Homework Help BlogTips that A+ students use to get ahead…
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I stumbled across this free typing program recently, and it’s the best I’ve seen to date. It’s not a “typing tutor” in the traditional sense of the word, but I think using a piece of software is actually better for this particular subject than using a traditional tutor (more on why below)
It’s called the Online Typing Tutor from TypingWeb.
As you can see it provides a nice diagram while you are typing to help you use the right finger, track your progress, and identify problem areas. It also runs completely in your web browser so there is nothing to install.
If you’re like me you don’t use the full range of fingers for typing and this slows you down. You can imagine the two extremes as being the “hunt-and-peck” method with your two index fingers (the slowest) all the way to using all 10 fingers on the right keys (the fastest). Most of us are somewhere in between and need to get closer to all 10 fingers. This program does a great job of helping you accomplish that.
What are the benefits of learning to type correctly?
- For students with messy handwriting this can be a crutch to turn in readable homework
- For students with dysgraphia or dyslexia using a computer can (sometimes) be a great help, especially with spell check to ensure proper spelling and learn correct spellings over time. I personally find that spell check helps me learn correct spelling, and doesn’t discourage it as I’ve heard from others, but everyone’s experience is probably different.
- Perhaps the greatest benefit is that with some practice most people can type much faster than they can write by hand. How much faster? At least 300%. From a productivity point of view, there is no reason you should ever write a homework assignment by hand ever again. The exceptions are subjects like math and science which require diagramming and obscure symbols which are difficult to type.
You don’t have to create an account to try out Typing Tutor (just click “start typing” in the button right on the intro screen), but if you do it can be helpful because it will track your progress and identify which areas you seem to have the most trouble with.
It also provides with you a handy report at the end of each lesson (which range from very simple up to advanced) to show how you’re doing.
Occasionally people seek out typing tutors (the traditional human kind) to help them improve in this area. It’s a subject which doesn’t lend itself well to tutoring well in my opinion. The tutor can add little additional value after the first half hour or so, going over the basics and getting the student started on practice. The real benefit comes from the student doing exercises on their own, and for that they can simply use a free program such as this.
Definitely check out the free Online Typing Tutor from TypingWeb if you or your students would like to start improving in this area.
What has been your experience with typing assignment versus writing them by hand? Are there any other tools which you’ve found especially helpful?
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4 Responses
rithak
24|Sep|2011 1Check out TutorZ where you can find lots of typing tutors ready to help in typing skills.
[Reply]
jitin
01|Dec|2011 2Hello, I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wish you best of luck for all your best efforts.
online assignment help
[Reply]
Stan James
06|Sep|2012 3Free typing tutors are good because they are free, not because they are best, read my blog below
“A person using a computer without being able to touch type is like a bird trying to fly without using its wings”
As I type this I realise how many things each of us take for granted. The simple task of typing a letter, writing an article, or responding to e-mail has become almost automatic. However, for those without keyboard skills, typing a letter or a note or accessing an on-line service can be a significant challenge.
The PC is the World’s number one productivity tool, yet amazingly with all the talk of technology training for children, we omit to provide them with the most basic of skills needed to use the technology efficiently. Keyboard skills. This skill is taught in schools in the USA and Europe but doesn’t even appear on our school curriculum. Most people make extensive use of a keyboard and most information and communication is typed. How then, do we expect our children to prosper in this age of technology?
I recently visited a sixth form college where the students were rightly proud of their ability to use many of the standard PC applications. Their problem was that it took an age to key in a sentence picking around the keyboard with 2 fingers. In fact they were typing a lot slower than they could write.
With an enormous computer presence in schools, the question is no longer whether to teach keyboarding but when and how to teach it.
I used a new and fun way to learn that takes a fraction of the time. It’s called KAZ (Keyboarding A to Z)
It’s used in schools and businesses around the world (you are never too old to learn). The KAZ Keyboard developers discovered that by providing a new and quick method, they get most people wanting to learn. After all, most of the teaching methods traditionally involve many hours of boring repetitive drills. KAZ is very simple and works by reminding people that all they need to do is remember what fingers press what keys as quickly as possible. Exercise and practice quickly build speed and accuracy. Their method is suitable for all ages from 6 upwards.
The best reward they could get is to see this skill included in the curriculum and then watch children using their keyboards properly in school.
[Reply]
KyleHD
05|Nov|2012 4I’m a big fan of teaming up http://www.englishtype.com/typingTest.php and TypingWeb.com
Englishtype has a free typing test, whilst TypingWeb’s test is behind a registration-gate – so you can use Englishtype before you register on TypingWeb.
[Reply]
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