Press Release
D2L, a global learning technology company, is helping Penn Foster Group make learning experiences more accessible and increasing 30-day course completion rates by 54% with ReadSpeaker embedded in D2L Brightspace.
Penn Foster Group, a pioneer in distance learning, has empowered learners to unlock career opportunities through training and education for over 130 years. With a deep commitment to learner success, Penn Foster Group partnered with D2L to transform the learning experience by integrating powerful text-to-speech capabilities into its programs, helping students engage with content in a more flexible and personalized way.
“For a lot of our learners, especially adults, education is not their only focus in life,” said Lauren Stash, Director of Communications at Penn Foster Group. “It’s very important that wherever they go, they can take their programs with them. With ReadSpeaker in D2L Brightspace, we can work better for all types of people, enabling them to learn from anywhere.”
Within the D2L Brightspace platform, learners can easily access ReadSpeaker webReader, which reads HTML content aloud, offering a customizable experience with the option to choose a preferred voice, adjust reading speed, define and translate words, and much more. ReadSpeaker docReader provides the same powerful features for digital documents, including students’ personal notes. The seamless integration with D2L Brightspace helps these tools work across any supported device, with no software installation required.
We believe that education should be available to everyone, regardless of stage of life or ability. The ReadSpeaker integration supports learners across D2L Brightspace, personalizing their learning experience to support their needs with enhanced access to content, assignments, discussions and quizzes. D2L is proud to support Penn Foster Group as we work together to dismantle barriers and make high-quality education more accessible.
Dr. Sambhavi Chandrashekar, Global Accessibility Lead at D2L
After piloting the text-to-speech experience, Penn Foster Group found a four-day reduction in the average time for students to take their first exams and a 54% increase in 30-day course completion rates. This integration not only supported efficiency but also overall learning experiences—helping more learners stay on track and reach their goals.
“Building on the success of our pilot, we were able to scale ReadSpeaker to our entire student population—driving stronger engagement and increased completion rates,” said Dr. Andy Shean, Chief Learning Officer at Penn Foster Group. “We want to be a true game-changer, providing affordable, career-aligned learning experiences that empower learners to graduate job-ready. With ReadSpeaker and D2L Brightspace, we’re advancing that mission in meaningful, measurable ways.”
With a diverse student population, Penn Foster Group needed a scalable solution that could support learning anytime, anywhere. D2L Brightspace, combined with ReadSpeaker’s text-to-speech capabilities, offers the accessibility and flexibility needed to meet learners where they are and support learner success.
By integrating text-to-speech capabilities, Penn Foster Group made course content more accessible to all learners, regardless of ability. Within D2L Brightspace, students can listen to HTML content and digital documents, customize their experience with voice and speed options, and access materials across any supported device, no software installation required.
After piloting the ReadSpeaker integration within D2L Brightspace, Penn Foster Group saw a 54% increase in 30-day course completion rates and a four-day reduction in the average time to take the first exam. These results reflect stronger engagement, improved efficiency, and a more inclusive learning experience that helps students stay on track and reach their goals.
Challenge Providing new pathways to opportunity Penn Foster Group was founded in 1890 by Thomas Foster, a distance-learning pioneer who wanted to help coal miners improve their safety at work….
About D2L
D2L is transforming the way the world learns, helping learners achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with customers all over the world, D2L is on a mission to make learning more inspiring, engaging and human. Find out how D2L helps transform lives and delivers outstanding learning outcomes in K-12, higher education and business at www.D2L.com.
Colin Horgan
Executive Communications Director
[email protected]
Twitter: @D2L
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