How to apply speed reading to virtual study?

Virtual study has become an increasingly popular option among students. Whether for comfort, flexibility or any other reason.

However, with the increase in work and academic load online, sometimes you might feel that there isn’t enough time. Neither to complete tasks, nor to read the necessary material.

This is where speed reading can work as a valuable technique.

And it is that it not only helps to read faster, it also allows you to better understand the information and retain it for longer. Therefore, as a student, you must know how to apply it to the virtual study. And here we bring you some tips that will help you do it.

1. Know your goal

Before you start reading, make sure you are clear about what you are looking for.

Do you want specific information for a task or project? Are you reading for a discussion? Do you want to understand a particular theory or concept?

Having your objective defined will help you focus your reading and, in turn, avoid wasting time on irrelevant information.

2. focus on understanding

It’s not just about reading fast, it’s also about understanding what you’re reading. So make sure you understand the material as you read it. Otherwise, you’ll have to go back and do it again, which will decrease the effectiveness of speed reading.

3. Avoid sub vocalization

We are talking about the habit of mentally pronouncing words when reading, which slows down reading. To prevent this from happening, focus on visualizing words in your mind instead of “hearing” the pronunciation in your head.

4. Use speed reading tools

There are online tools that can help you improve comprehension and reading speed. Which handle the technique of “words per minute” (PPM).

In this way, information retention is optimized and reading speed is gradually increased.

5. Try not to be distracted

When reading online, it’s easy to get distracted by social media notifications, emails, or text messages.

Be cautious and turn off the notifications, close other tabs or applications that can distract you to concentrate on your reading.

6. Use scanning techniques

Instead of reading every word of a text, use scanning techniques to find what you need in less time.

For example, keywords, headings, bold and italics that help you locate relevant information.

7. Test with active reading

Active reading involves interacting with the text as you read. Like, asking questions, taking notes, summarizing key ideas, and making connections to other content or experiences. This can improve your comprehension and retention of information.

8. Don’t forget to practice

Practice makes a master.

Work on speed reading of simple writings and gradually increase the difficulty. If you prefer, you can find exercises and tools online to help you practice.

Indeed, you must be patient. But you can start with small steps and make it a regular practice to see results.

As you can see, speed reading can be a valuable virtual study skill. With these tips, you can handle it the right way and make time for other important activities.