Getting started with keyboard coach
1. THE BEGINNING KEYBOARDER
in 1-3 hours Coach as Teacher
EQUIPMENT — computer set-up and healthy hands.
Computer equipment and correct seat height are important aids to keyboarding well. They motivate students by giving a professional feel and support the body for learning. Workstation ergonomic diagram in the Daily Practice Brochure.
- Colored KeyCaps - show the spatial staircase formation of the keyboard
- Herzog Hub® Key Sensors - provide kinesthetic feedback for middle fingers
- Side Clip - permits the eyes to remain consistent with screen level
- Wrist Rest - prevents carpel tunnel syndrome and promotes alignment
- Exercise Putty - relaxes and strengthens muscles of hands and neck
- Keyboard Map (24x36 wall chart or 11x17 life size keyboard place mat) at-a- glance overview of the system to develop self-coaching concepts
ORIENTATION — kinesthetic keyboard awareness.
A unique pre-keyboarding system that works as a precursor to the complete Keyboard Coach® program or as a preparation for any “typing” program. It addresses key mind-muscle issues and visual spatial training as a fundamental part of learning this motor skill for written communication.
- 12 step-by-step pre-keyboarding alphabetic exercises for visual motor patterning, learning how to learn and to develop fine motor coordination. Either - Orientation Exercises copysheet and any word processor
Or- Keyboard Coach Tutorial Software
- Teaches finger-key placement through Alphabet Poem mnemonic
- Uses 1-2-3 step visualization technique for kinesthetic keyboarding
- Customized software games as a student-controlled tool
2. THE EMERGENT KEYBOARDER
3-10 hours Coach as Trainer
INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS — establishing correct habits and fluency.
These comprehensive worksheets develop accuracy for effective keyboarding. They revisit the concepts presented in the Orientation and provide an intensive way to work the weak and confused fingers —using real language integrated with computer skills. The first three are essential to work the weaker Ring and Pinkie fingers. Completing seven sessions will preempt most typical errors.The remaining five are optional but are valuable since they target the middle row (home row) keys that are covered by the fingers.
- 12 copybook worksheets that preempt typical errors.
- Copying using tabbed indents - for note-taking
- Functional writing - looking-at-the-screen , correcting as-you-go
- Generative Writing - keeping up an automatic flow of thought
- 12 copybook worksheets that preempt typical errors.
- Matching customized software games
3. KEYBOARDER
10-20 hours Self-Coaching
EXTREME KEYBOARDER LESSONS — building fluency and speed.
“If you don’t use it you will lose it”-- It is important to do some keyboarding every day; particularly generative personal writing. To further build fluency (speed will come naturally with use) a keyboarding (drill-type) software program maybe appropriate. The Extreme Keyboarder Lessons are available for those who prefer a copysheet approach or those who wish to improve their copying skill; they are made up of idioms and sentences crafted to rework all the basic causes of error.
- 20 further copybook sentence worksheets that build speed and fluency
- aids spelling through keyboarding words that share common linguistic patterns.
- further exercises for isolating and strengthening fingers and reinforcing mind muscle connection
info@thelearningstudio.com
© Elspeth Sladden 1997
