Course Outline

KEYBOARDING SKILLS: Hands-on Acquisition

Two 3-hour sessions will teach participants touch-typing. Participants will learn to locate each of the alphabetic and basic punctuation keys without looking. One 2-hour follow-up session will refine their skills.

Suggested Prerequisites:

None required

Futher Learning Options:

Any application training

Goal:

To locate the alphabetic and basic punctuation keys, using all the correct fingers, without looking.

Objectives:

Course participants will complete the following objectives:

• to become familiar with key locations and finger placement
• to enter text without looking at the keyboard
• to acquire a proficiency rate of up to 15 words per minute
• to maintain an accuracy rate of no more than one error per minute
• to become familiar with and implement correct keyboarding technique
• to recognize and understand the physical elements of ergonomics

Who Benefits:

You and your staff will benefit if you want to:

• stop relying on the "hunt and peck" method of sight-typing
• overcome the keyboard as an obstacle to input
• boost productivity
• reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries

Topics Covered:

The following specific topics will be covered during the course:

• homerow as the consistent starting point
• keyboard layout
• which fingers are responsible for which keys
• aspects of correct keyboarding technique (posture, wrist position)
• work area adjustments to maintain proper posture and reduce muscle fatigue (chair height, monitor, mouse and keyboard positioning)
• presentation of a 20-minute instructional video
• introduction of the Shift Key for capitalization
• individual guided practice
• use of Typin' Time software to track progress in terms of both dexterity and accuracy