Review home row; Learn H and E

We will spend the beginning of the hour reviewing the home row.  After reviewing we will then add 2 new keys - the H and the E.

What we are using is called a QWERTY keyboard (you should be able to find where QWERTY is on the keyboard); there is another keyboard called the DVORAK keyboard, but it is very uncommon (designed in the early 1900's; see image below).  The QWERTY keyboard has been in existence since 1870, but didn't become really popular until about 15 years later.  Ever since that time, however, it has been the standard for keyboard layouts.

The purpose of the QWERTY keyboard's layout is to avoid having keys stick together as they were being typed - the idea was to have a layout in which you alternated using your hands often while typing - this helped to eliminate having the typewriter arms get stuck.  The DVORAK keyboard's purpose was to have the most commonly used keys on the home row - thus your fingers moved less while typing, but the problem was that the keys got stuck more often.
 

Just a few things to keep in mind as you are keying:

1. When keying your forearms should not be resting on your thighs.  Remember that your fingers are the only "things" touching anything - everything else on your lower arm should not be touching the keyboard, countertop, or anything else.
2. If you keep your keyboard at the edge of the countertop you will avoid having issues with #1 above.  This will also be a benefit when it comes to the technique sheet and grading.
3. The speed skins will move slightly as you are typing - I understand your frustration in this regard, but do the best that you can.
4. In order to be able to key at a proficient level you need to fight through the urge to constantly look at your keyboard (that's part of why we have the speed skins).  This will probably be a "weird sensation" - you are used to using your visual senses to help you accomplish what you do on a daily basis.  However, we want to get to a point where looking at your keyboard is not necessary.

Learning the home row on the keyboard

Today we are going to start with learning the keyboard and how to key correctly.  You should know that you will be learning the touch typing method - that means that you will be learning to key without looking at the keyboard.  That is why we use the speed skins - they are to be on your keyboard at all times throughout the entire semester.

The biggest factor in learning to key successfully is to first concentrate on technique (we will cover what you need to do correctly in terms of technique today in class).  Most people want to type fast right away - I think that's human nature, but it just doesn't work that way.  Being able to type efficiently and at a fast pace takes a bunch of practice.

Our concentration as we begin to learn the keyboard will be on technique - speed will come later.  It is important that you concentrate on doing things right first, and usually that means at a slow pace as you begin, rather than worry about your speed.

Home row method

You are going to be learning how to key using the Home Row method and touch typing technique.  What the Home Row method means is that everything you do will be based on the home row and where your fingers rest on the home row.  Additionally, a touch typing technique requires that you use your physical senses (in other words the feeling in your fingers) to key rather than visual senses.  What this means is that through practice you will be able to key without looking at the keyboard.

In order to be able to do that at a proficient level you to fight through the urge to constantly look at your keyboard.  This will probably be a "weird sensation" - you are used to using your visual senses to help you accomplish what you do on a daily basis.  But, with practice, it is possible (we'll use an example in class).  

Today we will begin learning the keyboard.  We start with the home row - it will be important that you "master" the home row because everything else on the keyboard will flow from the home row.

Day 2

We will finish covering the Computer Network policy today.

After that is done we will start with learning of the keyboard.  If you missed what I said yesterday, there is really only one way to learn to key, and you will be learning it here in class.  Literally millions (maybe billions) of people have learned the "Home Row" method of keying.  

To give you a little history...the keyboard that you are using is called the QWERTY keyboard.  It has been in existence for over 125 years (created in 1875) and is by far and away the most commonly used keyboard.  There is another keyboard layout (it is called the DVORAK keyboard), but it has not been in existence as long as the QWERTY keyboard, and it is not as popular in its use.

Learning to key is a skill - just like playing an instrument or playing a sport - and therefore it takes practice, and lots of it, to become good at it.  My goal is to help you get better, but I can't help you get better if you don't TRY to get better yourself.  In other words, you have to make an effort to improve - it doesn't just happen. 

Today we will start with the home row and learn to use the keys on the home row as well as how to arrange our work station.