Thinking EdTech: Typing - Are you game?

Occasionally on the EDTECH Listserv, there will be requests for typing Web site recommendations. I have compiled a list of these sites in my del.icio.us favorites. Most of the sites offer tutorials, games, and tests for free, paid for by advertising. So, if you can look past the ads, these sites offer fun ways for typists of all ages to improve their keyboarding skills.

A new favorite of mine is Typing Shark. The premise of the game is simple - you, the diver, must destroy the sharks and piranhas by typing the characters and words on their sides before they carry you away for lunch. Some sharks sport backward and changing characters, making them more difficult to destroy. The online version of the game has several difficulty settings and a limited number of levels. A full version of the game is available for purchase.

With the availability of speech-to-text software and increasing popularity of voice-over applications, I reconsider the importance of teaching keyboarding skills and cannot project assuredly that typing skills will be essential in the future. However, right now being able to type well is very beneficial for most students and professionals in creating reports, entering information into databases, collaborating online through wikis and chat, communicating with others through e-mail and discussion groups, etc.

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