Mr. B's Keying Tune-Up

Keying Tune-Up: A Critical Writing Skill

Ergonomics | Keying Tutorials | Keying Games
Don't forget the Three-Finger Numeric Keypad!

Using "Home Row" on the Keyboard. Writing is a critical 21st Century Skill and today, we have powerful tools to help us write. While texting interfaces and predictive word technology are great, they have their limitations. Being able to comfortably, confidently and competently write with a keyboard is a valuable skill. The QWERTY keyboarding, the key arrangement sold with almost all computers in the U.S., is not obsolete.

It will be with us for a long time to come. Technology has existed for decades that will transcribe speech-to-text, but these digital tools are rarely used. The English language is complex and is not written the way it is spoken. More importantly, even if I can talk and have it transcribed to text, it is not ready to read.

Writing is a process of editing and revising. The problem with speech-to-text is that we still have to edit and revise speech-to-text for clarity and readability. To efficiently do this, we need to be able to key our revisions. The good news is: we can all learn to key and not have to hunt-and-peck for each letter of each word in each sentence, paragraph, and document we write.

This "keyboard tune-up" is designed to connect my students with the best keyboarding tutorials and keying games online. Everything here is FREE! Invest 15-20 minutes each day reviewing keyboard fingerings and the touch method.

Once you learn to use "home row" and the "touch method", then you can choose fun keying games to build those skills. Keying games let you build skills letter-by-letter, word-by-word, and then working with "chunks" of text. As you get faster and more-accurate, you will be amazed at how easy this becomes!

What is "Touch Typing"? Please watch
this short video to find out.

Ergonomics | Keying Tutorials | Keying Games
Don't forget the Three-Finger Numeric Keypad!

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Keying Ergonomics

Learning how to sit and key comfortably is the foundation of great typing skills. Ergonomics underlies the "touch method".

Ergo for Members. Check out this online guide to ergonomics. Just click on what you want to know.

Ergonomic Self-Help Guide. Here's an interactive guide to promote awareness of how ergonomics help us use computers productively.

Ergonomic Workstation - Ergonomic Basics. Learn how to create a comfortable workstation.

Ergonomics Quiz. Test what you know.

Ergonomics Simplified. A complete ergonomics tutorial based on your specific challenges and concerns.

What are Ergonomics? This great interactive site will explain.

Keying Tutorials

If you carefully practice correctly: sitting up straight, feet flat on the floor (yes! it makes a difference), fingers slightly curved, wrists flat and off the table/desk, and fingertips on each hand resting lightly on "home row"(asdf jkl;) you too can learn the "touch method" and become an comfortable, accurate keyboarder.

Each of the links below contain a set of keyboarding lessons that break this valuable skill down into manageable chunks -- keep track of which sites and which of their lessons you master. You can complete an entire keyboarding review in a couple of weeks and you will feel the difference -- and it feels great!

All The Touch Typing Tutors. This web has a large set of links for freeware and shareware keyboarding sites.

Alpha Free Typing Tutor. This site provides step-by-step instruction to improve keyboarding ability and also hosts lessons, games, and tests that score wpm and accuracy.

ARTypist. Created to help students learn, improve, and master keyboarding, this online tutor provides 10 lessons and games.

BellaOnline. How quickly can you type? Take these free online typing tests to find out!

Byte Back Typing Tutor. Here's a free course designed to teach touch typing.

Dance Mat Typing. A quirky animated course by British Broadcasting Corporation -- if you enjoy talking goats and a playful interface, you will like this.

E-Learning for Kids. This site has a space theme that makes it fun for kids to practice their keyboarding skills. Games can be unlocked as typists move on to higher levels.

Free Typing Game. This site has a free set of interactive activities to learn the "touch method" of keying. Learning to type has never been easier.

Glencoe's Online Keyboarding. These are the folks that wrote the book -- typing books for generations of keyers. These lessons will carefully help you review and build skills.

GoodTyping. Learn how to type correctly in just a few hours using all your fingers

Keyboard Tutorial & Typing Test. Great site to review or learn keying. When you are ready, there is a section to practice composing at the keyboard and then practicing your text.

Laptop Typing Tutorial. This web links to a complete set of tutorials, drills, games, lessons, and diagrams to improve typing skills.

