : 1. http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Eyes
  • 10. Chunking and the Pacing Methods When you have developed your eye span and can actually read more than 3 to 4 words in one fixation then you have started with the method called "chunking." Chunking is the ability to read several words at a time remember and understand the words then relate all of them to each other to be able to comprehend the entire message of the material. The eye span and your memory will work together in this method. It would be beneficial for you if you have a wide vocabulary and if you are familiar with the meanings of idiomatic expressions because you can understand the set of words faster. To practice chunking, make two lines dividing the page of your article in three columns. You should have a page wherein the words in each line are divided into sets of three or four words. This is to start you off slowly again. But if you have developed your eye span with the practice on the last lesson then you may divide the lines and increase the number of words included in a set. This practice is similar to with the firs training you did to widen your eye span. As you improve your speed, you may do the advanced technique for chunking wherein you read in a diagonal pattern. This entails reading the set of words on the right side of the first sentence then read the set of words on the left side of the following sentence. This method is not developed instantly so patience is needed to master this. In doing chunking, you may incorporate the pacing methods to make your speed faster. "Metaguiding" or the pacing methods have been developed by Evelyn Wood herself. She saw how our eyes follow the movement of the hands so she developed speed reading techniques based on this.
  • 11. The following are the pacing methods: 1. Sweep method. This is an easy method where you cup your fingers and move your hand as if in a sweeping motion across 3 or more words at a time. You can move your hand faster to increase your reading speed but make sure before you increase your speed, you can already comprehend what you have read. 2. Hop Method. This method is similar to the sweep method but this time instead of moving your hand in a sweeping or dragging motion, make it bounce or hop from one set of words to another. 3. Zigzag Method. This is an advanced pacing method which can be incorporated with the advanced chunking method. The finger and hand position is the same with the sweeping method but the movement is in a zigzag or diagonal line. The main point, like in chunking, is to capture just one set of words in a line then move on to the next set on the next sentence or line. This is advisable to use on material which you have some familiarity already for easy comprehension. 4. Card Method. This method works the same way as the sweeping method but with the use of a card or a piece of paper to cover the set of words which you have read already. This helps eliminate regression or rereading.
  • 12. Scanning For Better Comprehension In all the methods of speed reading, comprehension is not taken for granted. It should be retained or better yet, improved as the pace in reading increases. One of the oldest methods in speed reading for better comprehension is scanning1 . It is the ability to read keywords within the text which will give you an insight or overview of the whole meaning or message of the material. This method can be done with the pacing methods too. The goal of scanning is to get the main idea in the text and other vital information just by giving it a quick look. The habit of reading everything should be inhibited in scanning and looking out for keywords is the primary objective. The keywords are the following: The keywords are the following: 1. Trigger Words. The trigger words are the titles, subtitles, headings, subheadings and table of contents. Other trigger words are the underlined, italicized and bold words. These are the words which give additional insight on the message of the article or book. 2. Names & Numbers. Look for names and numbers in the text. Names and numbers often cite facts. When you find these words in a text read the details on the sentence mentioning these. Give more focus on these sentences than the others.
  • 13. 3. Key Sentences. The first and last sentences in a paragraph are the key sentences. The first sentence is a key sentence because this is the part where the author often provides the whole ides he wants to explain in the paragraph. The last sentence on the other hand, is a key sentence too because this is often the gist of the message of the author within the whole paragraph. Now, practice scanning these keywords with the following exercises:  For Trigger Words: In your chosen material, read the title, subtitles, headings, subheadings, and table of contents if there's one. If it is a book, read the chapter titles and subtitles. Write down the trigger words as you see them on a piece of paper and formulate questions based on the trigger words. These questions should be what you expect the outcome of the topic of the material will be based on the trigger words. You should also be able to answer your questions based on the next trigger words you will be reading.  For Names & Numbers: Scan for names and numbers now on your material. When you chance upon a name or number, give focus on the sentence surrounding it and say it in your own words. Now watch out if the same information will show up on the text again.  For Key Sentences: On your material, practice reading all the first sentences first on each paragraph. Go back to the paragraphs to gauge your recall and understanding of its concept based on your understanding of the first sentences.
