Overview of 21st Century Typing

Help Click on* help button. Typing Keep your eyes on the screen. Do not look at the computer keyboard. Say the letter of each key as you type, either out loud or silently. Repeat each lesson until you feel comfortable with your control of the keys, before moving to the next lesson. Develop your feel for the keys before trying to increase your speed. Typing is a physical skill that requires practice, practice, and more practice. Start with short practice periods , such as 30 minutes a day, working up to longer periods of practice as you develop keyboard skills. For more basis information on typing click here Rest Relax at the end of each lesson if you need to. First screen Typing your name in the white box, click on* the pre historic button or computer button, then click on ok button, see right. Initial test screen If you are not familiar with the layout of the keyboard click the cancel button to by pass this test and go to Lesson #1. The initial test will determine your area of improvement. If you want to practice before the test click the warm-up button. Click on the initial test button to begin test. Click on cancel button to skip initial test Based on the initial test results the computer selects a lesson for your skill level. After completing this lesson the computer will ask if you would like to take a test and see if you are ready to move to the next level. Click on yes, if you want to take the test. After passing the test the computer will move you to the next lesson.
What to type During a typing task the active letter to be typed will be a different color  than the other letter (white boxed S, see right). When you reach the end of a line, the computer will automatically move to the next line. Adding a space Press the space bar with thumb to add a space between letters and sentences. For one space requirement between sentences, click on options button, then delete any mark in the "two spaces between sentences" box. If you are in the middle of a task you must click on the pause button before the option button. Capital letters To capitalize a letter press the letter and at the same time with your other hand press the shift key with your pinky finger.The shift key is to the left of Z for the left hand and to the right of / for the right hand. Keys with two images. To type the lower image of a key ('), just depress the key. To type the upper image of a key ("), press the key and at the same time with your other hand press the shift key with your pinky finger. Errors If you make a mistake you will hear a beep. Don't stop if you make an error, just keep typing. Errors are displayed below the text to type in red.
Result To the right of your screen is displayed the duration time and time remaining for each lesson. Each test lessons duration is 3 minutes. Click on the results button to view more details. For graph of accuracy by key click on type, at top. WPM WPM is the number of words per minute you typed. Adjusted is WPM adjusted reduced for the total errors.
Lessons To manually change a lesson, press cancel button, then yes button.  To select a lesson,  click on arrow button , the lesson will then be highlighted in blue, then click the ok button, see lesson 4 in image on the right. The program includes 14 lessons. Lesson 1 & 2 works on home keys. Lesson 3 works both hands and the shift keys Lesson 4, 5, and 6  works on the row above the home keys. Lesson 7 works on your pinky fingers. Lessons 8, 9 and 10 work on the keys below the home keys. Lesson 11 works on the numbers and some character above the letter keys on your keyboard. Lesson 12 works the special characters on your keyboard such as !, @, +, =. Lesson 13 uses the entire keyboard for this lesson Lesson 14 teaches you the number keypad on the right of your keyboard, see image below. What keys to press? In the example on the right, the letter l is highlighted in the text. The letter L on the keyboard is in red and the finger to type is over the L on the keyboard. Library Click on the library button to go to an area designed to give you an interesting “real-life” typing experience. You can pick from several categories to type from such as History, Shakespeare, or Kids Korner. Each time you click on a different book, a different selection listing appears. To select a specific title, click on that title and then click on the OK button. Tests Click on the test button to go to a test for any lesson. At the end of each test your will receive a printable certificate of your results. Games Click on the game button to play a typing game. Click on one of the two pictures to select a game. To start game click on the screen or any key. Type the letter moving down from the top of the screen. In the alien game if you type the letters correctly before the images hits the bottom of the screen the image be sent back  to top of the screen.To end a game press the Esc key, top left corner of your keyboard.. *Click on Using your mouse move the cursor on the computer screen to where you need to click. Then press your mouse button.