How Does an Online Typing Course Improve Typing Skills?
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Teaching and Improving Typing Skills with Online Typing Courses
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Online typing courses follow a similar structure to the traditional method of sitting in a classroom proctored by an instructor. Most courses begin with the basics--where the keys on the keyboard are and which fingers to use for which keys. The largest difference an online environment provides from the classroom in this regard is that the software program normally makes the typing exercises into some type of game against time. The game environment creates a more enjoyable learning atmosphere for the student, which encourages greater study and effort to do better. As the course progresses in difficulty, the game gets more challenging until the student has learned all of the keys on a standard keyboard. Once all of the keys have been mastered, the more advanced courses will then foray into specific formatting and other advanced options that are useful in today's office environment. The basic to advanced courses of instruction will stop at the point of learning all of the keys and focus on the increase of speed an accuracy. of the typist.
Determining the Right Online Typing Software or Website
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A big challenge for the consumer is determining the best website to use for improving typing skills. Some factors to consider before starting one's search are: 1) the age of the student(s) and the appropriateness of the course for him; 2) the beginning skill set of the student, if he has any prior typing skills or bad habits to unlearn; 3) Is there a need to learn advanced typing skills such as document preparation, formating, letter preparation and other formatted texts?; 4) the time available for the student to devote to the course throughout the week. All of these factors should be weighted when starting the search for the right online environment to learn how to type. The most basic tutor will come in the form of a game with no suggestions on what keys to press with which fingers. The Webkinz game, Lunch Letters, is a game in this genre. Although fun to play, it can have the negative effect of encouraging a tween to be able to hunt and peck quickly, without any heed to proper typing. Generally a program above this level showing basic finger placement that encourages the student to not look at the keyboard is a better starting environment to use.
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Methods of Evaluation of Typing Skill Improvement
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There are a few methods that online typing courses use to evaluate typing skill status and progress. The first is the sheer measure of words per minute typed in the current lesson versus the percentage of accuracy. In the game based courses, if the student's accuracy or speed are below the goal that is required to finish the current level (or lesson) then the student will fail. The game-based systems will simply indicate that the student did not master the content by displaying a failure to reach the next level of play. In the more formal instruction found online, greater feedback to the pupil will be given to indicate which keys or combination of keys they are having issues with and will offer remedial lessons focused on the problem keys. Many of the advanced websites also offer features that allow their product to be used in the classroom environment tied to a more formal teaching or lesson plan. Some of the advanced websites also permit the proctor to create calendar-based lesson plans and maintain grades for the students on the site. The more advanced features that can be found online, though, come with a higher cost to use the material. For the single user, typically online courses will be free or close to free, whereas for the sites geared to teaching a class there will be charges associated with the use.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Image courtesy of Wikipedia
