ReadSpeaker text to speech is integrated into D2L, supporting UDL concepts, improving accessibility, learning outcomes and motivation.

1. How to successfully offer
and deploy a UDL in D2L w/
ReadSpeaker &
Text to Speech
Joop Heijenrath
ReadSpeaker Co-Founder
Paul Stisser
Readspeaker, Bus Dev

2. DID YOU KNOW that one out of two
students fail, drop out or don’t
complete on-line courses?*
*AspireEDU (source 2015)

3. So HOW can we
help these
struggling
eLearners?

4. By making content more:
Accessible ConvenientEngaging

5.
HOW CAN YOU leverage this
technology easily and affordably…?
+1

6. TEXT TO SPEECH leverages audio
technology to ENHANCE your courses…

7. No two students learn in the same way

8. ACCESSIBILITY
20% of the population with:
★ Limited literacy skills
★ Visual impairments
★ Learning disabilities
★ Dyslexia
★ Foreign-born
CONVENIENCE
★ Mobile
★ Usability
★ Learning on-the-go
★ Personal preference
★ Busy adult and part-time learners
who need to multitask
★ mLearners
ENGAGEMENT
★ Comprehension
★ Foreign languages
★ Online learners
★ Universal Design for Learning
★ Vocal assistance for forms
★ Teaching and learning differently
★ Bi-modal presentation
★ PTSD
…providing
UNIVERSAL
REACH and
excellent
STUDENT
EXPERIENCE

9. Audio tools perfectly fit
Universal Design for Learning

10.
Text to Speech is proven to increase
comprehension and depth of learning,
boost motivation and self-esteem, reduce
fatigue and improve learning results.

11. “When I read aloud, two senses
catch the idea: first, I see what I read; second, I
hear it, and therefore I can remember it better.”
-Abraham Lincoln

12.
ReadSpeaker offers two solutions
within D2L’s Learning Environment that
are part of the Core Solution. You only
need to activate with a ReadSpeaker
Customer ID and URL!

13. But ReadSpeaker TEXT TO SPEECH is
more than just checking the accessibility
box…

14.
…we provide implementation,
deployment and statistics....to support
students, faculty and instructional
designers with superior on-line UDL.

15. Enterprise Highlighting

16. docReader

17. Course Packets
Faculty TrainersStudents
Created by Dr. Sheri Hutchinson
A member of MnSCU faculty and ReadSpeaker’s
Implementation and Adoption Manager

18.
And ReadSpeaker goes that….
+1

19. ReadSpeaker TextAid

20. Ubiquitous TTS services for every need.

21. STRATEGY
ANY Where ANY Time ANY Conte
★ Compatible with all
browsers and devices
★ Device independent
★ 45 plug-ins for CMS/LMS
★ Expert development
team in the tech hub of
Uppsala SW
★ Any Device
★ 99.92+% uptime
★ Over 150 servers (US &
Europe)
★ Scalable for 10,000+
customers
★ Customers can have
millions of listens per
day
★ Online & offline
★ Web pages, online
documents and forms,
apps, digital books,
eLearning materials,
devices, and more

22. STRATEGY
Secure Service Support
★ Dedicated hosting,
maintenance, servers and
team
★ Step-by step
implementation
instructions, best
practices, statistics and
reports
★ System is secure,
redundant and scalable
★ Customers include banks,
government agencies,
educational institutions
who don’t compromise
on security or
availability
★ Expert in-house support
team with extensive TTS
and web development
knowledge
★ Most support tickets
answered in less than 1
hour

23. 9
WE ALSO
BUILD OUR
OWN VOICES
ReadSpeaker is a global TTS platform
that builds its own high quality voices.

24. We control
THE TOTAL
DELIVERY
CHAIN.
TTS ENGINE
CUSTOMER &
END-USER
Using feedback to structurally
improve the voice quality at all
levels.

25. STRATEGY
Powerful TTS The Best Voices Linguists
★ More than 40 languages
and 150 of the best
voices on the market
★ We build our own voices
★ Pronunciation corrections
based on feedback
(names, special words…)
★ Relationships with major
TTS providers
★ Multi-layer pronunciation
correction per language,
voice, client
★ Customizable dictionaries
★ Web-based services have
no capacity limit
compromises
★ Our linguists are
experienced scientists
with global experience
★ Improvements at various
levels from engine to
dictionaries and library
★ 25% of the team’s time is
spend on R&D

26. “Show Me your Friends and I’ll Show You Your Future.”

27. USE THE
POWER OF SPEECH
TO TAKE YOU INTO
THE FUTURE
CONTACT US to learn more:
www.readspeaker.com | paul.stisser@readspeaker.com| (585) 330-0922

28. SaaS IS OUR DNA.
We invented the space for
Speech as Service in 1999.

29.
Missouri Assistive Technology Study on TTS
★ 95% graduated on time (one completed a trade program)
★ 85% improved academic achievement (improved grades)
★ 55% increased time in regular education and decreased time in special
education
★ 95% decreased reliance on human assistance
★ 55% increased parent satisfaction (unsolicited positive parental contact)
Performance measures of the IDEA State Performance Plan
(SPP)http://www.at.mo.gov/documents/tts-summary-june08.doc