Learn 2 Type. A complete tutorial that begins by demonstrating hand position & technique. Not sure where to start? Use their timed typing tests to see how ready you are. While not required, you can create an account to help you keep track of your progress each time you log-in.

Learn Keyboard Typing. Great site -- 13 online lessons -- you will move through them quickly. This site is great for a typing "tune-up".

Learn to Type at the Speed of Thought! Here's a valuable site that tutors you to key as fast as you imagine the text you want to write. This is a more authentic skill than typing drills from straight-copy.

Learn to Type Online. This course has 5 lessons to introduce keys -- maybe too fast for a beginner (but maybe not). This site is a great review for those needed a "tune-up".

Peters Online Typing Course. A comprehensives and well-done program. This one will work for you if you work it.

PowerTyping. Choose QWERTY (standard) or Dvorak keyboard and rev your keyboardin' engine!

Speed Typing Online. Even if you have learned the basics, try this website's quick "tune-up". You can be a speed-typist too.

Typing Club. Begin with home row and then add 2 keys per lesson -- very managable and effective.

Typing Lessons. This site does a fantastic job of breaking the keyboard into short, simple lessons. Highly recommended, especially for those just getting started.

Typing Play. Have fun while you learn to key. There are links to learn the "touch method" of keyboarding and then lessons to have fun practicing.

Typing Test Online. Use this site to check your progress -- watch your skills grow.

Touch Typing Online. If other online programs add new keys too fast, try this one -- it carefully breaks your practice into manageable groups.

Typing Course Online. Choose your style of lessons: letter-by-letter, copy text, create your own text.

Typing Web. A free set of online lessons that require you to set up a no-charge account.

VisiBone Touch-Typing Tutor. Another well-done set of free interactive keyboarding links.

Wapsilon: How fast are your fingers? Do the one minute typing test; press space after each word. At the end, you get your typing speed in CPM and WPM.

Ergonomics | Keying Tutorials | Keying Games
Don't forget the Three-Finger Numeric Keypad

Keying Games

Skill Check! Begin here to see where you are starting. You will get better as you master The Touch Method.

One-Minute Typing: Choose your grade and show your stuff
Three-Minute Typing
Five Minute Typing
Typing Speed Test: Key as quickly and accurately as possible
Typing Tests: Word-by-word

Skill Building Games

10 Fast Fingers: Improve your typing speed
Alpha Attack: Keyboarding game
Balloon Typing Game. Another relaxed-themed game -- type letters before the balloons float away
Baron von Typefast: You are Baron von Typesfast, fighter ace and blimps are bombing your city
Boat Rush: Letter-by-letter game that navigates a boat safely
Car Rider: Letter-by-letter game, choose a theme, drive your car safely
Career Step Typing : Find out how fast you are typing
Cup Stacking Typing (ABCya): Letter-by-letter fun with cups
Cute Jumper: Letter-by-letter game, chose your character, keyboard row, and difficulty
Desert Typing Racer: Type the word or group of letters above the cars. Only cars in the middle of the road can hit you
Dance Mat Typing for Kids: Making learning to key fun
Dance Mat Typing for Adults: Same learning game, with a more mature feel
Fix the Keyboard: Place letters on the keyboard
Foggies Typing Game: Free typing game to learn and practice typing on a computer keyboard
Font Wars: Type the words as they appear. The currently targeted word is underlined

Free Typing Games Online: The typing playground

FreeTypingGame.net: Free typing game

[The] Frogs are Off Their Diet: Frogs are eating all the letters -- help them stay on their diet by typing the letters before they get swallowed

Fun Kids Typing Games (Speed Typing / Keyboarding Practice): online typing activities for elementary school kids (mostly suitable for children in 1st grade, 2nd grade and 3rd grade)

