New Fonts for Improved Reading Speed in Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets

Google has developed a new series of fonts explicitly designed to enhance reading speed and fluency for Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets.

Google teamed with Education Therapist Dr. Bonnie Shaver-Troup and typographer Thomas Jockin. Dr. Shaver-Troup found that perception-based solutions were more effective in improving reading performance and cognition than cognitive-based ones. Together with Thomas Jockin, they developed the Lexend font series.

What benefits do the Lexend font series provide to readers?

Bonnie Shaver-Troup theorized that reading issues may be a result of student's sensitivity to typographical factors like size and spacing. The Lexend font series provide a clean Sans Serif font base with spacing options helping the reader improve both reading speed and cognition. (Sans Serif fonts assist students with Dyslexia and other learning issues.) Lexend is especially suitable for readers who are bothered by visual crowding.

How do I get the Lexend font? How do my students?

While in a Google Doc, Slide, or Sheet, click the inverted triangle next to the style of Font.

Click More fonts located near the top. A window reveals your font menu. Search for Lexend, and the font series appears. Letter spacing is the crucial difference between the Lexend fonts. Add the Lexend fonts to your Fonts list and click OK.

These fonts are now available for use in any Google Doc, Slide, or Sheet where you have edit privileges.

Make Lexend your default font.

If you wish to make Lexend your default font:

Type a few words using the Lexend font in a Google Doc.
Highlight the text.
In the box located to the left of your font choice, click the inverted triangle.
Highlight Normal text (your default) and click Update 'normal text' to match.

You have now set your default font to Lexend.

Interested in more in-depth information and research?

Click here for a more detailed explanation of the Lexend fonts and view their tool to discover the best Lexend font size for a specific student.

Comments

Draftback Replays a Google Document's Changes in Video Format!

Student plagiarism can be a problem. The world we live in makes it easy for students to copy/paste, using works not their own. Identifying plagiarism and addressing it is a big part of students learning to be good digital citizens. My last post outlined the new Originality Reports in Google Classroom, which check student submissions for plagiarism and incorrect or missing citations. Occasionally, you will have a situation that needs a thorough investigation. The Google Chrome extension Draftback is your superhero in this situation! (Shout out to the Science Department, who discovered this gem!) Can't I see a document's version history? You may be aware that you can look at the revision history for any Google Doc or Slide. Click File>Version History>See version history. You are provided a right sidebar. You can click on any revision to review the document at that time. Changes from the pr...

Google Classroom: Why Are Students Seeing Graded Returned Work as Assigned or Late?

Are students giving you feedback that work you returned to them after grading is now showing as 'late' or 'assigned'? The addition of the Grading module to Google Classroom has impacted this process. Read on to understand what is happening and how to fix it! What is happening? Let's follow through the typical workflow in Google Classroom where students are submitting work to you. You create an assignment in Google Classroom and assign the appropriate points to the assignment . You assign the work to students, which puts the work in status ' Assigned ' in the student view. After updating the assignment, students turn in or submit work back to you by clicking the Turn In button. The work status changes to ' Turned in.' After grading, you return work to students. This is a necessary step to ensure the student owns the document. The status now changes to ' Returned ' if you...

Zipgrade - Leverage your phone camera for grading!

If you have used a scantron to grade exams in the past, you may have been frustrated with the Scantron availability, speed, accuracy, and data. Consider using Zipgrade , a free app that leverages the camera in your cell phone! Why Should I use Zipgrade? Quick - grade your exams as fast as your phone camera scans! Easy to use! Accurate! Cost effective - 100 scans per month free! Convenient - grade tests when you want, not when the machine is available! If you change the answer key, Zipgrade re-grade s all exams automatically! Easy to analyze data by student and question! How do I use Zipgrade? Create Account & Download App Navigate to https://www.zipgrade.com/login/ and create an account. Download the Zipgrade app from the appropriate app store for your phone: App Store Google Play Create a Class While logged into Zipgrade's web application, under the Class heading, select Add New Class ...

Terry's Tech Tips

Search This Blog