Learning activities/Typing and Mouse Skills

From OLPC

Typing and mouse skills are important for children to use computers. This is a simple activity that teachers can use to help students improve their typing and mouse skills.

[edit] Created By

Pia Waugh on the advice of Australian teachers. Many thanks to Mrs and Mr Kiely for their wonderful input! An OLPC Friends Project.

[edit] Suggested Age Group

5-12 years oldOR IF YOUR CHILD IS THICK MAYBE TEENAGE.

[edit] Subjects and Skills

This activity is for developing typing skills for young children.

[edit] Goals and Objectives

To develop better typing skills, and help improve basic literacy. Students can also engage in competitions for the best times and fastest typing if appropriate.

[edit] Resources

• An XO with the Gcompris activity loaded. This is not one of the core applications for the XO.
• Some young children (5-7) find the touch pad quite hard to get used to. It can take some getting used to. If required and possible, you can purchase a small children size USB mouse which will help the younger children gain the fine motor skills.

[edit] Activity

• Start the Gcompris activity
• Click on the "Discover the computer" activity
• Click on the Keyboard
  • Use the "Simple Letters" activity to build up basic skills
  • Falling words is a good step up once children become comfortable with "Simple letters"
• To move to Mouse activities, you can click on the "Discover the computer" activity icon up the top of the application, and then click on the Mouse
  • The Fish mouse activity is an excellent way to help young children in particular use the mouse
  • The rest of the mouse activities are all very useful
• Ask the children to report their scores at the end of the class, and teachers can then use the scores for some basic markers of improvements in these skills