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Module 3.3 - Maximizing Visual Input: Eye Movements, Fixations, and Recognition Span

Learning Objectives: When you finish Mod 3.3 you should be able to answer the following questions:

What are fixations? 

What are the benefits of expanding fixations?

What is recognition span?

What are some benefits of acquiring widened recognition span and more efficient phrasing habits?

What do other experts have to say about increasing reading efficiency and effectiveness?

What are fixations? 

When you read     a line of print,     your eyes do not     move smoothly     across the page.    A moving eye    cannot focus.    Your eyes must stop     before they can "see."     So they move     from left to right     in a series     of pauses and jerks.     Then they make     a swift return      to the next line.

These brief pauses     of your eyes     are called fixations.     It is during     these fixation pauses     that reading actually     takes place.    At this time     your eyes transmit     the printed words     to the brain,     which in turn     gives meaning     to the symbolic     stimuli of     the printed page.

What are the benefits of expanding fixations?

If          you          are           a          slow          reader,          you     probably          have          a          fixation          point          and          a     fixation          pause          for          every          single          word.          

To increase your reading rate     and become a rapid reader,     

you should practice finding     a fixation point     in the middle of a phrase     or a word group comprising a thought unit,     so that you perceive     

this entire word group or thought unit      during a brief fixation pause.     Since ideas come     in groups of words     rather than single words,     

you will find your comprehension is also improved.

The number of words     perceived by your eyes     as they fixate     

at a given point     during a fixation pause     is interrupted by     

individual eye movements.     To improve your reading rate     

it is not necessary     to think constantly     about these movements.     

Just read rapidly     using interesting, easy material.     If you find     

the material interesting,     your eye movements     

will take care of themselves.

If you are reading a page that has twelve words to a line and you need to stop at each word, you have made twelve fixations, each of which takes a fraction of a second. If, however, you can read four words with each fixation, you will make only one-third the stops and thus increase your total reading speed. 

Use your peripheral vision to expand fixations. In self-pacing drill #3 on Module 3.1 you learned to use your peripheral vision to help you increase your reading rate. Here is a test you can try which demonstrates how peripheral vision allows you take in more words in one expanded fixation than foveal fixations (fixating only on the number of letters you can bring into clear, acute focus) will allow. 

Use the Eye Max exercise on Speed Reader to demonstrate to yourself how much information your peripheral vision sends to your brain. You can learn to improve your reading rate by increasing your confidence in and reliance on peripheral vision.

What is recognition span?

Sometimes called eye span, your recognition span is the entire field of recognition including all the words that can be read using foveal and peripheral vision.

Activity 3.3  - Straight Down Pacing Drill

A self-pacing technique that can be useful in your newspaper and magazine reading practice is the straight down method. Choose material with columns around 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. Place you index finger just below the line of print and in the center of the column. Focus just above your finger and move you finger straight down the center of the column, slowly at first and then, as you become comfortable and adept, more and more rapidly. Train your eyes to follow your finger straight down the column without moving to the left and right. Pick up all the words in the column in one fixation.

Drill Practice #1

Set your timer and try this straight down pacing drill for one minute.

When the minute is up, write down on your paper (your recall sheet) anything you can remember from the reading. Write in key words and phrases, not complete sentences. Write names, places, action, descriptions, etc. This will help you to improve comprehension, concentration, and retention.

Drill Practice #2

Use the same method and material for your second attempt. Start back at the beginning of the selection you read in drill #1, but this time try to go even faster and cover one-half page more material in the same time (1 minute). 

When the minute is up - without looking back at your book - add whatever you can to your recall sheet. Remember, guess if you must.

In your attempts to read faster than normal, don't fall back into any of your old, inefficient habits. No head wagging. Keep your head still and move only your eyes and your hand.

Drill Practice #3

Try the drill again, but this time with new material. Keep pushing to read faster and develop the confidence to rely on that widened recognition span / expanded fixation. With practice you will see a major increase in rate with little or no loss of comprehension.

Feedback:

Write a paragraph at the bottom of your recall sheet reflecting on your attempts and success so far with self-pacing. 

How was your comprehension? Did you pick up the main idea, supporting details, and pattern of organization? If your recall was not so good, don't give up; success will come with time and practice. 

Were you distracted by having your hand on the page? Did you fall back into any bad reading habits? Were you able to relax and avoid head movements and regression?

Place your recall sheet in your lab folder to receive credit for Activity 3.3. In later modules, you will add other pacing methods that are useful for scanning and skimming.

What are some benefits of acquiring widened recognition span and more efficient phrasing habits?

Another way to develop  /  your recognition span  /  is to go through an article putting in  /  slash marks where  /  the phrases should be divided. After several sessions  /  you'll find yourself automatically dividing sentences into  /  phrases in your mind.  /  Transfer your newly acquired habits  /  of phrasing to the  /  reading of many interesting books.  /  You will be reading  /  with fewer and briefer fixations. You will develop  /  a wide recognition span. / You will make few or no regressions. / You will learn to / concentrate on units of concepts and ideas - / not individual words. / You will develop flexibility so that / you can fit your rate / to your purpose. You will find yourself  /  reading more  /  because you enjoy it.

What do other experts have to say about increasing reading efficiency and effectiveness?

Check out the following links to find a good summary and review of tips and techniques for improving your reading efficiency and effectiveness:

Brief Suggestions for Increasing Speed and Effectiveness of Reading

Rapid Reading - Checklist of Slow Reading Symptoms and Tips on How to Read More Rapidly

Suggestions for Improving Reading Speed

Tips for Increasing Reading Speed

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