Typing tutor

Typing is a fundamental skill needed for anyone using a keyboard-based device as part of their daily work and activity. Some typing tutors are being considered for the laptops.

Two alpha activities are the Typing Turtle game by Prakhar Agarwal and Kate Scheppke and the Typewriter activity by Aneto O. Typing Turtle will hopefully have a beta release later this year.

Ideas and inspirations:

Free typing packages

• Gnu Typist and other typing packages suitable for olpc

Non-free ideas and inspirations

• The Typing of the Dead
• Typing Racer
• Typing Pal Online

OLPC Typewriter

Aneto has been working on a Typewriter activity (source). It doesn't run on the latest XO builds, uses some large .png's for the keyboard images, and has some issues with the speed of sound; but expresses interesting ideas about how to support new modules of words + tests + speech.

This was done as part of a Masters Project from graduate students at Stanford University School of Education: Learning, Design and Technology

http://code.google.com/p/typewriter/

Learning problems

• Higher order computer use e.g. creative writing or programming, is slow / limited until sufficient typing skill is developed
• Sufficient familiarity in learning to type takes significant time investment and practice
• Existing typing curriculum are boring, repetitive and time consuming

The project idea is to develop a typing and writing learning application for the target users of the “Children’s Machine” ($100 laptop). The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Typewriter application delivers an interactive keyboard typing and language curriculum. To increase the speed, efficiency, and effectiveness of typed documents, messages and communication on the laptop, it emphasizes simultaneous motor-tactual and language skill development, utilizing a customizable, collaborative and adaptive rhythm video game to maximize fun and engagement. The Typewriter application can also be delivered to all Internet users with the capability to use custom curriculum. Our initial language curriculla will be focused on English and Mandarin Chinese

References

Bernstein, R., A Nontraditional Approach to ESL Instruction: Typewriting. 1982. National Association for Foreign Student Affairs.

Book, W, F., The Psychology of Skill, with Special Reference to Its Acquisition in Typewriting . 1908. University of Montana. http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC03969917&id=XakCAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=typewriting#PPP6,M1

Cooper, W., Cognitive Aspects of Skilled Typewriting. 1983. Springer-Verlag

Darragh., J., Witten, I, H., The Reactive Keyboard. 1992. Cambridge University Press. http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0521403758&id=obxCY0wcaTgC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=xNgk0YOGUu&dq=The+Reactive+Keyboard&sig=Q5hOxtKEzQHQVqQ74DNrhXMxxY8

Donovan, T, R., McClelland, B, W., Eight Approaches to Teaching Composition. 1980. National Council of Teachers of English. http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED191042&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=eric_accno&objectId=0900000b800fab07

Flynn, N., Stainthorp. The Learning and Teaching of Reading and Writing. 2006. Wiley Publishers. http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470029102.html

Hall, J, K., Evaluating and Improving Written Expression: A Practical Guide for Teachers. 1981. Allyn & Bacon.

Reagan, S, D., Increasing Touch-Keyboarding Skills in the Middle School Student: "KeyWords" vs. "Type To Learn," Hand Covers vs. No Hand Covers. 2000. http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED443386