Improving Success with Read&Write Gold

Student success and universal design for learning are intrinsically linked. We at the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teachng (CELT) are committed to improving the universal design (and accessibility) of our classes and learning spaces, and committed to working with units on campus to make this possible. The University has purchased a campus-wide license for Read&Write Gold, which will greatly assist all of our students in their studies, as well as increase the accessibility of our courses here at UK.

Read&Write Gold is a discrete, customizable toolbar that integrates reading, writing, studying, and research support tools with common applications to ensure students build confidence and independence, reach their potential, and succeed in their academic pursuits. Its features include a phonetic spell checker, picture dictionary, talking calculator, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, translator, screen shot reader, fact finder, vocabulary list builder, as well as scanning, concept mapping, word prediction, screen masking, PDF aloud, word banks, voice notation, and highlighting.

Read&Write Gold:

• improves reading comprehension
• facilitates research, writing, studying, and test taking
• provides increased access to previously inaccessible content
• increases student motivation
• helps students successfully transition to and graduate from college
• can be a life-long tool for continued use in the workplace

Read&Write Gold is a universally designed tool that can help to increase the success of all students and thus retention, a major concern on campuses today that has been widely adopted by colleges and universities across the country, including several of UK's benchmark institutions.

Include a paragraph about Read&Write Gold in your syllabus.

If you have any questions, please contact Deb Castiglione in CELT.

Want to know more:

• View tool examples
• Read&Write Software Free for All UK Students, Faculty and Staff (UKNOW)
• Designing for Universal Success (CELT Blog)
• The Read&Write Family of Literacy Software
• Read&Write for Education
• Read&Write for Google Chrome
• TextHelp and Higher Education
• Read&Write Gold Training (sign in with your Google account)
• See also the tool Video Tours 
  • Macintosh - under the Help tab
  • Windows - under the Read&Write Gold icon dropdown menu

Cover Image: Moyan Brenn, "Study." CC-BY 2.0.