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Author Topic: How to teach kids touch typing?  (Read 2677 times)

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Offline heedpantsnow

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How to teach kids touch typing?
« on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:15:05 »
When I learned it was on a Model M with blank keys, and we used some sort of software for teaching touch typing.

What is there these days to teach kids?  From age 6 and up.
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Offline Sygaldry

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:16:46 »
Mario Teaches Typing
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Offline missalaire

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:19:25 »
I had this typing class in middle school where the instructor would have us cover up our keyboards with this rubber skin that fit over the keys. It was a good learning experience and it stuck.
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Offline heedpantsnow

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:21:33 »
Quote from: Sygaldry on Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:16:46
Mario Teaches Typing

Thanks, doesn't work on 64-bit, and I don't want to install a VM. :-(

Are there any other similar options?
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Offline Sygaldry

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:30:14 »
Quote from: heedpantsnow on Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:21:33
Quote from: Sygaldry on Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:16:46
Mario Teaches Typing

Thanks, doesn't work on 64-bit, and I don't want to install a VM. :-(

Are there any other similar options?
You don't need a VM.
Just get a DOS emulator.  :thumb:
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Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:39:44 »
Mavis beacon FTW!
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Offline JinDesu

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:47:34 »
Tell them to play counterstrike and no voice chat, and then trash talk them to hell. That's how I learned =p
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Offline FrostyToast

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 15:49:39 »
Give them otaku boards. It will be slow, painful, and beautiful.
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Offline heedpantsnow

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 16:01:30 »
Seems like most of the options out there just exercise typing, not teaching which finger goes where.  Like typing frtgv frtgv frtgv over and over again back in the day.
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Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 16:08:19 »
Quote from: heedpantsnow on Tue, 13 January 2015, 16:01:30
Seems like most of the options out there just exercise typing, not teaching which finger goes where.  Like typing frtgv frtgv frtgv over and over again back in the day.

My mom bought this for my oldest it was on sale as a daily deal a while back

http://www.amazon.com/Typing-Instructor-Kids-Platinum-Download/dp/B003LJXELE

From what I've seen of it, it does tell you which fingers to use with which key.
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Offline Joey Quinn

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 16:10:49 »
Blank caps and changing to dvorak did it for me. I think you need to want to touch type in order to learn how to do it.
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 16:38:18 »
Give them Facebook... !!!!!!!




double edge sword.. if they get addicted to facebook..
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 16:40:05 »
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. That's what we had in school. That program and a little cardboard roof so that you couldn't see what you were typing.
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 16:51:42 »
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Tue, 13 January 2015, 16:40:05
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. That's what we had in school. That program and a little cardboard roof so that you couldn't see what you were typing.

I high recommend NOT doing the card board roof...

Get the blank caps instead...


A fundamental aspect of typing they often don't teach is Technique..

Poor technique results in RSI injuries down the line.. and is VERY difficult to correct once the person's been doing it that way for 10+ years..


So with the Cardboard roof.. you can't see your hands...  this is bad because you form muscle memory without ever noticing what's going on with your hands.. and the way it's contorting..


I think getting your kid a split keyboard is first and foremost.. 

Then let them use facebook and a typing game that's actually "fun"  like typing of the dead.. (the new one's not as kid friendly) dl the old one..

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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 16:54:27 »
ALSO..  it's important that the parent provide SOME oversight in teaching their kids to type, because children's joints are supple..

Meaning they can bend much further for much longer without any pain..

And even if they do feel some discomfort,  they won't be bothered by it enough to stop.. Kids have higher tolerances... (and they're completely ignorant of long term effects)


So what you need to do is make sure they got good technique from the get go...




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Offline heedpantsnow

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 18:07:36 »
Ok thanks guys. I got engraved caps on one of my Pokers for him to use (and a Stormtrooper to make him feel it's cool). Going to try out Mario first. Then may buy the Mavis Beacon if that doesn't work.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 19:49:10 »
When my kids were little one of their teachers suggested getting a black handkerchief and draping it over hands and keyboard.

Easy, cheap, non-destructive, and versatile.
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Offline slip84

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 19:54:30 »
I learned with Mario Teaching Typing, too.

And a teacher with a quick hand with a ruler. Yeesh.
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Offline dante

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 19:57:08 »
I learned with Infocom Text Adventures (today they call it Interactive Fiction)
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Offline demik

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 20:34:13 »
blind fold and a whip
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Offline slip84

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 21:16:50 »
Quote from: demik on Tue, 13 January 2015, 20:34:13
blind fold and a whip
Wrong thread?
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Offline demik

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #21 on: Tue, 13 January 2015, 21:18:34 »
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Offline mstechfreak

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #22 on: Wed, 14 January 2015, 02:10:13 »
I would definitely suggest Typing Study - http://www.typingstudy.com/ because the website deals not only with how to write and how to do it fast,but they pay attention to ergonomics (on how to do it the RIGHT way). Highly recommended!
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #23 on: Wed, 14 January 2015, 02:45:52 »
Quote from: demik on Tue, 13 January 2015, 20:34:13
blind fold and a whip

This how they teach piano and calligraphy in China..

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Offline The Mad Professor

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #24 on: Thu, 15 January 2015, 00:03:55 »
I vote for the Heretic's Fork...



Kid'll keep their head firmly locked on the screen and never look down...
« Last Edit: Thu, 15 January 2015, 00:05:33 by The Mad Professor »
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Offline smknjoe

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #25 on: Thu, 15 January 2015, 00:25:21 »
^funny

If they are supervised while learning this should work: http://www.typing-lessons.org/preliminaries_1.html

I still think "touch" typing sounds strange. It's sort of like saying "I can stand walk."

You either know how to do it or you don't. 


Edit: If used in conjunction with blank keycaps, or making sure they don't look at the keys, they could become proficient within 1.5-3 months depending on how much time they spend practicing. The same can be said for any age really.
« Last Edit: Thu, 15 January 2015, 01:16:34 by smknjoe »
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Offline baldgye

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #26 on: Thu, 15 January 2015, 05:21:20 »
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #27 on: Thu, 15 January 2015, 06:31:44 »
Ok.. I feel like none of you have ever played Mario-Teaches-Typing..

If your kid's played videogames at all..  Mario Typing will bore the Crap out of him.. There's no way any kid can even go from Regular Mario .. into Mario Teaches Typing..

It's THAT boring..


Typing of the Dead remains the only "GAME"  that's remotely playable....  set it on Very-Easy..

There are also Lessons..


Don't play the New Typing of the Dead Overkill, it's got too many bad-words....
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Offline Geroximo

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Re: How to teach kids touch typing?
« Reply #28 on: Thu, 15 January 2015, 09:04:16 »
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