Humans have been reading for thousands of years, but the concept of speed reading is relatively new. The idea of reading quickly and efficiently first emerged in the 1950s and has since become a ubiquitous practice around the world. This article explores the brief history of speed reading, its impact on the education system and how it has evolved through time.
The Beginning: Evelyn Wood
In the early 1950s, Evelyn Wood, a teacher in Utah, noticed that some of her students were struggling to keep up with the pace of reading assignments. She began to experiment with different teaching methods that would help her students read faster while still retaining the information. She developed a system of physical movements such as using their finger to guide their eyes quickly from left to right that made reading a more efficient and manageable task for her students.
This system was soon noticed by others and became popularized in Utah and neighboring states. Ms. Wood's speed reading method became her trademark and she graduated hundreds of accomplished speed readers. Her approach even caught the attention of notable personalities such as John F. Kennedy, who was known for his impressive reading speed. Kennedy took lessons with Wood and later credited her with helping him read faster and more efficiently.
The Spread of Speed Reading
Due to the success of Wood’s teachings, speed reading slowly gained footing in schools and was soon applied to different fields. The methods used by Wood caught the attention of psychologists and scientists who saw this as an opportunity to explore the limits of human perception. This eventually led to the founding of different schools and organizations that aimed to teach speed reading as a viable means of improving reading comprehension.
The most noticeable of these organizations was the aptly named American Speed Reading Corporation, which was established in 1959 in Chicago. The organization not only offered speed reading classes but also sold speed reading courses in correspondence format. Other schools followed suit, offering speed reading courses as part of their curriculums.
The Impact of Speed Reading on Education
The 1960s saw a great surge in the interest of speed reading, as it became more established and accepted as a practice. It was also during this time that speed reading became standardized, with various schools offering their own techniques and methods to speed reading. The practice was introduced not only to secondary schools, but also to universities and even among professionals.
One of the most significant adopters of speed reading was the United States military. The military began developing programs that would allow their soldiers to read quickly and effectively in a short amount of time, allowing them to process large amounts of information efficiently. With the introduction of speed reading courses, the military experienced a significant improvement in their soldiers’ reading ability and comprehension.
Speed reading also impacted the world of academia, particularly with the introduction of complex texts and academic journals. Students studying Law, Biology or Medicine, for instance, were expected to read and assimilate material quickly and this required careful attention to the details of reading. This resulted in the development of different reading techniques and exercises aimed at improving comprehension and the ability to read faster.
The Emergence of Technology
As the 20th century progressed, the world became more reliant on technology, and so did speed reading. As computers and the internet became more ubiquitous, so did digital reading.
Tools and software were developed allowing users to access information quickly and to break down longer texts into smaller, more manageable parts. These tools were designed to be user-friendly, making it possible to read and comprehend more efficiently.
However, while technology has helped to popularize speed reading, it has also come under scrutiny due to accessibility issues. It has been argued that not everyone has access to digital tools or computers, thus creating a digital divide.
The Future of Speed Reading
Today, speed reading remains a favorite topic among educators and those looking to improve their reading skills. Although it has received criticism from those who suggest that speed reading may hinder comprehension and enjoyment of texts, speed reading has become a popular practice around the world, with countless books, courses and software programs available.
In recent years, other reading techniques similar to speed reading have emerged, including skimming, scanning and deeper reading. These methods aim to improve the reading process, promoting the development of critical thinking and analytical skills. Studies suggest that these practices not only improve reading speed but also help readers gain more substantial knowledge and increase their ability to remember and recall information.
Conclusion
In the early days, speed reading was considered a revolutionary and somewhat contentious concept. Today, it has become an established practice that is taught in schools, universities and by various online platforms. Speed reading has also opened up doors for developing similar practices that focus on rigorous analytical and contextual reading.
The concept of speed reading may have its detractors and supporters, but there is no denying that it has had a lasting impact on the way people read and process information. It has enabled readers to manage reading assignments more efficiently and made it possible to tackle diverse reading material easily. While speed reading did not emerge as a saving grace for poorly performing readers, it has had a positive impact on those who have embraced it, allowing them to grow in their abilities and to tackle novel learning opportunities that may have otherwise been out of their reach.