funtotype.com: Games galore that build valuable skills

Ghost Typing (ABCya): Be brave, type brave word-by-word
Ghost Typing Jr. (ABCya): Type brave, be brave, letter-by-letter
Glider Cats: Choose your cat & glider, and then 3, 4, 5, or 6 letter words
Hacker vs Robot: This word-keying game becomes more challenging as you play
how-to-type.com: Graduate from hunt-and-peck to touch typing mastery
Jets Home Row: Getting this skill down begins by mastering Home Row
Jungle Racing: Select racer and then 3, 4. 5, or 6 letter words
Keyboard Challenge: Not really a typing game, but can you place keys in their right place on the QWERTY keyboard?
Keyboard Climber. How far can you climb?
Keyboard Ninja: While you can create a free account to save your progress, Mr. B suggests not having any website track what we do online -- your choice though
Keyboard Revolution: Let the fun begin.
Keyboarding Zoo (ABCya). You choose: letter-by-letter or word-by-word at the zoo
Keyboarding Zoo 2 (ABCya). Upper and lower case practice
Learn Keyboarding: 2nd Grade lessons From Turtle Diary
Letter Zap!: Just start it up and press the letter on your keyboard. You get 1 point when you zap a letter
Meteor Typing Blast: Flying meteors and UFOs are coming at your spaceship from every direction
Monkey Type: 10 lessons and then a skill check that shows how you've gotten better
Ninja Typing: Letter-by-letter game to safely navigate the course -- 3 levels, it's harder than iyt looks
Ninja vs Zombies: Letter-by-letter with three skill levels and ugly ugly zombies
Nitro Type: This is a world-wide favorite, a whole language game, that can really build valuable skills; a free racing account is available
Outer Space Fleet Commander: Guide the alien fleet through the galaxy, typing letters before they stop you
Peter's Online Typing Course: Online typing lessons for everyone
Pop-A-Word: Type as many words as you can from the letter set show -- this game is best for more-advanced typing writers
QWERTY Warriors: The top-row of a standard U.S. keyboard says QWERTY -- are you ready to join and compete with the QWERTY Warriors?
Road Rush: Chose your race and 3, 4, 5, or 6 letter words
Save the Sailboat Race: Falling Letters are ruining the sailboat race -- help by typing the letters before they land on the boats
Sea Life Typing: Build skills and an amazing underwater world with word-by-work typing
Sky Chase: A multi-player racing game that allows students from anywhere in the world to race one another while practicing typing and keyboard skills
Sky Chase Words: Race against computer-driven planes with simple words and a beautiful blue sky (relaxing)
Spacebar Invader: Strange creatures & UFOs wiggle down from space -- type words and phrases before they reach bottom
Space Typing Junior. Six levels of typing words with a settings feature to turn off the annoying music
Speed Typing Online: Ever wonder how people learn to type so fast? Touch typing is a skill that uses muscle memory developed only through practice

Timed Typing Tests: Free online assessments to build skills

Trick or Type: Halloween-themed fun. The ghosts want candy. Key words to drop treats into their bag

Toodle: Use your keyboard to type in the sentences

Touch Typing Study: Are you still typing with two fingers? Do you still need to look at your keyboard before every keystroke?

Type A Balloon: Choose difficluty and keyboard letters. Mr. B suggests not setting up a free account and having this website track what you do -- your choice
Type the Alphabet: How fast can you do A-+Z?
Type Toss: Choose letters or words in this carnival-style game
Typetastic: Three levels -- K-2, Upper Elementary, and Middle/High School
Typing Rockets. Key letters in the rockets to make them explode
Typeroids Home Row Mission: All keyers can get better by building stronger home row skills, which is what this game does
Typing Knight: Letter-by-letter and then word-by-word skills in 6 levels
Typing game by Nikola Simovic: Type as many words as you can before time runs out
Typing Pilot: Letter-by-letter, navigate to avoid the alien spacecraft

Typing Rocket Junior. Practice for Kindergarten through second grade.

Typing Rockets Major League. Third grade and up.

Typing Speed Test. How fast can you type?

Typing Swimmer Rows: These kitties like to swim and do letter-by-letter practice
Typing Tutorials And Lessons. All free & online
Typinglessons-online.com. Includes English and Spanish lessons & more!
Vampire Hunter: Be brave and key, key, key letters, letters, letters
Whack-A-Mole: Small letters, capital letters (using Shift key, not cap lock!) and even numbers
WPM Calculator: A challenging whole language game
Zombie Defender: Row-by-row letter combinations and word-by-word keying
Z-Type. Type the words that are falling from the top of the screen. When you have correctly typed a word a laser shoots it

Ergonomics | Keying Tutorials | Keying Games
Don't forget the Three-Finger Numeric Keypad

What is "Touch Typing"? Please watch this short video to find out.

What is "Touch Typing"? Please watch
this short video to find out.