Extreme Keyboarding
with the Keyboard Coach

A QUICKLEARN STIMULATING APPROACH

This novel approach uses an Orientation to jumpstart would-be keyboarders by teaching key placement of the alphabet in one to three sessions. It motivates students by building on immediate success through accelerated learning. Manuals and software continue to build skill through relevant use. The Keyboard Coach method consists of an intellectually engaging language-based sequence. Intriguing exercises interest and motivate children and adults to establish correct fingering as they inculcalte understanding of the overall spatial organization of the keyboard. "Finger twister" single word exercises isolate and strengthen the Ring and Little fingers, facilitating the ability to keyboard without looking by ensuring that all the fingers are used (not just the strong Pointer and Middle fingers). The system integrates learning to copy with word processing technique — and it emphasizes the power of generative writing as a way to build fluency and integrate newly learned keyboarding skill with real use. Since keyboarding is a motor skill, a sports coach metaphor is used that appeals not only to the athletically inclined, but is especially helpful to those who have poor eye-hand coordination, visual spatial issues, and dysgraphia because it trains rather than drills.

• A fresh approach that combines the interactivity of technology with the best elements of traditional teaching methods, thereby engaging learners in their own process. Integrates the right amount and kind of software with a self-paced approach.
• Recognizes that the key to effective computer use lies in how teachers and parents encourage children to use it as a tool for both learning and productivity. Tutorial software provides a step by step teaching medium for Coach and Student to work together or independently.
• Incorporates "learning how to learn" through using software to guide learning and a practice game for user-controlled rehearsal. The Robochase practice game avoids the judgement and frustration caused current keyboard/typing tutors.
• Anticipates potential pitfalls so as to ensure immediate success. It preempts errors such as hand mirroring and finger confusion by having students practice correct fingering for the most frequent error patterns and for isolating and strengthening weak fingers. It is non-judgemental and teaches the value of mistakes as opportunities to learn.
• Incorporates the use of Assistive Technology to facilitate immediate use for communication and real-time writing tasks. Word prediction, text-to-speech, center key sensors and color coded keycaps are examples of how this system uses keyboarding as the entry point to using the computer as a productivity tool; whatever a person's need may require.
• Appeals to all ages and is relevant for any population, from very young children to top level executives. It may be adapted to any special need and integrated with any program by an informed teacher or therapist. Available for single handed and low vision.
• Designed to be used on any computer running a Macintosh or Windows system. Alternatively, the manual and sequence may be completed using just a word processor on any device that has a keyboard such as an AlphaSmart, Dreamwriter or EMate etc. .

Course Description

• A course of 7 one-hour Introductory Sessions, completed within 2 weeks, achieves accuracy and a speed of 12-25 words per minute. Keyboarding comes across as a relevant communication skill which immediately incorporates punctuation, the use of numbers, tabbing and document formatting. Young children develop adequate speed for their emergent language development -- by the end of the first week young children can keyboard stories. Middle school students require 7-12 sessions in order to do school assignments and so that they continue to build speed through use. A follow-up course of Extreme Lessons is available for older students and adults. Generative writing is emphasized from the start as the most effective way to build fluency.

KBC is a Work-in-Progress — Organic Software

• The Robochase game is fully developed in visual basic and available for Windows and Macintosh. The Orientation and Introductory Sessions and Extreme Lessons Tutorial files are fully functioning prototypes. These files are being converted to visual basic for both platforms so that KBC will be one complete program with all the flexibility offered by code and multimedia object oriented programming. Just as the existing product range is the result of teacher development and student feedback, the final visual basic edition will be refined and honed through teachers and users suggestions. The prototypes are being used across the country and in the United Kingdom by students of all ages and needs. Most of the current users are learning therapists, occupational therapists, teachers and of course students whose feedback is critical. I invite constructive suggestions and reports about how the software works in various settings.