The average human reads around 200-240 words per minute. In today’s investigation we’ll find out what speed reading really is, and some of the suggested techniques for improving this statistic.
What is speed reading?
Speed reading is the skill of being able to take in information quickly. As a developer, this ability is pertinent when trying to research information about the problem you are having. There are lots of myths surrounding the idea of fast paced reading, such as “you won’t remember what you’ve read” or “it ruins the experience of reading” which are all of course completely false. According to Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience, humans generally only remember 10% of what they read in the first place, and taking it slower won’t necessarily increase assimilation. In contrast, speed reading techniques can even increase the amount of useful information you retain.
How does it work?
Speed reading comes in many forms. Skimming and scanning are two common techniques taught during our education years, but our speed can be improved in more ways, even just by moving the text further away. ‘Improve your speed reading skills’ by Phil Chambers mentions eight improvements in particular that can be utilised, memorable through the wonderfully adequate acronym ‘GO FASTER’.
G – Guide your eyes
O – Only go forwards
F – Fixate for shorter periods
A – Attitude – positive and alert
S – Stay on the page
T – Take in meaningful chunks
E – Expand your field of vision
R – Relativistic reading
A lot of this skill relies on you trusting your brain. If you read over something you didn’t quite understand, it is important not to go back. Phil Chambers reasons that the upcoming context of the book will quite likely fill you in on the sections you didn’t understand before, and if all else fails these sections can be revisited once you reach the end of the page. It can be difficult at first not to reread the sentence you feel you didn’t quite get, but this in particular can be overcome by using a guide to follow the words. Not only is this technique useful for speed readers, but also has benefits for dyslexic readers.
How can I do it?
Like any ability, it of course takes time (practice makes perfect!). In Phil Chamber’s book, they suggest you keep a log of the speed and comprehension over each chapter. My speed graph looks a little like this:
With an average comprehension around 60%. As you can see, my speed did improve (granted my reading speed was already relatively fast) but with more practice and time, even greater progress can be made. I recommend the aforementioned book for getting started with speed reading, as it is not only helpful, but also interesting!
Some of the other big takeaways I’d like to share are the importance of motivation and eye-care. Taking a short break every 15-20 minutes to rest your eyes is important to continue properly intaking the information you are reading. Motivating yourself to read is another key to good comprehension. Giving yourself a small reward after some reading can be a good way to increase your concentration, and future desire for page turning.
Conclusion
Speed reading might take a while to master, but I feel it has been extremely useful for me since I started learning it and I believe it will continue to be. Hopefully you have been able to take away some of the suggestions mentioned and will be able to apply them to your own experience. Happy reading!
