Text to Speech Software for Education

Text to speech, or TTS for short, converts text into spoken voice output. Text-to-speech systems offer AI voices that “read” text to the user. When applied to an e-learning environment, TTS essentially adds an audio component to learning materials, reading aloud key points, or even entire sections of written text.

Text-to-speech engines can create downloadable MP3 files of spoken text content, or provide immediate playback through your application, browser, or learning management system (LMS). Some text-to-speech tools, like ReadSpeaker’s, have additional capabilities and can, for example, highlight on-screen each word as it is spoken or allow learners to resize text for easy viewing.

Text-to-speech tools enhance online learning environments and are the simplest and most cost-effective way to integrate audio into course offerings (versus the alternative, which is hiring a professional voice actor).

The “best” text-to-speech tool is the one that enhances your intended learning experience! However, free text-to-speech tools don’t always have the flexibility or robust features to support learning within and across platforms. Any TTS technology tool you’re considering should have the following to ensure it’s a worthwhile investment:

• Accurate pronunciation. Pronunciation quality is crucial in assistive technology tools that support struggling readers. ReadSpeaker’s TTS voices have been rated the most accurate on the market; we also offer customizable pronunciation dictionaries.
• Literacy support features. Some TTS tools are bare-bones while others offer read-along highlighting, resizing text, page masks, and more. ReadSpeaker bundles its TTS capabilities with a range of robust learning tools to help students personalize text consumption.
• Multilingual capability. Any TTS tool should be capable of speaking many different languages to support learners across the globe, if necessary. ReadSpeaker offers more than 110 true-to-life TTS voices in over 35 languages, from English and Spanish to Arabic, Mandarin, Danish, and more.
• High-quality voices. Poor voice quality leads to an unpleasant learning experience, which leads to less usage. ReadSpeaker’s proprietary machine-learning models allow us to create warm, lifelike synthetic voices that listeners prefer.

For learners who struggle with reading, TTS learning tools have been shown to improve reading comprehension, information retention, and decoding (the process of matching letter combinations to audible sounds). And among higher education students, it minimizes widespread reading and writing problems. These benefits build students’ confidence in their reading skills and create a more positive view of reading, setting the stage for a lifetime of learning. TTS also provides powerful educational assistance for students with vision impairments, dyslexia, and other disabilities, and helps second-language learners who are working to integrate written and spoken expressions in a new tongue.

But text-to-speech software isn’t just a powerful assistive technology for those in special education; it’s a comprehensive education technology, one that can benefit all learners. Audio support is increasingly being used by people who are studying a second language, consuming a large quantity of content, multitasking, or, as many online students are, simply looking for some relief from screen fatigue. TTS can address all of these use cases and more!

It’s surprisingly easy to implement and use text-to-speech tools. Implementations are often just plug-ins or lines of code that take a minimum of staff hours to implement and maintain. With building blocks and plug-ins, ReadSpeaker‘s own text-to-speech technology can be integrated directly into any learning management platform, including Canvas, Brightspace, Blackboard, Moodle, and more; most major LMS providers even offer specific integrations that simply have to be turned on. Online learners can then instantly listen to course content with just the click of a button.

ReadSpeaker can also be added to assessment platforms, allowing you to create accessible tests, quizzes, and assignments that meet accommodations requirements. Our text-to-speech plug-in can read aloud all types of assessments, even math and STEM assignments, leveling the playing field for all learners, including those with reading disabilities.

No matter how your content is presented online, web pages, LMS, e-books, or anywhere else, our text-to-speech voices are easy to integrate so your users can listen to them on any device.

This depends on the TTS tool you choose. With ReadSpeaker, your learners can access natural-sounding TTS voices wherever you provide learning material online, including:

• LMSs, digital learning platforms, and assessment platforms. We integrate with most major providers to make the process easy for you.
• Online documents. Our cloud-based tool, docReader, displays and reads aloud online documents in a variety of formats, including PDF files and Microsoft Word docs. It works with all iOS devices and newer Android devices.
• Web pages. We offer a Chrome extension and a Microsoft Edge add-on for ReadSpeaker TextAid, which gives learners the ability to listen to web pages and follow along with highlighted text.

Yes! ReadSpeaker offers an offline TTS solution called SpeakUp for learners with digital equity issues, no Internet, or in a rural setting. It also works well for reading complex assessments in a lockdown browser on Windows devices.