The post Discover the Power of Google Chrome Reading Mode appeared first on Shake Up Learning.
Discover how Google Chrome Reading Mode can revolutionize your digital reading experience in the latest blog post by Katie Moran, an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher and Google for Education Certified Trainer.
Learn how this simple, customizable tool enhances readability and comprehension by allowing users to adjust font type, size, spacing, and background colors, making digital articles more accessible and personalized.
Katie is presenting this tip and MANY more during our FREE Summer Learning Series! Don’t miss out!
Discover the Power of Google Chrome Reading Mode
Guest post by Katie Moran
Perfect for educators and students, Reading Mode is a key resource within the Google Workspace for Education, designed to empower users by removing distractions like ads and media, and facilitating a more focused reading environment.
Here’s what you need to know about Google’s hidden reading tool, and how it will empower students and increase their self-determination.
*Related: The Google Chrome Side Panel Search
The Power of Personalized Reading
The thing I love the most about technology is its ability to adapt to exactly what I want or need.
For example, let’s consider cell phones, computers, and digital tablets. Each of us set up our devices and apps a bit differently – to fit our own style! And, I’m guessing here, but these personalized choices are not solely based on fun designs and pretty layouts. They also include font, size, and spacing choices to help us read the screens.
In a world that is transitioning to more digital reading materials than traditional paper sources, let’s consider this personalization protocol as we look to support our students reading digital materials. When it comes to prioritizing the readability of a website, we want to make it even easier for readers to decipher, process, and make meaning of what they read.
Now, what if I told you that there’s a free, easy-to-use, hidden tool in Google Chrome’s browser that can instantly improve the ease and flow of student reading and comprehension?
Improve Readability with Google Chrome’s Reading Mode
In 2023, Google updated its Chrome browser to include a new feature called Reading mode. Although quietly launched, this might be one of the most powerful (and empowering!) resources available to our students within Google Workspace for Education.
Reading Mode allows users to redesign web-based articles within a customizable side panel, making it easier to read a digital article for a wide range of reading styles. When Reading Mode is turned on for a particular website, readers can:
Remove distracting menus, ads, and media
Customize the font type (dyslexic-friendly fonts available)
Change the font size and spacing
Adapt the background and font colors
When readers customize their fonts, text size and spacing, background, and font colors, they create an optimized reading environment for decoding and comprehension.
3 Simple Steps to Easier Readability
Turning on Reading Mode in a Chrome Browser is as easy as 1-2-3. Use these steps to find the Reading Mode tool.
Within a Chrome browser, click More
Click More Tools > Reading Mode .
Click the Reading mode icon on the Chrome browser, and select Pin for future, quick reference.
A side panel will appear on the right side of your browser window. You can adjust the panel size by dragging the panel’s left edge. Use the Reading Mode tools within the panel to maximize its potential.
Adjust the font and font size
Change links from active to inactive
Change the Reading mode background color
Change the spacing between lines and between letters.
*Related: Chrome Action Chips to Save You Time!
Empower Students to Find Their Own Success
When teachers show students how to access Reading Mode independently, they empower students to use this resource anytime, anywhere. The goal is to teach students how to recognize their own needs for success, and then enable them to access these tools whenever they want them.
Here are some of the ways teachers can demonstrate the benefits of Reading Mode to their students.
“Try using a darker background color and light-colored font if you plan to read for a long time.”
“If the font is difficult to read, explore the other font choices to see if another is easier to read.”
“If the sentences are difficult to follow/track, try adding more space between the lines, or even between the letters.”
“There seems to be a lot of ads and extra links on this website. Try using the Reading Mode to remove those distractions.”
There are lots of digital tools out there to help teachers and students with readability and to remove website distractions. However, in my opinion, what makes Reading Mode different than these other tools is its availability to every student. This tool is built into the Google Chrome browser, which means you don’t need to pay extra money or download extensions to access the benefits. And to me, that’s the point! It removes any barriers that might prevent students from using a tool that makes them successful.
Learn More About Reading Mode
If you are looking for more ways to use Reading Mode in the classroom or simply want more information on how to use the tool, then be sure to check out my Summer Learning Series session titled “Google’s Classroom Toolkit.” Not only do I showcase Reading Mode, but I also share a dozen more tricks and tips tucked inside Google Workspace for Education with equal potential to improve your own teaching workflow and support student learning.
FREE Summer Learning Series
Join us at Shake Up Learning for an unprecedented online professional development event this summer. Our Summer Learning Series is a unique, free online learning experience designed specifically for K-12 teachers, coaches, and leaders.
About Katie Moran
Katie Moran is an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher who previously taught high school history. She supports classroom teachers in developing their educational technology skills and enhancing best practices in their instruction. Katie is a Google for Education Certified Trainer and enjoys creating professional development opportunities for other educators.
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The post Discover the Power of Google Chrome Reading Mode appeared first on Shake Up Learning.
The post Discover the Power of Google Chrome Reading Mode appeared first on Shake Up Learning.
Discover how Google Chrome Reading Mode can revolutionize your digital reading experience in the latest blog post by Katie Moran, an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher and Google for Education Certified Trainer. Learn how this simple, customizable tool enhances readability and comprehension by allowing users to adjust font type, size, spacing, and background colors, making digitalContinue Reading
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