Program Description

A team of educators at Advanced Keyboard Technologies, Inc. after extensive research and thorough study, have developed a keyboard instruction program that gets the results educators and parents want and one that our students deserve.

Basics

Individualized instruction - automatic tracking and monitoring
120 preprogrammed lessons - 16 assessment tests
Assessment is automatically recorded and can be sent to your computer or printer for a complete class or student progress report
Pre-set or customized WPM and accuracy benchmarks
Patented TechniqueBuilder™ homerow and shift key reinforcement system

Overview

The Writer or Fusion with Perfect Form is designed to provide the brief, daily practice essential for proper skill development:15 minutes, 4-5 days per week, 6-8 weeks. (Proper habits and technique cannot be established with a once-a-week instructional format, no matter how many years it’s provided. )
Roll the lab in, pass out the keyboards like workbooks and begin.
Both Fusion and Writer will provide the means to apply this newly learned skill. Once learned, (like a foreign language or cursive) this new skill must be applied on a regular basis. Utilize the Writer or Fusion as a portable word processor (application tool) to increase keyboard fluency and improve writing skills.

The Right Time?

3^rd – 5^th Grade – Students master keyboarding quickly at this level and instruction (mastery) come prior to the onset of poor, stubborn habits. Middle school students dislike keyboard instruction classes and resist keyboard retraining exercises. Most parents and educators agree that middle school technology labs and middle students should be engaged in higher level technology application.
Students in grades 3-5 are required to write lengthy essays, making the critical application aspect of mastery, a natural step. (Do not be concerned with the poor keyboard form used by primary (k-2) grade students. It is easily replaced with sound instruction).

Taught by Whom?

The classroom teacher – though The Writer keyboarding program can be easily taught and monitored by a paraprofessional, the classroom teacher will provide the ongoing reinforcement and skill “ownership” necessary for a successful program.
This skill contributes more to the future success of a student than does cursive writing, thus worthy of classroom time and the attention of the classroom teacher.

Critical Success Factors

For your keyboarding program to succeed in establishing proper habits, critical elements must be in place. Keyboarding programs are doomed to fail if they do not have these essential elements. Your keyboarding program must…
Have a school-wide commitment
Be classroom based
Be easy for teachers to implement (very little prep., no manual grading, no manual tracking – as automatic as possible)
Provide brief, well monitored, daily practice. (To acquire proper habits, practice must be massed or front loaded – practice spread over months or years will not lead to mastery)
Provide application of the new skill on a regular and ongoing bases
Be fun for students and teacher