|
Keep your eyes on the screen. Do not look at the computer
keyboard. If you need to verify the location of a key, look at the hands displayed on your
monitor. Do not look at your keyboard.
Say the letter of each key as you type, either out loud or silently.
Repeat each lesson until you feel comfortable with your control of the keys, before moving
to the next lesson. Develop your feel for the keys before trying to increase your speed.
Typing is a physical skill that requires practice, practice, and more practice. Start with
short practice periods , such as 30 minutes a day, working up to longer periods of
practice as you develop keyboard skills.
Rest
Relax at the end of each lesson if you need to.
Finger positioning
Let your fingertips rest very highly on the center of each resting key, (see below for
home keys).
Hand positioning
Your hand should be flat, and parallel to the keyboard, without twisting. There should
not be any pressure on your wrists or forearms while you type. You should NOT rest
your wrists on a wrist rest except while taking a very short break from typing. A wrist
rest of the proper height (level with the space bar) can also serve as a reminder to keep
your wrists straight. If you feel your wrist touching the rest, you know that your wrists
are starting to dip. For more information click
here
Use both hands to type multiple combination key strikes. Do not bend your hand in awkward
angles to type key combinations. Depressing a key
After striking a key, quickly retract your finger, turning the finger to rest on its
resting position (home) key. Don't rush. Think of the finger and key or keys it control.
With practice your fingers respond and type the correct letter in respond to the
sight of the letter.
Errors
If you make a mistake you will hear a beep. Don't stop if you make an error, just keep
typing. Errors are displayed below the text to type in red.
If you have typed a wrong word, an additional word, or omitted a work, these are all a
result of taking your eyes away from the typing text.
Adding a space
Press the space bar with thumb to add a space between letters and sentences. For one
space requirement between sentences, click on options button, then delete any mark in the
"two spaces between sentences" box. If you are in the middle of a task you must
click on the pause button before the option button.
Capital letters
To capitalize a letter press the letter and at the same time with your other hand
press the shift key with your pinky finger. The shift key is to the left of Z for the left
hand and to the right of / for the right hand.
Start on a new line
To start typing on a new line press the Enter key on your keyboard.
Keys with two images .
To type the lower image of a key ('), just depress the key. To type the upper image of
a key ("), press the key and at the same time with your other hand press the shift
key with your pinky finger
Finger placement
The resting position (home keys) is the position for each finger when not in use. The
letter on each finger on images, below is denoted the resting position of each finger.
 
Left and right hand resting key finger position (above)
Lessons
At the end of each lesson the program will ask if you if you would like to take a test and
see if you are ready to move to the next level. Click on yes, if you want to take the
test. After passing the test the computer will move you to the next lesson. Repeat each
lesson until you have control, before moving to the next lesson.
Lesson #1 and #2 will teach finger position for the resting (home) keys. Do not get upset
if your make error. You will soon have control over your fingers. Don't stop if you
make an error, just keep typing. Stop after a lesson for a moment of relaxation. Start
each new lesson slowly gradually increase your speed. If you lose control of your fingers
slow down. Never use any other fingers to type these letters. To type the letter H use
your index finger (right hand, J finger). To type the G letter use your index finger (left
hand, F finger).
Lesson #3 is a repeat of first and second lesson, except the letter alternate between both
hands. The lesson also includes using the shift key. See "Capital letters" and
"Keys with two images" above for an explanation on the shift key.
Lesson #4 is teaching positioning for the letters above the home keys using the upper
middle fingers. Your middle fingers rest on letters D ( left hand) and K (right hand).
Left hand, use your right middle finger (D) to reach the letter E. After typing the letter
E return finger to resting position.
Right hand, use your right middle finger (K) to reach the letter I. After typing the
letter I return finger to resting position.
Returning to resting (home) keys
You do not need to return to a resting (home) key, if two letters are accessed back to
back from the same finger. Example if you need to type HU or YU, it is not necessary to
touch J between these letter provided that you are back on the resting (home) keys by the
end of the word.
Lesson #5 is teaching positioning for the letters above the resting (home) keys using the
index fingers. Your index fingers rest on letters F (left hand) and J (right hand).
Left hand, use your right index finger (F) to reach the letters R,T and G. This finger (F)
moves up and slightly to the left for R, up and slightly to the right for T and to the
right for G.
Right hand, use your right index finger (J) to reach the letter U,Y and H. This finger (J)
moves up and slightly to the left for Y, up U and to the left for H.
Lesson #6 is teaching positioning for the letters above the resting (home) keys using the
ring fingers. Your ring fingers rest on letters S (left hand) and L (right hand).
Left hand, use your right ring finger (S) to reach the letters W.
Right hand, use your right ring finger (L) to reach the letter O.
Lesson #7 is teaching positioning for the letters above the resting (home) keys using the
pinky fingers. Your pinky fingers rest on letters A (left hand) and ; (right hand).
Left hand, use your right pinky finger (A) to reach the letter Q.
Right hand, use your right pinky finger (;) to reach the letter P.
Lesson #8 is teaching positioning for the letters below the resting (home) keys using the
index fingers. Your index fingers rest on letters F (left hand) and J (right hand).
Left hand, use your right index finger (F) to reach the letters V and B. This finger (F)
moves down and slightly to the right for V and B.
Right hand, use your right index finger (J) to reach the letter N and M. This finger (J)
moves down and slightly to the left for N and slightly to the right for M.
Lesson #9 is teaching positioning for the letters below the resting (home) keys using the
pinky fingers. Your pinky fingers rest on letters A (left hand) and ; (right hand).
Left hand, use your right pinky finger (A) to reach the letter Z
Right hand, use your right pinky finger (;) to reach the charater /.
Lesson #10 is teaching positioning for the balance of the letters below the resting (home)
keys.
Ring fingers
Left hand, use your right ring finger (S) to reach the letters X.
Right hand, use your right ring finger (L) to reach the period ..
Middle fingers
Left hand, use your right middle finger (D) to reach the letter C.
Right hand, use your right middle finger (K) to reach the comma , .
Pinky fingers
Left hand, use your right pinky finger (A) to reach the letter Z
Right hand, use your right pinky finger (;) to reach the charater /.
Lesson #11 is teaching positioning for the numbers above the letters on your keyboard.
Ring fingers
Left hand, use your right ring finger (S) to reach the number 2.
Right hand, use your right ring finger (L) to reach the number 9.
Middle fingers
Left hand, use your right middle finger (D) to reach the number 3.
Right hand, use your right middle finger (K) to reach the number 8.
Pinky fingers
Left hand, use your right pinky finger (A) to reach the number 1.
Right hand, use your right pinky finger (;) to reach the number 0, not the letter o.
Index fingers
Left hand, use your right index finger (F) to reach the numbers 4 & 5.
Right hand, use your right index finger (J) to reach the number 6 & 7. |