Forum Discussion
Text-to-speech in Rise 360
I've done extensive testing with learners who have visual impairments. All of them used JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, Dragon Speaking Naturally or another app. None of them ever requested that there was a built in TTS. Screen readers provide much more than just TTS.
I'm not sure about learners who first language is not English. I find it easier to read in another language when I'm learning it because then I can go at my speed and look up words that I don't know.
Accessibility is one reason, but there are other reasons that it is helpful. That said, it depends on what the audio actually is. Wall of text with verbatim narration? Overloads the learner and ineffective. Reduced text, graphics, images and audio explaining providing more context to the text and images? Learners retain more information than text alone. This article is a good, quick read: Effectively Use Audio to Enhance E-Learning (td.org), as well as this prior Articulate Community discussion. Is using voiceover adding any value to e-learning? - Building Better Courses Discussions - E-Learning Heroes (articulate.com)