  • 14. Then move on to reading all the last sentences only and do the same to gauge your comprehension. If you wish to read both key sentences, you may do so and incorporate the zigzag pacing method in this instance. Practice each of the exercises separately for mastery. Don't rush into doing all of these exercises in just one practice session. Give yourself enough time to hone the skills of your eyes and mind in recognizing these keywords. SOURCES : 1. http://www.slideshare.net/leticiaeoimairena/skimming-scanning SQ3R Reading Method As what we have mentioned in the previous lesson, comprehension is given importance in all the methods for speed reading because the primary purpose of speed reading is to enable a learner to read fast but still understand what he is reading. The reading method known as SQ3R targets the same goal of speed reading so it has been incorporated as not just a reading method but a speed reading technique as well. SQ3R stands for SURVEY, QUESTION, READ, RECALL & REVIEW1 . It was developed by Francis Pleasant Robinson in 1946 for university students to serve as a method of study, for them to actively understand and expand the meaning of the text by themselves. It is also sometimes known as the PQRST method which means PREVIEW, QUESTION, READ, SELF-RECITATION & TEST. The second acronym sums up how the SQ3R method is done and below are the details2 on how to do this reading method:
  • 15. 1. SURVEY Surveying is simply scanning of the material. As what we have discussed with regards to scanning, it is looking out for keywords to get or understand the main point the material is conveying. The keywords you need to seek are titles, subtitles, headings, subheadings, the 1st and last sentences in the paragraphs, descriptions for pictures and references, and words in bold or italics. Don't read any long text at this time yet try to see if you can get an idea or two from just the keywords. 2. QUESTION Formulate a question for each chapter you read. If you are practicing with an article then formulate a question from the title and/or headings of the article. Think of what the chapter could be all about or a question which might be answered in the chapter based on its title. Apply this art of questioning in all the titles, subtitles or headings you read. 3. READ You will need much concentration on this step so ensure that you are in a place with no distractions. This is where active reading comes in but your goal is to find the answers to your questions only. You must skip lines and words which don't give you the answer.
  • 16. 4. RECALL In the previous step, you may write down the answers you find but write it in your own words so you can remember it better. After writing or after you have finished reading to find the answers to your questions, say your answers out loud now. You may look at the notes you've written in your own words before reciting your answers but don't look at it and just read it aloud. Your notes are meant to serve as your guides to remember the ideas in the article or book. 5. REVIEW This is the easiest and hardest step in this process. It's easy because what you need to do is to just recall what you can remember from the material. It's hard because you need to gauge how much you can remember from the questions you made up to the answers you found. If you cannot remember much from the material then you need to go back and practice the steps again. But don't fret if at first, you have a hard time remembering much of the ideas in what you have read. This method really needs time and practice just like all the methods in speed reading. But many, especially schools and colleges have found the SQ3R Method to be beneficial to the development of the memory of their students despite reading a lot. SOURCES : 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQ3R 2. http://gradschool.about.com/cs/reading/a/sq3r.htm
  • 17. Mind Mapping Method Mind mapping is a pretty simple technique which has been popularized by the British psychology author Tony Buzan1 . It is especially popular in the business sector for visual organization of plans and processes. But since it is very simple to create, it can be applied in different aspects of learning such as speed reading. Tony Buzan even promotes mind mapping as a necessary tool in speed reading. This is because retaining comprehension is needed in speed reading and mind mapping allows for recall and understanding through images which is faster and more accurate since the information is logged in a pattern and not just a word list. Many kinds of software and templates for mind mapping have been created but using the old pen and paper will suffice just as well. It consists of the main ideas and the supporting ideas. A mind map can also be in a radial or graphical form and may be as simple as lines and shapes or a little complex with colors, labels and symbols. But the main point of creating and using mind maps for speed reading is to enable the mind to understand and remember the key concepts in the reading material. Here is a simple way to incorporate mind mapping in your speed reading in order to retain or make your comprehension better: 1. Scan your material it may be the whole article if it's just one article or just a section or chapter if it is a book. 2. Determine the main idea or message of the material from the words you were able to scan. 3. On the middle of your paper, write down in your own words, the main idea you have determined. Enclose the word or words in a circle, square or rectangle or any other shape you prefer.
