Teenagers and the Best Time to Learn


December 8, 2013

There have been many studies showing that there’s some truth to the saying that “old dogs can’t learn new tricks” – or rather that it’s harder for them. In other words, the best time to learn something new is when you’re a child, because that’s when your brain is still developing and forming the majority of the connections between the neurons that form the mental network and memory resources that are the basis of any type of skill. For example, that’s why children pick up languages so easily, and why it’s so much harder to learn a new language as an adult. However, it’s never too late to learn anything! It just might take a little more time. What’s more, learning and memorizing new skills or new information helps keep your brain flexible and many studies have proven that keeping your brain active helps prevent age-related problems like dementia.

This all means that even as an adult you can start learning a new skill like touch typing, but that it’s also a great idea to encourage your children to learn that skill as soon as possible. As a recent study shows, it’s also a good idea to keep this encouragement going even into the teenage years and beyond, because for some children that hyper-flexible state of mind continues to exist longer than previously thought. The study focused on high-IQ children and found that the intense learning period seems to stretch out for a few more years, allowing them to pick up skills more easily. But there’s no reason why we can’t encourage all children to keep their minds open and willing to learn, especially since as adults this habit of learning new things will help in further education and school. Whether it’s learning touch typing or a new language or any other skill, your age shouldn’t stop you, and it’s never to late to begin!

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

7 Tips For Safer Typing


November 30, 2013

If you spend long hours at the computer, you’re getting the practice you need to be an expert touch typist, but you may also be increasing your risk of developing a repetitive strain injury (RSI), or other problems related to the muscles, tendons, and nerves in your shoulders and back and neck. In order to stay healthy while you type, remember to use these ergonomic tips that we explain in the Typesy training program:

a. Keep your head straight and facing forward, without tipping your head up or down. The screen should be in front of you and level with your eyes. Use a document holder to bring papers that you need to refer to up to the same level.

b. Make sure your back stays supported and straight. Don’t lean forward or backward when you type. Use a lumbar pillow to support the natural curve of your lower spine.

c. Let your arms fall naturally from your shoulders – you shouldn’t have to raise your shoulders to bring your hands to the keyboard, or force your arms down either. Your elbows should form a 90-degree angle so that your wrists are flat on the keyboard.

d. Your chair should provide support for your legs, with your thighs remaining horizontal to the ground and your lower legs bending 90 degrees at the knee, forming an L shape. Use a footrest if necessary to keep your legs in the proper position.

e. Don’t stress your eyes, which are just as important as your fingers for typing. Set up your workspace so that you have enough light to easily see the screen and documents, but angle the light sources so that there is no glare on the screen. Don’t set up your computer facing a window – there will be too much contrast.

f. If you use a mouse, make sure that you have it at the same level as the keyboard, and approximately at the same height. Try not to move your arm too far to the side when using the mouse.

g. Finally, don’t forget to take a break every now and then! Even if you have a lot of typing to do, get up and stretch regularly, look away from the screen to refocus your eyes, and give yourself a quick hand massage to relax and refresh your muscles.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Typing: Bridging Past and Present


November 19, 2013

Although it seems that everyone you see walking around today has a smartphone or tablet in hand, thumb-tapping away at their messages and online chat sessions, there are people who prefer to use a typewriter to write letters to their friends, and to create works of fiction or nonfiction, plays and poetry, that will be published. The art of using a typewriter is still alive and well, even if it has been overshadowed by the super-fast connections that are possible with computer keyboards. Film director Christopher Lockett devoted an hour-long movie to the topic, featuring interviews and discussions with authors who use typewriters, typewriter repairmen, and even some teenagers who appreciate the old-school feel of the instrument. “The Typewriter (in the 21st Century)” is a movie that might not make it out of the independent art-film theatres, but anyone interested in the subject will enjoy Lockett’s look at the history and current state of typing.

