Feel the Need for Speed!

Feel the Need for Speed! Part I - Keyboarding Techniques Part II – Home Row Keys

Moving Around • Move onto the next slide = • Move backwards to the previous slide = • Move to back to the beginning = • Try that question again = Try Again

You choose! • Part I – Learning proper keyboarding techniques. • Part II – Learning the home row keys. • Both are essential for speed on the keyboard! (click on Part I or Part II to begin)

Why Proper Techniques? • While most kids and adults can learn to hunt and peck on their own, real typing speed depends on PROPER TECHNIQUE!

Why Proper Techniques? • People who used to find “hunt and peck” keyboarding sufficient realize that it doesn’t make much sense to have a computer with lighting speed if the information inputted into the machine is slower than the cafeteria lunch line”

3 Important Techniques to Remember! 1. Fingers 2. Posture 3. Wrists

Technique #1: Fingers • Fingers: Keep your fingers curved like cat claws and in touch with the home row keys. • Why? Slouched and fly-away fingers will slow you down!

Technique #2: Posture • Posture: Keep your back comfortably straight with your feet flat on the floor. • Why? Keeps the torso centered towards monitor, arms in correct location and body correctly balanced and vision focused on the task.

Technique #3: Wrists • Wrists: Wrists OFF the keyboard! Why? Constant noodle wrist can result a carpal tunnel injury, and decrease the speed at which your fingers travel on the keyboard.

Now, lets see if you can spot the correct or incorrect techniques.In the following slides view the picture.Then make the best choice by clicking answer “A” or answer “B”.Good luck!

What do you see? A. Correct finger placement or B. Fly away fingers

Yes! Nice Job!Here’s why:Fingers are in good placement!

Oops! Lets review that one. • Fingers: Keep your fingers curved like cat claws and in touch with the home row keys

What do you see? A. Noodle wrist or B. Good wrist placement

Yes! Nice Job! Here’s Why: Wrists Are on the keyboard! Bad spot!

Oops! Lets review that one. • Wrists: Keep wrists OFF the keyboard!

What do you see? A. Good posture or B. Pitiful posture

Yes! Nice Job! Here’s Why: This kid did not have a straight posture like this! Right!

Oops! Lets review that one. • Posture: Keep your back comfortably straight with your feet flat on the floor! (That kid did not look like this!)

What do you see? A. Noodle wrist or B. Good wrist placement

Yes! Nice Job! Here’s Why: WristsAre off the keyboard! Great spot!

Oops! Lets review that one. • Wrists: Wrists OFF the keyboard! (This kid was definitely “Right”)

What do you see? A. Good posture or B. Pitiful posture

Yes! Nice Job! Here’s Why: This kid did have a straight posture like this! Right!

Oops! Lets review that one. • Posture: Keep your back comfortably straight with your feet flat on the floor! The girl in the picture had perfect posture!

Nice Job! Now you’ve got the PICTURE! Everything makes a difference when it comes to keyboarding. Ready for Part II – Home Row Keys? (click the arrow to advance to Part II)

Keyboarding Part II: Home Rowing Learning the Home Row Keys!

Why is Learning Home Row Keys so Important? • They are always your starting point! (That’s why they are in the middle?) • They give you a Home base to reach the rest of the keys efficiently. • They are the foundation to keyboarding speed! (Always feel the need for speed)

Left and Right Hand Finger Placement In the next few slides you will be guided on finger placement for the home row keys. The first slide will be for the Right hand and the second slide will be for the Left hand.

Home Row - Right Hand In the Yellow – J K L ; : You try it!

Home Row – Left Hand In Yellow – A S D F You try it!

Let’s bring it together! Place both your right and left hand on their designate home row keys. Like this.

Do you feel it? • Do you feel the small bumps on the F and J Keys with your index fingers? • If you do you are in the right spot! • If you don’t, look here for a review.

Let’s Practice(Read all directions first!) • Step one, you will click on the link below • Step two, make sure your sound in on! • Step three, click on the home row lesson • Step four, click on start and follow the directions for home row practice. • Step five, when finished with home row practice, close out of the internet window. • Link: Practice Now

Let’s see how good you are? On the next few slides, without looking at your keyboard or fingers, click on the best answer: A B C Good Luck, I know you can do it! (No Peeking!)

For Right and Left Hand –What arethe index finger home row keys? A: G and H B: D and J C: F and J (hint, your index finger is next to your thumb)

Yes! Nice Job! You’re correct! Do you feel the bumps?

Oops! Lets review that one. It’s these keys, F and J, remember! Try Again

For Right and Left Hand – What are the little fingers home row keys? A: S and ; : B: L and A C: A and ; : • (No hint on this one – life is tough!)

Yes! Nice Job! You’re Correct, do you see why?

Oops! Lets review that one. It’s these keys, A and : ;, remember! (Did you know the little finger is called the “Pinky Finger”?) Try Again

For Right and Left Hand – What are themiddle finger home row keys? A: S and K B: D and K C: L and D (Hint – your middle finger is in the middle! Ha!)

Yes! Nice Job! You’re correct! Do you see why?

Oops! Lets review that one. It’s these keys, D and K, remember! Try Again

For Right and Left Hand – What are thering finger home row keys? A: S and L B: D and L C: K and A • (Hint – your ring finger is next to your little finger)

Yes! Nice Job! You’re correct! Do you see why?

Oops! Lets review that one. It’s these keys, S and L, remember! Try Again

For Right and Left Hand – What inthe world do your thumbs do? A: Nothing B: Either can click the Space Bar. C: Either hit any key they want. • (Hint – Remember what the Goat said)

Yes! Nice Job! Yes, you’re correct! Do you see why? Either thumb can click the space bar!

Oops! Lets review that one. It’s the space key, use either thumb, remember? Try Again

Feel the Need for Speed!