Keyboarding - Alphabetic Keys
Description: This module is designed to teach basic keying skills, consisting of fluent manipulation of all alphabetic letters. Emphasis is on daily use of a computer system and appropriate software to provide integrated training through a learn/practice/sustain/assess plan of skill building.
Essential Standard: Apply the touch method in operating the alpha keys.
Objective: I can implement proper keyboarding techniques.
Essential Question: What are the correct keyboarding techniques when keying using the alphabetic keys?
"I Will" Statements:
- I will maintain good posture.
- I will keep my body centered with the G/H keys.
- I will keep my wrists low but not touching the keyboard or table.
- I will correctly keep my fingers on the home row keys while keeping my fingers curved and upright.
- I will keep my eyes on my copy.
- I will key at a steady pace.
- I will regularly self-assess by completing my technique checklist.
- I will stay on task and have a positive attitude towards improving my technique.
Unpacked Content
Keyboarding Skills – Alphabetic Keys
I. Apply the touch method in operating the keyboard and numeric keypad.
A. Implement proper keyboarding technique.
1. Keying position
2. Starting/Closing procedures
B. Execute the touch method in operating the alphabetic keys.
1. Introduce Home Row Keys.
2. Introduce remaining alphabetic keys.
3. Begin timed writings on alphabetic material.
Instructional Activities
1. Keyboarding Techniques PowerPoint. Observe and understand the importance of proper posture and finger placement when keyboarding. Practice and demonstrate the proper position of your hands, arms, wrists, fingers, legs, feet, etc. Begin to practice touch keyboarding with Microtype software's Alphabetic Keyboarding lessons. You may also use Century 21 Jr. textbook Chapter 4, entitled Letter Keys, on pages 94-139. Click, open, and view the Proper Keyboarding and Techniques handout.
1b. Click, download, and save the Keyboarding Vocabulary word list with definitions inside of your folder for this class. Then open this document. Let's read and discuss these words. Next, design and complete your Vocabulary Multimedia Presentation Project. Click here for instructions. Then create and complete your Vocabulary Foldable. Click here for the foldable's instructions.
2a. Click, open, and view the Work Area Arrangement document to understand the importance of work area arrangement. A clean and organized work area will promote better better performance in class.
2b. Next, complete the Keyboarding Handprint activity, in which you trace both hands on a 11" x 17" sheet of paper and label each Home Row key on the correct finger. You may also label the Space Bar on a thumb.
3. Click and save Posture and Technique Check List inside of your folder for this class (as instructed - either on the network or in My Documents). Open this document. Use the Posture and Technique Check List activity to rate yourself on how well you use proper technique and posture.
4. Click and save the Posture and Technique Assessment Rubric inside of your folder for this class. Open this document. Also use the Posture and Technique Rubric to assess your posture and technique. About once every two weeks, continue to rate and assess yourself, alternately using the checklist and rubric.
5. Click and save the Keyboarding Technique Terms handout inside of your folder for this class. Open this document. Review proper technique and posture vocabulary by reading and using this handout.
6. Click and save the Posture and Technique Review activity inside of your folder for this class. Open this document. Complete this activity for a grade.
7. Click, open, and view, the Touch Method of Keyboarding handout to review the importance of using good posture and technique. Be prepared to explain the importance of using the touch method of keyboarding and the rules involved.
8. Click, open, and view the Keyboarding Alphabetic Keys PowerPoint. Use this PowerPoint to learn, understand, and explain the position of the home row keys on the keyboard. Be able to demonstrate each home row key by showing the proper finger to use and the proper stroking technique. Other techniques to learn and demonstrate include spacebar tapping, and the operation of the Enter key.
9. Locate each home row key, enter key, and spacebar looking at your fingers. With your right pinky/little finger, practice the reach without striking the Enter key. With your thumb (use the same thumb every time), practice reaching without striking the spacebar. Open a new Microsoft Word document. Next practice keying the home row keys, with one space in between, while looking (a s d f j k l ;). Correctly use your right pinky/little finger and strike the Enter key twice. Next practice keying the home row keys, with one space in between, without looking at the keyboard - keep your eyes on a copy or the monitor).
10. Click and save the Home Row Keys and Finger Placement and Name activities inside of your folder that you use for this class. Open and complete both activities. Review locating each Home Row key, the Enter key, and spacebar l by first looking at your fingers and practice reaching the Enter key and the spacebar without striking them. Secondly, without looking at your hands and keyboard, practice touching and reaching again.
11. Continue to practice touch keyboarding with Microtype software.
12. In Microtype software, try the timed lessons, called Timed Writing. Explore a variety of speed drills - 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, and 5 minutes.
13. Click, open, view, and use the Computing GWAM activity to learn how to compute GWAM (Gross Words Per Minute). Next, click and save the Straight Copy Skills Performance Checklist and the Straight Copy Skills Performance Rubric inside of your folder for this class. Then open and use the checklist and rubric to self-assess keying straight copy alphabetic sentences and paragraphs. On the checklist, you may key your own comments under the Teacher Comments column; please add your initials to each comment you type.
13a. Use the following websites for review and typing practice:
14. Review the words in the vocabulary list inside of your folder for this class. If yo don't have this vocabulary list, Click and save the Keyboarding Technique Terms handout inside of your folder for this class. Open this document. Review proper technique and posture vocabulary by reading and using this handout.
Keyboarding Resources and Activities
Keyboarding Beginning Terms Study Tools
10 Proper Keyboarding Techniques Study Tools
Keyboard Shortcuts
Computer Keyboard Shortcut Keys
Keyboard Phrases(Jumbled Words)
Review of Keyboarding Techniques, Keypad, Proofing (Rags to Riches)
The Keyboard(Challenge Board)
Using the Keyboard (Rags to Riches)
ABCya! Keyboard Challenge
Keyboard Utilization Vocabulary
Computer Keyboard Shortcut Keys
Free Typing Tutor
Dance Mat Typing
Study Stack
The Keyboard Quia Game
The Keyboard Challenge
Free Typing Games
The Typing Playground
The Cup Stack
Goalie
FreeTypingGame.net (Keyboard Revolution)
BBC Schools Dance Mat Typing Level 1
Online Typing Games
Powertyping.com
Academic Builders (Click Typing)
Key Master 3 