In an interview published in the Los Angeles Downtown News, Lockett talked about his low-budget but high-quality film, comparing using a typewriter to riding a bicycle. According to Lockett, when you use a typewriter it might not be the most efficient way of getting text down on paper, but it’s the experience that counts. “It’s about enjoying the ride,” he commented.

Reviewers have pointed out that Lockett does not include people like deadline-driven advertisers or screenwriters who rely on the keyboard shortcuts of a word processing document to keep pace with the demands of their job. But perhaps that’s the point of the film – looking at ways to slow down and enjoy the process of typing and writing, using the typewriter to connect to words in a different way.

If you’re interested in watching the film, it’s available for free on the Hulu video stream. Viewers in the United States can click here to enjoy Lockett’s documentary, “The Typewriter (in the 21st Century).”

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Is My Child Too Young to Learn to Type?


November 12, 2013

Although typewriters were first used in business offices, it wasn’t long before teachers started introducing them into the classroom. As a new method of communication, typing was seen as a useful skill for future career development, although at first most of that was also in a business setting, for people who would become secretaries and office workers. However, even though many schools offered (or required) typing classes, and even though studies showed that students who used typewriters for their writing often showed better English skills, improved spelling, and more fluent writing, in general classwork was still done by hand.

Today, more and more schools are using computers in the classroom, and even inviting children to bring their own handheld devices to school. There are software games and lessons designed for children as young as 3 years old, and even babies as young as 6 months old have their own computer games using the keyboard! Obviously, the answer to the question “Is my child too young to learn to type?” is “No!” – with a few explanations, that is.

Very young children won’t enjoy being forced to repeat key-letter matching over and over. They’ll learn best if they’re learning unconsciously while playing a game. Babies don’t generally have the hand-eye coordination to accurately hit small keys on a keyboard one at a time, much less in letter combinations that form words. Let them learn where things are on the keyboard at their own pace until they’re able to deliberately locate and press specific keys.

Children who don’t know their alphabet won’t move forward as quickly, even if they can match keys and letters. Don’t forget to focus on reading, spelling, and general literacy skills so that their comprehension keeps up with their keyboarding abilities.

Although it’s important to start as soon as possible with lessons on proper typing technique, such as learning the home row keys or how to use the thumb to press the space bar, most kids won’t have the patience for more than a few minutes of instruction of this sort. Look for fun and engaging typing games that will encourage kids to use the right techniques without making it seem like a chore.

The easiest way to get kids to learn to use the keyboard correctly is to make sure that they’ve got games and videos that require accurate keystrokes. Look for games that use the keyboard letters and/or numeric keypad keys instead of the mouse or a joystick. If you can find software that also teaches spelling or reading skills, even better!

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Award-Winning Homeschooling Tips From Cristina Grau At AHomeschoolMom.com


November 12, 2013

Most public school teachers arrive at their job knowing that they’ve got a preselected list of lessons and books to work with, and a district-developed set of tests and curricula that they will be using throughout the year to teach their students. When you’re a homeschooling parent, it’s often a little harder to find the right tools to teach your children. That’s why websites like Cristina Grau’s AHomeschoolMom.com are so useful for first-time and long-time homeschoolers – she’s living the process and has valuable tips to share with other parents.

UV: It seems like with four children to homeschool, you’ve got more than enough to keep you busy, and yet you decided to set up this website a few years ago. How do you find time to do everything?

CG: Before taking on anything new, I think a great deal of prayer is necessary. I want to make sure that any new adventure I wish to embark on is not of my own doing, but that my family is behind my endeavors and God is a part of the plan. Once those requirements are in the clear, the next is to organize my time. Blogging is last on my list of priorities, honestly. My family, our homeschooling, and other ministries come first. So, if I plan to add blogging to my list of activities, I need to schedule time into my routine. This is simply done by figuring how much time it takes to handle our learning, then by adding in our chore time, and finding what remaining time is left between the end of lessons and dinner time. I generally schedule a post for the following day so as to remove any stress of having to rush to a computer and get today’s post up and running for people to see. I will often post for several days as well; this helps me manage those extra busy days when blogging would otherwise be impossible. If I had to boil it down to one simple formula, I would have to say a lot of organization and planning ahead.

