An innovative device using text-to-speech technology is supporting students with reading challenges, helping learners overcome literacy barriers and boosting their self-confidence.
It’s estimated that one in five students struggle with reading, facing challenges that can lead to reduced confidence, academic frustration, and potential long-term educational and emotional setbacks.
Scanning Pens offers an innovative solution that transforms learning experiences for students experiencing reading difficulties.
“Reading challenges encompass a wide range of conditions, including dyslexia, autism, ADHD, and issues with working memory, as well as students learning English as a second language,” explains Mr David Campbell from Scanning Pens.
“It puts a tremendous strain on schools, teachers and teacher aids when you’ve got students who are struggling with reading.”
The company’s flagship product, the C-Pen, is a handheld text-to-speech device designed to provide immediate reading support. Used in thousands of primary and secondary schools and other educational institutions across Australia, it scans words or sentences and reads them aloud.
“If a student is working their way through a text and gets to a word or sentence which is hugely problematic, that’s when the pen comes into its own,” Mr Campbell notes.
What sets the C-Pen apart is its sophisticated technology and user-friendly design. The device offers multiple ways to support learners, including three listening options: earphones for discrete classroom use, a built-in speaker, or an external speaker for group settings.
“Some students with reading issues avoid reading because they’re not good at it,” Mr Campbell explains. “This leads to falling behind in class and creates additional problems.”
The pen’s features go far beyond simple text-to-speech functionality. Users can customise settings including reading speed, accent, and even hand orientation, depending on whether the user is left or right-handed. It includes multiple dictionaries – from the Oxford Primary Dictionary for younger students to more comprehensive versions for advanced learners.
“If students find dictionary definitions too simplistic, they can change settings to access more detailed explanations,” Mr Campbell says.
Critically, the device has received widespread educational endorsement. It has been approved by every state exam board in Australia and was named Australia’s Best Assistive Technology Product of the Year. Schools can access a free trial program, allowing educators to experience the technology’s potential firsthand.
The impact extends beyond individual student support.
“The pen reduces reading stress and reading anxiety, making a huge difference to students,” Mr Campbell says. “It also takes a significant load off teachers and teacher aides who are helping students with reading challenges.”
With literacy concerns increasingly prominent in educational discussions, the C-Pen represents a targeted technological intervention. Recent educational reports highlight that approximately one-third of students struggle with insufficient literacy skills – a challenge the C-Pen directly addresses.
The device offers additional innovative features, including a practice module where problematic words are automatically saved for further study. For multilingual support, newer models like the Lingo can translate scanned text into over 40 languages.
An exam-specific version of the pen has also been developed, approved for use in state examinations on a case-by-case basis. This ensures students with reading difficulties can demonstrate their true academic potential without technological barriers.
Schools interested in exploring this technology can request a free trial through the Scanning Pens website. The company provides not just the device, but comprehensive training videos and ongoing support to ensure effective implementation.
“Once schools have the pens in their hands, they can see the difference,” Mr Campbell says. “What starts as a trial often becomes a significant investment in supporting student learning.”
For educators committed to inclusive learning environments, Scanning Pens offers more than a technological solution – it provides a pathway to increased student confidence, reduced learning stress, and enhanced educational opportunities.
Scanning Pens demonstrates how targeted assistive technology can transform educational experiences, giving every student the opportunity to unlock their full learning potential.
To order a free trial, visit www.scanningpens.com.au.
Visit Scanning Pens at EDUtech stand #425
