Dance Mat Typing is an interactive and fun way to teach students the proper way to type. This Web 2.0 tool starts by introducing terms, such as home row keys, and showing students the proper way to place your hands on the keyboard. As each letter is introduced, students are told which finger to use as it is being demonstrated on the screen.
Students then get to practice what they have learned. Students practice several letters/words with what they just learned. This Web 2.0 tool has several levels and stages that students can choose from.
Each level has a different character to introduce and teach the letters. These characters are fun to watch and speak in funny accents that students would really enjoy. There are fun animations, music, and encouraging comments to keep students motivated.
I know one of my struggles being an elementary school teacher is trying to teach students the proper way to type. Most of the time students like to "hunt and peck" to find the letter they want. Dance Mat Typing would be great to use in the computer lab as a whole class activity. Students would be able to work at their own pace and students who needed to repeat lessons would be able to do so. Students could continuously repeat the entire program to keep practicing their typing skills.
To make the activity more difficult, the keyboard shown on the screen will disappear but give you the option to have it back. This really makes students concentrate on what they are doing!
Since this tool teaches the proper fingers to use, it could also be used as an introduction for a lesson for a teacher. Dance Mat Typing could also be used as the independent practice of a lesson or as a review of what students have already learned. This is a great tool that can be used as the entire lesson or for any specific part.
Jessica, Even though I teach middle grades Science, your Dance Map Typing Web 2.0 tool could be very useful for me. Just last night I was at conferences and I was discussing with a parent how to better help his son in his Language Arts class with his writing. We discussed having him type his papers and he said his son is horrible at typing and uses the hunt-and-peck method. Wow, what great timing to read through your description. This would be the perfect tool to help this student learn to type. Since I have this student in study hall, this is perfect and I can't wait to use it with him. You did a great job explaining your tool and making it easy for everyone to understand.
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica, Dance Matt Typing is exciting and has vibrant color schemes. There are many interesting characters to guide students in their learning. I’m interested to see if my pre-school students will be able to manipulate their fingers and learn the home row keys and more. I like the explicit directions for first time typists -- they are great! However, I predict that my students might have a difficult time with hand and finger coordination. Even with this small downfall, for preschool children this is a wonderful site. I remember learning how to type and it was never this much fun!
ReplyDeleteDeborah Sanders
Type on me! I will hear this in my mind for a while but with a great British accent. This is a good way to introduce a child to the basics of typing. In today’s world of technology I think we type more than we write, sad to say, but I think this may be true. It would be really good if they could also create a version for young adults and older adults who are non-digital natives who still struggle with typing on computers. I could practice myself as I never really mastered typing and still look at the keys from time to time. Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteHey – great blog, just looking around some blogs, seems a really nice platform you are using. I’m currently using WordPress for a few of my blogs but looking to change one of them over to a platform similar to yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it?
ReplyDeletedance mat typing