Newsletter 187: How VR Can Unlock Learning for Dyslexic Minds

Greetings, Dyslexic Innovators! 👋

It’s Matt, the founder of dyslexic.ai, a newsletter exploring the intersection of dyslexia and AI. I’m checking in at dawn with some morning motivation about virtual reality (VR).

If you’re new here, let me tell you what dyslexic.ai is all about. It’s a platform where I share my passion for VR and dyslexia and how they can work together for a better future. I believe that dyslexia is not a disorder but a creative advantage. I also believe that VR is not a gimmick but a powerful tool for learning and innovation.

As a dyslexic thinker and coach, I know how challenging and rewarding learning can be for us. We often face barriers and biases that limit our potential and well-being. We often struggle with reading, writing, and learning in ways that are not suited to our strengths and preferences. We often feel bored, stressed, or isolated in classrooms and offices that are not designed for our needs and goals.

But I also know how amazing and empowering learning can be when we find the right tools and methods that work for us. Tools and methods that can help us overcome our challenges, enhance our strengths, and unlock our potential. Tools and methods that can help us learn in ways that are fun, creative, and collaborative. Tools and methods that can help us learn with confidence, passion, and purpose.

That’s why I’m fascinated by VR and how it can unlock learning for dyslexic minds. VR technology allows us to enter and interact with simulated environments using a headset and controllers. VR can create realistic and immersive experiences that can stimulate our senses, emotions, and cognition.

VR can also be a great tool for education and innovation. VR can provide us with learning environments that are personalized, adaptive, and supportive. VR can also provide us with learning opportunities that are fun, creative, and collaborative. VR can also provide us with learning benefits that are unique, effective, and powerful.

But don’t just take my word for it. There is plenty of evidence that VR can help dyslexic learners in various ways. For instance, a study by the University of Sheffield found that VR can improve reading comprehension and memory for dyslexic students by providing them with multisensory and interactive feedback¹.

Another study by the University of Malta found that VR can enhance spelling and writing skills for dyslexic students by providing them with immersive and gamified practice².

VR can also help dyslexic learners in the workplace, where they often face challenges such as communication, organization, and time management. VR can help them develop these skills by providing them with realistic and engaging scenarios that simulate real-life situations.

For example, a VR app called VirtualSpeech can help dyslexic professionals improve their public speaking and presentation skills by providing them with feedback and coaching in a VR environment.

Another VR app called Immersed can help dyslexic workers improve their productivity and collaboration by providing them with a VR workspace that allows them to access multiple screens and work with remote teams⁴.

These are just some of the examples of how VR can help dyslexic learners in the classroom and office. I’m sure there are many more VR tools out there that can benefit us in different ways. That’s why I’m always looking for new and exciting VR platforms that can fit how we think and learn.

In this newsletter, I want to share with you two VR tools that I recently discovered, that could be game-changers for us. Keep reading to learn why.

The VR School

The first VR tool that I discovered is a full-time public charter school opening in Utah in 2025. Called Virtual Horizons, it will teach grades 4-12 entirely in VR. Fittingly, their motto is “empowering minds by expanding realities.”

Virtual Horizons focuses on personalized learning pathways, passion-driven projects, and collaborative problem-solving. Their VR platform, Engage, enables students to design detailed worlds. Every student gets equipment, connectivity, and support, too.

The school partners with Scottish Rite for dyslexia programming. Their plan to remove barriers to advanced concepts sparked my curiosity. VR’s flexibility could bypass our more rigid learning obstacles.

I think this VR school is a great idea for dyslexic learners, and here’s why. First, it can provide us with a customized and flexible learning experience that suits our needs and goals. We can choose the topics, activities, and environments that interest us and motivate us. We can also learn at our own pace, level, and style. We can get feedback, guidance, and encouragement from the teachers and peers.

Second, it can provide us with an immersive and interactive learning experience that engages our senses and cognition. We can learn by doing, not just by listening or reading. We can learn by exploring, not just by following instructions. We can learn by playing, not just by working. We can learn by collaborating, not just by competing.

Third, it can give us a unique and effective learning experience that leverages our strengths and improves our skills. We can use our visual-spatial, creative, and holistic thinking abilities to create and navigate VR worlds. We can also improve our reading, writing, and communication skills by using VR tools that provide multisensory and gamified feedback.

For more info see today’s article on isp.today https://isp.today/hu/virtual-horizons-charter-school-a-new-era-of-education-unveiled/#gsc.tab=0

The VR Reading Tool

The second VR tool that I discovered is a VR tool that measures reading skills and provides feedback and guidance. The tool is called ReadingXR, and it is developed by a company called ReadingXR.

ReadingXR is a VR tool that uses eye-tracking technology to assess reading skills such as fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. ReadingXR also provides personalized feedback and guidance to help readers improve their skills and confidence. ReadingXR also offers a variety of reading materials and genres to suit different interests and levels.

ReadingXR is designed to help readers of all ages and abilities, but it is especially beneficial for dyslexic readers. ReadingXR can help them overcome reading challenges, enhance reading strengths, and unlock reading potential.

I was excited by the tool’s features and benefits, and I wanted to try it out for myself and my daughter, who is also dyslexic. I contacted the company and they agreed to let me test it for our micro school and for my personal use.

I can’t wait to share with you my experience and results with ReadingXR in a future newsletter.

I think this VR reading tool is a great idea for dyslexic learners, and here’s why. First, it can give us an accurate and objective assessment of our reading skills. We can clearly see our strengths and weaknesses and track our progress over time. We can also get a personalized report that gives us tips and recommendations for improvement.

Second, it can provide us with a supportive and adaptive feedback and guidance system. We can get immediate and positive feedback that boosts our confidence and motivation. We can also get adaptive and interactive guidance that helps us overcome our difficulties and enhance our skills. We can also get rewards and badges that make reading fun and rewarding.

Third, it can provide us with a diverse and engaging reading experience. We can choose from various reading materials and genres that match our interests and levels. We can also enjoy an immersive and multisensory reading experience that stimulates our senses and cognition. We can also challenge ourselves and learn new words and concepts.

What Do You Think?

VR can unlock learning for dyslexic minds. It can provide us with learning experiences that are personalized, immersive, and engaging. It can provide us with learning opportunities that are unique, effective, and empowering.

But what do you think? Have you tried VR for learning or reading? Do you think VR can help you or your kids learn better? Do you have any questions or suggestions about VR and dyslexia?

I’d love to hear from you and learn from your experiences and insights. Please leave a comment below or send me an email at [email protected]. You can also join our dyslexic.ai community to connect with other dyslexic innovators and share your ideas and stories.

Thank you for reading, and remember: we don’t think outside the box. We think along angles no boxes can contain.

Onward,

Matt Ivey

Founder, Dyslexic.AI

What We Learned Today

In this newsletter, we learned about:

• How VR can change education and reading for dyslexic thinkers.

• How VR can provide us with learning experiences that are personalized, immersive, and engaging.

• How VR can help us overcome our challenges, enhance our strengths, and unlock our potential.

• How a new VR charter school in Utah and a VR reading tool called ReadingXR are examples of VR tools that can revolutionize education and reading for neurodivergent and dyslexic thinkers.

  I hope you enjoyed this newsletter and found it useful. If you have any questions or feedback, please let me know. I’m always happy to chat with you.

Thank you for reading, and remember: Dyslexia is not a disorder; it’s a creative advantage.