UV: One section of the website is devoted to books and resources, and we’re grateful that you’ve added our Typesy software to your list! How do you decide which books and resources to feature in this category?

CG: Any items on the HM Bookshelf are tried and true. If we don’t use them on a regular basis or if they didn’t meet our needs, I do not feel comfortable sharing with other families. I want to pass on information which is reliable and honest. If they worked for us, they just might work for you.

UV: In a post you wrote back in February, you mentioned that you encourage your children to look up words and look for ways to use them in conversation. What other ways can parents help their children improve vocabulary skills?

CG: There are various ways by which we can help our children increase their vocabulary. Reading is the easiest and most beneficial way to make this happen. Don’t be afraid to get outside the picture book section of your library and start adding more challenging reads. While they might struggle at first, they will catch on quickly and be proud of their accomplishments. Besides reading, there are lovely games like Boggle, Scrabble, and more which can increase their vocabulary. Play along with your children and purposefully use words which they are unfamiliar with. This will, hopefully, prompt questions about your words and encourage their use in the future. Balderdash is another exciting way to increase vocabulary. Grab your handy dictionary, pick a word, and let your children help you decide what the “real” meaning of the word is. Through creativity, learning vocabulary will not only be a breeze, but loads of fun!

UV: The “Homeschooling 101” series is a great introduction for people who are new to the process and need an overview of what they can expect over the next ten to twelve years. What advice do you have for people who have been homeschooling for several years already, and might be losing some of their early energy and enthusiasm for the task?

CG: I think all of us have moments of “burn out”. I think the key is in remembering these are moments. Being tired today, does not mean we need to give up entirely; it means we need a moment to breathe. The best advice I could give is to take those moments! We are not living on someone else’s schedule or routine, we are not machines which need to function at a certain capacity. If you need a break, take one. I have read that some homeschool nine weeks on, one week off; this seems to alleviate stress and keeps everyone focused on the coming break. Others simply take a day off whenever they find it necessary; there is more than enough time in the year to finish learning, one day off won’t hurt. Find a routine that works for you and implement it.

If you are finding the work itself is becoming bothersome, switch things up! Do not become a slave to curriculum. Books are there to work for you, not to be filled by unwilling slaves. Pick a different method or resource to learn by; try something completely different from your normal routine. Change things up! Sometimes we just need to step outside the box and learn by new means in order to reinvigorate our love of learning and keep the flame alive.

UV: You talk about co-op sessions with other homeschooling parents, where several families get together for classes and activities. What are the advantages of working in larger groups like this, rather than always staying at home with your own children and your own specific course of study?

CG: I love being at home with my kids. I get to work out my own routine, take breaks when I wish, and spend one-on-one time with my kiddos. Every once in a while though, we feel the need to step outside our walls and see what the outside world has to offer. Being a part of a larger homeschooling community allows us the security of meeting with like minded people who will encourage our love of learning, come alongside our goals, and infuse us with new ideas. Co-op, and other such venues, allow our children exposure to areas of learning I might not have considered; broadening our scope and planting seeds of thought for future areas of study. Our children are able to socialize with people of all different ages, not just their own, helping them become well-rounded individuals. Parents are able to use this time to observe their children’s interests, their ability to work with others, their character, and share ideas regarding issues which might be of concern or value. No matter how it is accomplished, either through a formal registry or just visiting with friends, being a part of a larger community has something to offer everyone. If nothing else, we need no longer feel alone.

