KEYBOARDING INFO

Please Read the following: Learning to keyboard is not easy.  It will take lots of self-discipline and patience.  Sometimes it takes weeks to show just small improvements.  If you look at keyboarding as a skill that can be mastered with lots of practice you will do fine.  One key factor to mastering keyboarding is good technique.

Correct technique is the most important skill any beginning typist can learn.  Speed and accuracy are all built around good technique.  Therefore you will be given a technique grade every two weeks.  The grade will be based on the following five areas: 

I.  Memorize the letters by not looking at your hands while typing.  (40 points)
II.  Feet flat on floor.  Hips touching back of chair.  Back straight and sitting up tall.
III.  Fingers curved.  Arms close to body.  Wrist straight and not touching keyboard
IV.  Begins typing immediately.  Has sheet out each day.   Works entire time.
V.  Strikes keys with proper finger & then returns fingers to homerow keys

Technique Grade

Keystroking:
Correct key stroking.  You must use the correct finger to stroke each letter you are typing.  Keep fingers curved.  Don't look at your hands to type.  Home Row Position.  You should always return your fingers back to home row after you have reached for a key.

Position:
Posture.  You should sit straight up but lean forward slightly from the waist.  Feet should be placed firmly on the floor.  The body should be about a hand span from the front of the keyboard and centered opposite the J key.  Keyboard:  Pull keyboard to the edge of the computer desk but keep it on the keyboard tray.

I will try and walk around the room each day pointing out where you need to improve and encouraging those who are practicing good technique.  The most important thing you can do is to learn the correct keystroke for each letter and keep practicing.

YOUR DAILY DRILLS

Each day when you come into class you should type using the typing software to build your keyboarding skills (Recommended: 10 - 20 minutes a day).

TESTING

Every Friday take the typing test using the typing software and print out the stats and diploma and keep them in your binder. Write down your score on you typing sheet, Microsoft Excel, or a blank sheet of paper.  Keep track of each test or lesson's score. Keep track of each lesson's score as follows:
Lesson 1:  32 net wpm 2 errors or 48%accuracy
Lesson 2:  33 net wpm 3 errors or 55% accuracy
etc...

A good rule about speed and accuracy:

"The more accurate you are now, the faster you'll be later!"