  • 18. The point is for you to associate the shape to the idea you have written down so you can easily remember it. But keep your words minimal, just enough for you to remember the concept. 4. Now, read the material again and you may use the pacing methods in this instance for faster reading. Look for concepts which are sub-ideas of the main idea or simply, the words or sentences which give a clear explanation of the main idea. Write down these words, phrases or sentences in your own words on your paper beside the main idea and enclose them too in shapes. Draw lines linking the shapes to one another. 5. If there are other details you read which deem relevant to the main idea or supporting the supporting ideas then write them down and link them too. When you have a mind map created for your material, you may review it and then without looking at it, recall the mind map and the concepts you have written down. You can gauge your comprehension of the material with how much you remember from the mind map. Remember that this method is flexible and it depends on your memory. You may add concepts or "words inside shapes" after speed reading a paragraph or even after reading the whole article. But just like the other methods and if you are a beginner, start slowly then build up your pace. SOURCES : 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Buzan Other Helpful Guides for Speed Reading To further equip you in your learning you may look into other resources which can contribute to your skills. Below is a compilation of sites and articles which can assist in your progress in speed reading.
  • 19. Some sites and articles directly tackle speed reading while others only pertain to reading methods but which can be beneficial in retaining or improving your comprehension level when speed reading: 1. U O learn.com This is a website providing downloadable practice exercises for speed reading and other personal development courses. Some tools are provided for free while some needs to be purchased. 2. Providence College Office of Academic Services: Reading Comprehension Tips and Speed Reading Strategies This is an article in the Providence College website which is intended as a study aid for its students to help them improve their reading comprehension. At the end of the article, links to other school sites are also provided. 3. Cuesta College Academic Support Guides Reading Comprehension This is a free eBook provided by the Cuesta College website for its students to develop their reading rates and comprehension levels along with tips and techniques for concentration and remembering.
  • 20. 4. The Literacy Web of the University of Connecticut: Reading Comprehension This is a page on the University of Connecticut website which provides links to comprehension improvement sites for grade school students up to college students. The comprehension development materials range from text instructions to comprehension practice materials. 5. Reading a-z Reading and Word-Attack Strategies Reading a-z is a reading resource center and this page on their site provides strategies for teachers on how to help their students understand any text they are reading. 6. The University of Melbourne Academic Skills Unit Reading Strategies This is a collection of strategies provided by the University of Melbourne to help their students develop their reading competencies and study skills. 7. Think Literacy Reading Strategies This is a free eBook provided by the Ministry of Education in Ontario in PDF format which covers common speed reading techniques such as previewing, SQ3R and visualization.
  • 21. 8. About. Com Graduate School Reading Tips and Strategies This is an article in About.Com Graduate School category which gives tips on how graduate students can improve their reading skills to surpass the challenges of graduate school. 9. Reading Programs: Program Locator This is a website which helps US Citizens to find a reading program within their vicinity. Programs can range from vocabulary training to study skills development and comprehension training. 10. Language and Learning Online Efficient Reading Strategies by Monash University This is an article provided by Monash University in Australia to serve as a quick reference for students in reading skills improvement. 11. UNSW The Learning Centre Effective Reading This is a student's resource in The University of New South Wales' website which provides reading techniques especially for taking notes and critical reading.