Cross-posted at The Vocabulary Builder’s Blog.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Why You Should Learn Cursive To Improve Typing


November 5, 2013

Cursive, longhand, fair-hand, joined-up writing – are any of these terms familiar? For most of us these days, the bulk of written communication is done via a computer keyboard or smartphone screen, and the art of penmanship is becoming as old-fashioned as tatting lace or wearing a watch fob. Children are still taught how to write in school, but most aren’t required to learn anything more than how to form letters correctly so that they’re legible. How long ago did you learn how to write by hand? Is your handwriting better today than it was when you were in school? Chances are you’ve done so much keyboarding, and so little writing, that your once-readable sentences are messy scrawls that even you have a hard time deciphering.

We’re not recommending that you stop typing, of course! But if you spend time practicing your handwriting, you’ll stimulate your brain in useful and unique ways, and that will result in positive feedback that will also improve your skills at the keyboard. A study done at Indiana University looked at brain scans of young children who were learning handwriting skills, and found that more areas of the brain were active and interconnected when they were shaping cursive (longhand) letters than when they were printing letters. All writing involves hand-eye coordination, but there is more required by cursive writing, since the letters must flow into each other, and the shapes of the letters involve more thought and focused direction. That focus, combined with the visual and physical effort required, means that you’re working harder and forcing your brain to work harder, too.

There are many places that good handwriting is still necessary, and many times when an e-mail just isn’t adequate. Keep working on your typing speed and accuracy, but make sure that you don’t forget how to use a pen and pencil to communicate when you need to, whether that’s a birthday card for your grandmother, a follow-up thank-you note to the management team who interviewed you yesterday, or an important to-do list for yourself.

Reference: L. Engelhardt, K.H. James. The effects of handwriting experience on functional brain development in pre-literate children. Trends in Neuroscience and Education (2012)

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Practicing With Pangrams


October 29, 2013

In order to be a fast and accurate typist, you’ve got a lot of numbers to learn: 1 brain, 2 hands, 10 fingers, 26 letters of the alphabet. The key is to find the way to make those numbers all add up to perfect your touch typing technique! Look for things that challenge you and entertain you, and give you a way of practicing in a way that uses all of those components of typing at the same time.

One good way to practice keystroke dexterity is to type out some pangrams, or sentences that use all of the letters of the alphabet. If you’ve been using the Typesy program, then you’ll be familiar with the tracking charts that show your progress and utilization for each finger of each hand. The system will provide you with exercises that target each of your fingers, so that you can work on strengthening them individually. If you’re practicing on your own, these exercises take a little preparation. Since not all letters of the alphabet show up with the same frequency in standard English texts, you might need to go looking for some slightly nonstandard phrases to help you practice all of the letters of the alphabet.

In this post, we’ve provided you with some pangrams to practice with. The uncommon words and use of less-frequent letters will help ensure that you have an opportunity to work on keystrokes with all of your fingers, and help you make steady progress towards your touch typing goals.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs!
The five boxing wizards jump quickly.
Wafting zephyrs quickly vexed Jumbo.
Brawny gods just flocked up to quiz and vex him!
Crazy Frederick bought many very exquisite opal jewels.
Amazingly few discotheques provide jukeboxes, yes?
A quick movement of the enemy will jeopardize six gunboats.
Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz!

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Results From The Cincy Typing Challenge


October 23, 2013

Back in July we talked about typing competitions and focused on the Cincy Typing Challenge. The final rounds for this competition took place on July 25th at the Cincinnati Museum Center. Although all of the previous rounds had been done on a standard QWERTY keyboard, for the finals the contenders needed to learn how to use a new type of keyboard, called the TREWGrip.

The inventor of this new layout, Mark Parker, sponsored the competition and hopes that this wider exposure to the device will help move his startup project forward. Unlike some other new keyboard layouts, the TREWGrip is a redesign of the QWERTY keyboard that maintains the same finger/key matching. Another feature of this new keyboard design is that you can “dock” your smartphone in the middle of the board, allowing you full keyboard access on your mobile device. The keyboard can also be used with any standard computer setup. According to the product website, typists can transfer over to this layout with about 8 hours of training, and still get back up to nearly 100% of their normal QWERTY typing speed.

