Keyboarding - Teacher Tips

• Keyboarding is a primary skill that should thread through all the activities of the class. The daily keyboarding warmup may be used throughout the semester. If the keyboarding program distracts students while you are presenting a lesson, have them minimize their MicroType program while they listen, then open MicroType to continue practice.

• Have students work at their own pace to complete the lessons.

• Do a pre-test early in the semester, by just opening a Measurement Writing in the Skill Builder section. Post-test by the same method. There is also an option for students to take a timing test just after the initial logon. If you wish to record their initial speed results, tell them to click OK, and MicroType will ask if they would like to take a timing test. 
  • Select Yes, and take the test
  • Students should type with a cover over the keyboard so they can't look at their hands
  • Record each student's speed and percentage of error 

• Begin with the Alphabetic Keyboarding section even if they say they already know the keyboard. It will be good review and will help improve their speed. Students who resist this should go to the Skill Builder section and do a timing under the Measurement Writing tab in Lesson C or any section you choose. They will then be able to see what their speed really is and whether there is still room for improvement.
• The Keyboarding Skill Builder section can be used all semester as a way to warm up at the beginning of each class. Even if they have completed the whole section, they still need to spend 10 minutes working on one of the lessons.
• About the game in the Skill Builder section: one teacher recommends that you make it optional or tell the students to disregard it. Many students love it, but you will need to watch so that students don’t just play the game and avoid the other tabs in the lessons. Some students fall behind because they are so addicted to the game.
• Keypad practice is important, and teachers should not neglect it. The Numeric Keypad section can be worked on at any time during any of the sections. This allows students some flexibility in selecting assignments and varying keyboard activities. They see it as a fun change.
• The teacher can decide whether to require students to complete the Numeric Keyboarding section. This is a difficult section and students can get frustrated. Allowing students to do this section as extra credit relieves pressure, yet gives the motivated ones something else to work on. Those that choose to work on it must complete the Alphabetic and Skillbuilder sections first.

• Note about spacing after the period: It is current business office practice to use only one space after any form of punctuation, including periods that end the sentence. However, many of us learned the habit of using two spaces between sentences and feel it just looks right. Teach students to be consistent, whether they use one or two spaces. Because MicroType counts an error if you do not have two spaces after a period, it may be easiest to tell students to use two spaces.

1. Have your students work in the Measurement Writing tab of a lesson in the Alphabetic Keyboarding section. Record their speed and accuracy directly from the screen.Have students print a lesson report from the Lesson Report tab of the current lesson.
2. Have students print a report by going to Reports / Summary.

A suggested points award system based on completing sections:

• Alphabetic Keyboarding – 10 points
• KeyboardingSkillbuilder – 10 points
• Numeric Keypad – 5 points
• Numeric Keyboarding – extra credit – 5 points

Tech Prep - a Whatcom County program that allows high students to obtain occupational credit at Bellingham Technical College or Whatcom Community College, if they meet criteria for keyboarding skills. See the  Keyboarding Competency Profile.