"The Learning Vortex"

Now let’s look at a simple overview of one way ReadOn can be used to develop reading and writing skills.

Click here to download a print friendly version of the learning vortex.

This diagram depicts a simple iterative process which we have called the ‘learning vortex’. It shows a cyclical continuum in which student learning strategies are developed and literacy skills are refined over time.

• The first step of the process involves sourcing appropriate reading material and entering this text into ReadOn. Texts can be typed directly into ReadOn, or copied from other files or the internet. If the material is in hardcopy form like a book or magazine, then ReadOn’s Optical Character Recognition function can be used.  
   
• Once the text has been entered, the student can use ReadOn’s visual tracking options to read the text. Text can be highlighted paragraph, phrase, word or letter at a time, depending on the purpose for reading.  
   
• Students can then use ReadOn to read texts independently from parents, teachers or tutors. Instead of asking a third party for assistance on tricky words, ReadOn’s auditory word assistance can be utilized. When comprehension is lost, ReadOn can also read words, phrases and whole paragraphs back to the student.  
   
• The words for which the student has sought word assistance, are automatically recorded in an individual word bank. The contents of the word bank can be printed or extracted and used as a basis for further work which might include multi-sensory activities , visual imagery, clay models or word lists.  
   
• Words appearing frequently in the word bank may indicate that the student is triggering on those words, and would benefit from the symbol mastery procedure. The visual image or clay model can then be recorded to aid in decoding in the future.  
   

As the student continues to work through this cycle, self confidence and reading ability should continue to improve. As time goes on, the student should require less and less external assistance.

ReadOn allows the student to learn at his or her own pace, and progress can be continually monitored with the support of the individual word bank.