The contestants at the Cincy Typing Challenge didn’t have 8 hours to practice using the new keyboard, but still managed to submit respectable times and keystroke counts. Cincy typing champion Robert Price clocked in at 115wpm during his final round, a speed that’s definitely well above average!

There’s no word yet as to whether this typing contest will become a regular event, but here at Typesy we’re always happy to hear about typing-related contests and competitions around the world. Let us know about any typing events in your local area, and we’ll check them out!

To learn more about the TREWGrip keyboard, click here. To see a video of the finalists using this new keyboard design during the contest, click here.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Leo Fuchigami’s New Approach To Studying At HackMyStudy.com


October 23, 2013

There’s nothing more frustrating than spending hours on end reading and reviewing study materials, only to come away feeling as if you know less than you did when you started. This isn’t limited just to your college years – it’s a problem for students of all ages, at all levels of education, and with a variety of educational goals. The solution, says Leo Fuchigami, is to know how to study. At his website HackMyStudy.com he provides the keys you need to make your study time efficient and effective.

7S: Tell us a bit about yourself. Were you inspired to set up this website because of your experiences as a student?

LF: My name is Leo Fuchigami, and I would describe myself as an aspiring “Jack of All Trades.” I am particularly fond of this description because of its historical context. In the early renaissance era, this phrase was used synonymously with the term “Renaissance Man,” which was a title bestowed on only the most eclectically well accomplished (e.g. Shakespeare, De Vinci, etc.). However, some time later, this phrase was appended with “Master of None,” giving it a negative connotation. Even today, people like to categorize themselves as generalists and specialists, which, depending on your perspective can have either a positive or negative nuance.

I recall the exact moment that the idea of sharing my study hacks came to me. It was right before the final exams season of the first semester of my last year of university. A friend expressed to me his grief over not having started reading the 500+ page course textbook for one of his business classes. I showed him a few memorization and speed-reading tactics that were already a staple in my study habits. He was extremely grateful and said, “Why didn’t you tell me this 4 years ago!” That evening, I decided to build hackmystudy.com. What was particularly interesting about that decision was that I had never built a website or written self-help articles before. I had to learn how to do it as I was doing it.

7S: Two of your “top ten tips” for studying actually encourage people to not study! Why should already-busy students develop a hobby or spend time socializing?

LF: I wouldn’t say I encourage people to not study, but rather, the focus should be on living a well-balanced life. Sacrificing your physical, spiritual, mental and social health will inevitably have repercussion on your academics. Taking a break from a long-winded study session to exercise for 20 minutes can do wonders for your concentration and memory. Similarly, effective memorization requires an incubation and review period. Cramming everything in in one session, then moving on to the next topic will result in very low retention rates. Sometimes ideas and concepts need to sink in, subconsciously, over some period of time, then reviewed to ensure that it has been cemented into long-term memory. If you’re going to take a break, why not enjoy life and live a well-balanced life?

7S: Obviously, the less time it takes a student to read through a text, the more text they’ll be able to get through. What are some other advantages of learning to speed read?

LF: The foundation of human society is language. All animals have the ability to remember, teach and learn. However, what truly differentiates us from other animals is our ability to immortalize knowledge and expertise through recorded language (traditionally written, though now it can take the form of videos, podcasts, etc.). Thus, we can build on the knowledge of our forefathers instead of spending our entire lives figuring out the same problems that were solved by those that came out before us.

Written language is still, to this day, the primary form of communicating the collective knowledge and expertise of mankind. The ability to digest this information at two or three times the rate of others can only result in a more well-informed and well-balanced person.

But, that is a very abstract argument. On a day-to-day basis, the time saved could be spent towards other endeavors.

7S: While most tests and exams in college are handed out and filled in on paper, students have to use the computer to do research and to write and print out papers and essays. You’ve got information on the techniques of speed writing and speed typing – which do you recommend people focus on first?

