We had the opportunity to review The Typing Coach Online Typing Course by The Typing Coach.
I never took typing in high school, but will agree that if I had, it would have helped me tremendously in college. Although I was able to peck away, the best I could, to complete my assignments, knowing how to type would have saved me some time.
The Typing Coach is an online typing course geared towards children as young as elementary age. In this day and age, children as young as toddlers are typing and it is truly becoming a required skill for all ages. Typing (keyboard) skills are needed to complete online forms – like job applications and registrations, school work – like general writing assignments, essays, college application and more. You cannot get away from the need for typing skills. The only issue is, everyone is not learning how to type the correct way, but instead are pecking and getting by the best they can.
The Typing Coach offers a self-paced typing course that includes seven lessons. That is all it takes to help you type faster and more efficiently. They even consider themselves a better program. Find out why.
The topics that are covered are:
1. Having Good Posture
2. Home Row
3. Top Row
4. Bottom Row
5. Shift Keys
6. Typing Practices
7. Number Row
Progress depends on the skill of your student and beginners to more advance students, who have never taken a typing course, can benefit from taking the program.
Logging in and starting the program was easy. Starting with the first lesson is best. Although the topics in the lessons are taught independently, the skills the student learns are eventually used collectively as they become a better typist.
Lily spends a lot of time typing her many stories she creates, so I figured she would best be able to benefit from The Typing Coach. She often “types from her head” where the words that appear on the screen come from the thoughts in her head, so, she is used to being glued to watching the keyboard or monitor as she types.
Lily listened to the lessons before typing. The typing lessons are available in a PDF format, which I printed for her use for the exercises. Having them in a separate area is like how typing lessons use to be done; training the student to being able to type without their eyes being glued to the keyboard or screen.
Lily was able to get a balance between using the printed typing lessons and typing the lessons. That has always been a challenge for me. I often find myself either staring at the screen or keyboard. I get my typing done, but am not as proficient; I know I would not test well. The Typing Coach stresses mastery of the skills taught before the student moves to the next lesson. Lily has done well (she is just like that) working through the lessons and is continuing to work through them. Being able to work at her own pace has been helpful. She has worked through the lessons slowly to be sure she has a handle on typing. Learning to type is an important skill and I am giving her time to perfect it.
Something I am glad was addressed is “having good posture”. Posture, just as hand positions when writing, is very important when learning how to type. Typing is an upper body skill – all parts of the upper body. I even believe your thoughts flow better if you are sitting correctly. I spend many hours a day on the computer and I know the importance of sitting correctly while typing.
The Typing Coach has been a nice addition in our school. I am going to add it to the summer studies of my rising high schooler. I think the skill will make it easier for him as he types the many papers to come.
You may purchase The Typing Coach for $17 per student, which gives you access to the program for one year. I would say, that is an excellent price and a great program for your child to take during the summer break. You may even try it before you buy it.
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