All the Right Type 3

Age Group: Age 8 and Up, Adults Type: Teaching Tools Price: $50

PC version requires:
P 166, 32 MB RAM, Super VGA, 256 color, 640 x 480, 8x CD-ROM, Sound Blaster compatible sound, Windows 95+, Windows NT 4.0+, Novell 4.0+

Mac version requires:
OS 8.5, Power Mac, 120 MHz processor, 32 MB RAM, 256 color, 640 x 480, 8X CD-ROM

Description:

A comprehensive keyboarding teacher, All the Right Type 3 offers tutorials, practice, testing and skill reinforcement. The Learning Lab provides instruction on posture, finger placement and technique for the keyboard along with instruction for numeric keypad and mouse skills. Skills can be practiced and perfected in the Practice Pavilion, Skill Building, Word Processing and Testing Center areas. The Records Library keeps track of users' errors and word per minute scores.

A variety of options allow the program to be set up to meet specific users' needs. The backspace key and word wrap feature can be disabled. Set speed goal, timed writing and lesson error threshold. Choose from mini, standard or ergonomic keyboard for tutorial displays. Practice mode offers a choice of standard or game mode.

Achievement is reinforced with onscreen fireworks, puzzles, trophies and printable award certificates.

Features:

• Beginner to advanced instruction
• Tutorials include finger placement, posture, technique and more
• Develop speed using game mode, standard drills or timed writing
• Numeric keypad and mouse skill lessons
• Track user progress
• Achievement awards

Technical Aspects:

All instruction is in text form. This title is appropriate for hearing impaired users; but the user will need to change the lesson error effect from beep to caption flash. This can easily be done in the Options window.

Report and Conclusions:

We did make one addition to the program to help my son learn the home keys. To keep him from moving his fingers to find the right key, we placed small stickers on each of his knuckles to show the letter that corresponded to each finger. This helped him tremendously through the first several lessons. Once he had the home keys memorized, we were able to discard the stickers.

I have also used the program myself as a practice tool and have seen improvement in my own typing skills. One of my favorite features is The Remedial Rodent a refresher course and practice for mouse skills. The practice area offers 3 levels and requires the user to click on a target, then drag and drop it into a circle. Sound easy? Level 1 is fairly simple; but in Level 2, the circle moves randomly across the screen. For the ultimate challenge, try Level 3 in which both the target and the circle move!

After seeing my son's success with this program over the last few weeks, I would highly recommend All the Right Type 3 for school or home use.