If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Learning to keyboard (type) - recommend software for older kids
In article , toto wrote:
On Sat, 3 Jul 2004 20:04:47 EDT, Clisby wrote: Are there still books available on teaching yourself to type? I would think that would be just as good as a software program. I taught myself to type as a teenager (using a typewriter), but I could have used the same method with a keyboard. The software works better, imo. And Mavis Beacon has games to increase the speed for kids as well as the teaching component. I agree. In addition to the speed games, the software can check the accuracy of the typing. Also possible (but I don't know if it is implemented in any commercial software), is to write diagnostics based on key timing and offer focused exercises to help improve those motions that are most in need of improvement. -- Kevin Karplus http://www.soe.ucsc.edu/~karplus life member (LAB, Adventure Cycling, American Youth Hostels) Effective Cycling Instructor #218-ck (lapsed) Professor of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz Undergraduate and Graduate Director, Bioinformatics Affiliations for identification only. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Learning to keyboard (type) - recommend software for older kids
Banty wrote in message ...
One of the summer assignments (from me) for my 11 year old son going into 7th grade next year is that he learn to keyboard. It would help him with assignments, now that some can be turned in typed (his handwriting is atrocious), and he's falling into a hunt-and-peck two-finger habit when he does type which I don't want to set in. What is a good software program for this? Windoze98. Thanks, Banty My 11 yo dd and 9 yo ds use Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, the regular version. They both like it, especially dd. She is almost to 20 wpm which isn't bad for a child, I think. It has your typical drill plus games. You can change the preferences to include more games or less or none, change the music in the background, change fonts, size, color, target specific weaknesses, timed tests etc...... I think it is definitely worth the $20 or so it costs. I was able to get it for $14.95 but I run a Mac and it was on closeout. Karen |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Learning to keyboard (type) - recommend software for older kids
And if you'd like a copy of this very cheap and pretty much never used,
email me. I've got one sitting around. My kids learned how to type without it. They had a required typing class for one term in 4th grade and voila, they type! Marjorie My son just bought Mavis Bacon Teaches Typing, and it seems pretty good. I've noticed that they have one titled "Mavis Bacon Teaches Typing for Kids"; don't know if it's better than the "regular" one or not -- I suspect that it may be more game like and have readings that would more appeal to kids. meh -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Learning to keyboard (type) - recommend software for older kids
In article ,
Kevin Karplus wrote: In article , dragonlady wrote: In article , Banty wrote: One of the summer assignments (from me) for my 11 year old son going into 7th grade next year is that he learn to keyboard. It would help him with assignments, now that some can be turned in typed (his handwriting is atrocious), and he's falling into a hunt-and-peck two-finger habit when he does type which I don't want to set in. What is a good software program for this? Windoze98. My son just bought Mavis Bacon Teaches Typing, and it seems pretty good. I've noticed that they have one titled "Mavis Bacon Teaches Typing for Kids"; don't know if it's better than the "regular" one or not -- I suspect that it may be more game like and have readings that would more appeal to kids. We bought Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing for Kids and it wouldn't run on our Mac, despite clearly saying that it was both Windows and Mac compatible on the package and on the CD-ROM itself. Luckily the store allowed us to exchange it for "Read, Write, and Type," which our son does like to play. It is aimed at a younger audience than 11 though---more like 8 year olds. Hmm -- the regular Mavis Bacon works fine on our Mac; I wonder what the problem was? (My son is 18, so the one for kids wasn't what he wanted.) meh -- Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Learning to keyboard (type) - recommend software for older kids
"dejablues" wrote in message ... "Banty" wrote in message ... One of the summer assignments (from me) for my 11 year old son going into 7th grade next year is that he learn to keyboard. It would help him with assignments, now that some can be turned in typed (his handwriting is atrocious), and he's falling into a hunt-and-peck two-finger habit when he does type which I don't want to set in. What is a good software program for this? Windoze98. Thanks, Banty Our kids' school uses something called Type to Learn. Our 15 and 11 year olds can type very well, so I guess it worked. I hear the Mavis Beacon programs are good too. Again, Google (and local CompUSA) are very helpful. :-) I might add that Type to Learn is by Scholastic, and they have a free trial download on their website: http://www.scholastic.com/downloads2go |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Learning to keyboard (type) - recommend software for older kids
In article ,
Banty wrote: One of the summer assignments (from me) for my 11 year old son going into 7th grade next year is that he learn to keyboard. It would help him with assignments, now that some can be turned in typed (his handwriting is atrocious), and he's falling into a hunt-and-peck two-finger habit when he does type which I don't want to set in. What is a good software program for this? Windoze98. We picked up an older version of Mavis Beacon on ebay. I had to go back a few versions to get one compatible with the old kid computer My 10yo likes it but hasn't had much chance to use it, so I can't comment too much on effectiveness. But I do think that for an 11yo you want a "real" typing program and not a kiddie one. the MB does have enough games to keep my son quite interested. He used Type to Learn at school a few years back and didn't like that as well. --Robyn |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
|
#18
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 10:51:35 EST, "Anon E. Mouse"
wrote: What is a good software program for this? Windoze98. Missed the OP. I recommend Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. -- Dorothy There is no sound, no cry in all the world that can be heard unless someone listens .. The Outer Limits |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Our son was motivated to type faster and more accurately by the demands of on-line gaming. He is now a video game and on-line game tester at EA.
Tom |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
In article . com, Tom & Sandy
Farley says... Our son was motivated to type faster and more accurately by the demands of on-line gaming. He is now a video game and on-line game tester at EA. Shhhhh.....! If every kid I know thinks copious practice will get them a job like that! Banty |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Learning to keyboard (type) - recommend software for older kids | Banty | General | 15 | March 22nd 05 01:51 AM |
Fighting Over Kids | Stepdad1963 | General | 8 | May 5th 04 07:15 PM |
WSJ: How to Give Your Child A Longer Life | Jean B. | General | 0 | December 9th 03 06:10 PM |
Bright 2nd grader & school truancy / part-time home-school? | Vicki | General | 215 | November 1st 03 09:07 PM |
FWD bad judgement or abuse Trunk kids begged to ride | Kane | General | 2 | August 5th 03 05:54 PM |