LF: Definitely speed reading. It’s simple logic, really. Most activities in academics, be it exams or homework, require substantial more time reading rather than typing. Generally speaking, you have to read the question, research solutions, write the solution then review the solution. 3 out of 4 of those steps require reading or interpreting, which is an input, while the third point (writing the solution) is the only output, which may or may not involve typing.

7S: On your “Resources” page you link to some of the universities that are offering MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), like MIT and UC Berkeley. Is online education changing the way people study?

LF: Yes! I can’t list them all, but I’ll try to list some of the main reasons why I think so.

1. Lessons and programs will be subject to the dynamics of a competitive market. The best classes will rise to the top and the lesser classes will need to adapt. This means that students and teachers alike will be exposed to higher quality lessons, sometimes magnitudes better than what is available locally.

2. The internet is a very malleable place, allowing for all sorts of experiments and alterations in methodology and delivery. Statistics can be obtained in engagement levels throughout the lecture, similar to what YouTube provides content creators, so that the class developer can adapt and modify that parts where viewers tend to tune-out. Quizzes, interactive activities and real-time discussions can be inserted in pivotal moments that completely change the way we learn from the teacher, other classmates and external resources.

3. Choice. No longer are we limited to the classes offered in our schools or the resources we can afford. Online education is breaking down the barrier to entry for even highly specialized topics.

Another point I want to bring up related to online education is the gamification of learning. Sites like Duolingo.com are the way of the future with regard to casual education. Our lives are so incredibly dynamic and chaotic, with a seemingly infinite barrage of choices, messages and stimulus, that the un-stimulating classroom structure is bound to become less and less effective for future generations as their minimum required threshold for interactivity and immediate gratification increases. Gamification is a major component of the overall solution to this problem. We need to use the same tools that the IT industry uses to optimize their offerings to meet the needs of their clients.

Online education is changing the way people study, but what’s more important is that online education should change the way we perceive studying. Hopefully, it will result in more people viewing education as a life-long endeavour that is enjoyable and rewarding.

Cross-posted at the 7 Speed Reading blog.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

Learning to Type – Again


October 15, 2013

Sometimes it’s not how fast you type that matters, but how quickly your typing makes your wrists, shoulder, neck, and back feel like you’ve been there for hours. The physical aspect of typing is a key factor in improving your overall typing skills, which is why this blog and the Typesy software system focus on ergonomics as well as typing speed and accuracy. Author Suzanne Gerber spends a lot of time at the keyboard, and when that was leading to serious physical problems, she found out that she had a lot to learn about ergonomics. She described her experience in an article on the PBS blog “NextAvenue” about getting an evaluation of her typing posture, and what it taught her about the importance of the position of your keyboard, monitor, and body when typing. Here are three of her top tips for good typing posture, and better overall keyboard health:

Make sure that the keyboard is placed low enough that your shoulders are in a natural position. If you have to raise or hunch your shoulders to get your arms at the right height, then the keyboard is too high.

Keep your fingernails short so that your hands and fingers can remain in a natural curve. If your fingernails are too long, you’ll flatten and extend your fingers, and that will affect the way your muscles move (and probably contribute to typos).

If you use a laptop, invest in a separate keyboard – perhaps even a good ergonomic one – so that you can keep the screen at the right height for your eyes without compromising the position of your arms and hands on the keyboard.

Even the best typists know that there’s always room for improvement. The time you spend in figuring out what you can change to decrease any physical issues related to typing will increase the overall time you can spend at the keyboard, and that will pay off in the long run. To help get you started, check out these posts and get more information on:
– ergonomic keyboards
– chairs to help you sit in the right position
– how to organize your desk
– your posture at the keyboard
– ways to relax your muscles

Read all about Gerber’s experiences with ergonomics here.

Check out Typesy Community and exchange ideas related to touch typing, keyboarding, learning, technology, and Typesy program itself. Login with your Typesy Account here: https://community.typesy.com/

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