Enhancing eLearning with Text-to-Speech Technology
Education has transformed in the last decade, with more learning going digital and online. eLearning, also known as online learning, is now a go-to for schools, businesses, and course creators, making education more accessible, engaging, and fun. However, the search for better ways to make learning more interesting is still ongoing and one technology that is helping change this is text-to-speech (TTS).
What is Text-to-Speech (TTS)?
TTS technology converts written text into spoken words. In eLearning, this can take the form of voiceovers for course materials, audiobooks, or language learning tools. But TTS isn't just about converting text; it's about enhancing the overall learning experience.
Why is TTS Useful in eLearning?
TTS helps make learning more immersive, dynamic, and accessible for all types of learners. It also improves accessibility for students with learning disabilities, visual impairments, or reading difficulties.
In this blog post, we’ll explore three ways TTS technology can significantly enhance eLearning.
1. Making Learning More Engaging
One of the biggest challenges in eLearning is keeping students focused. Pages of static, text-heavy content and endless page-scrolling can quickly lead to disengagement. This is where TTS comes in.
By turning text into speech, TTS technology creates an active listening experience instead of passive reading. Learners can listen to course materials, making it easier to absorb and retain information. Whether it’s a complex scientific explanation or a historical narrative, TTS makes learning more lively and interactive.
2. Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity
Education should be accessible to everyone, and TTS is a powerful tool for making that happen. For students with visual impairments, dyslexia, or learning disabilities, traditional text-based content can be a barrier. TTS removes this obstacle by providing spoken versions of the text, allowing students to listen to content instead of reading it.
Additionally, TTS offers a personalized learning experience by letting learners choose voices that resonate with them. Companies like CereProc make this possible, offering a wide range of voices in 20+ languages and various accents, further enhancing accessibility and engagement for diverse learners.
3. Supporting Different Learning Styles
It’s important to point out that not all students learn the same way. Some are visual learners, others are auditory or kinesthetic learners. TTS caters to auditory learners by providing the option to listen to content rather than read it.
This flexibility allows educators to personalize the learning experience. Auditory learners can benefit from voiceovers, while visual learners can stick with reading. This dual approach ensures that students learn in the way that best suits them, which enhances comprehension and retention.
Case Study: Aschehoug
A great example of how TTS is transforming e-learning is Aschehoug, one of Norway’s oldest publishers. They partnered with CereProc to integrate our Norwegian voices into their web-based learning platform, allowing users to listen to articles and course materials. This feature has been particularly valuable for learners with reading challenges or those experiencing “reading fatigue”.
By leveraging CereProc’s CereWave AI and CereCloud SaaS technology, Aschehoug now offers fast, seamless access to spoken versions of their content, enhancing the learning experience and accessibility for all of their users.
Read more about this case here.
Conclusion
Text-to-speech technology is undeniably revolutionizing eLearning by making it more engaging, accessible, and inclusive. Converting text into natural-sounding speech not only helps learners absorb information more easily but also keeps them engaged and supports a wide range of learning styles and needs.
Interested in learning more?
Contact us at sales@cereproc.com to explore how TTS can enhance your classroom, e-learning platform, or training environment!