Master Gecko's Home Row

Age Group: Age 8 and Up, Adults Type: Teaching Tools Price: $10

PC version requires:
Windows 95, 98, 2000 or ME

Mac version requires:
OS 7.x, 8.x or 9.x

Description:

Ohio Distinctive Software has a reputation for publishing low-cost yet entertaining educational software suitable for a wide range of computer systems. Master Gecko's Home Row, a typing tutorial, is no exception. Starting at Master Gecko's dojo, students start out with lessons, then hone their just-learned skills by working through mazes to locate learning scrolls. Be careful, though, looking at the keyboard will result in a setback!

Features:

• Master Gecko's amazing martial arts expertise
• Beginner, intermediate and expert levels
• Fun and interesting facts about geography, astronomy, even grammar
• Practice games designed to keep eyes off fingers

Technical Aspects:

Graphics are sharp and colorful. Audio is clear and background music may be turned off if it becomes annoying. While the typing lessons and games could be negotiated by hearing impaired users, much of the charm of this program comes from the verbal comments of Master Gecko.

Report and Conclusions:

Although I am an excellent typist (or keyboardist, or whatever it's called these days), even the beginning lessons were challenging, since it harkened back to the days of a-s-d-f-j-k-l-; and having to think before striking each key. It's hard to type strings of letters that don't form words. Speed and accuracy are calculated at the end of each lesson and Master Gecko is encouraging or complimentary as necessary. Master Gecko also rewards increasing speed with entertaining gymnastic feats.

Following each lesson is an exercise in finding the way through a maze by going up, down, left or right using the keys just learned and finding a series of learning scrolls (more practice). The letter combinations change as the maze is negotiated, and there are hazards along the way, so the user must look at the screen and not the keyboard.

Innovative, effective and entertaining, if you need a typing tutorial and budget is an issue (or even if it's not), this is the title for you.