  • 22. Check out these sites to reinforce your speed reading skills and learn other methods for comprehension and memory skills improvement. Speed Reading on eBooks Speed reading is a kind of skill which needs practice in order to be learned and still needs constant practice to become an expert at it until it becomes like second nature to a person. Speed reading practice can be as long as two hours and as short as 15 minutes a day depending on how much time one is willing to invest in it but the point is to allot some time for practice. But nowadays, reading has seen a different trend and that is with the use of the internet and devices for reading. eBooks are very rampant and these kind of books can be read online, by downloading it on your PC or by installing it on a device. The most popular eBook reader now is the Kindle by Amazon. Other famous devices are BeBook Neo, Sony Reader Touch, Apple's iPad and Barnes and Noble Nook. Both fiction and non-fiction books can be read in these devices and they are very good options for those who travel or are always on the go but want to read on their way. So the question is, can speed reading still be applied when using these devices? The answer is definitely yes. Speed reading techniques can still be applied even when one uses reading devices such as the Kindle. These devices actually make speed reading more possible because of their navigation features. For example, the Kindle has buttons which are easy to control while the Apple's iPad and Sony Reader Touch have touch screens so moving from one sentence to another as well as from one page to another can be done by touching and swiping on the screen.
  • 23. But there are also disadvantages in using these reading devices but below are some tips you can do to adopt the speed reading techniques despite the disadvantages the reading devices may give in your speed reading: 1. If your device has a touch screen, you may still do the pacing methods but use a card or bookmark instead of your fingers and hands in applying the methods on the device. The pacing methods would be more convenient to do on the Kindle because it's not a touch screen. 2. You may still apply the scanning method and other methods which need skimming at first by placing your hand to the control button or other navigation control on the screen which will turn the page. This way you can control the pace of the flip of the page easily. Also make sure that you view the article or page on a full screen so it'd still be the same view as if you were reading it on paper. 3. For chunking of words, using your fingers to jump from word group to word group can be done on the Kindle while the other reading devices may require an application for reading sets of words. For example, the iPad needs the QuickReader Lite so the device can display a set of words. The good thing is it can be set to your desired number of words to read and this can help in your practice of chunking.
  • 24. Again, practice is the main key to attain the skills and be better and better in speed reading. Whichever way you decide to train and practice yourself for speed reading, it will all lead to your personal improvement as long as hard work and dedication is invested along with it. Resources List • History of Speed Reading LINK : http://www.ehow.com/about_5339239_history-speed-reading.html This is an article in eHow under Family about the history and development of speed reading. • How to Identify the Three Factors for Determining your Reading Speed LINK : http://www.ehow.com/how_8075669_identify-factors-determining- reading-speed.html This eHow article provides detailed instructions on how to calculate for your reading speed on your own. • The History of Speed Reading LINK : http://thespeedreadingreview.com/speed-reading-history.php This article provides a brief history of speed reading and the impact of using machines for learning the skill.
  • 25. • Spreeder LINK : http://www.spreeder.com/ This is an online application to gauge your reading rate. • How to Exercise Your Eyes LINK : http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Eyes This is a wikiHow article providing simple eye exercises to minimize eye strain and promote relaxation. • Skimming and Scanning LINK : http://www.slideshare.net/leticiaeoimairena/skimming-scanning This is a shared page from the Reading and Study Skills Lab manual of the Anne Arundel Community College. • SQ3R LINK : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQ3R This is a Wikipedia page about the SQ3R Reading Method with a brief explanation of its steps.
  • 26. • Reading Strategies: SQ3R Method LINK : http://gradschool.about.com/cs/reading/a/sq3r.htm This article from About.com provides detailed instructions in doing the SQ3R Reading Technique. • Tony Buzan LINK : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Buzan This is the Wikipedia page providing a short biography of Anthony Peter Buzan, a psychology author who popularized Mind Mapping.