With a similar mix of lessons, tests, practice material, and games as Typing Instructor, this version is more accessible to younger kids and offers a fun, motivating and effective way to learn typing skills. There are 160 touch-typing lessons which cover all the basic keys (letters, numbers, symbols) on either a standard or a split keyboard (except for the 10-key number pad). There are ten different typing plans, each geared to a different age group. Regardless of the plan they are following, each student learns the keyboard by taking a tour of "Typer Island" and visiting five different lands as they journey to the Castle. As students journey through Old West, On the Water, In the Air, Over the Edge, and Under the Sea, they'll learn new keys and complete exciting challenges (usually timed) like typing to shoot words out of the sky, racing a Viking ship by typing words as quickly as possible, and typing words printed on sharks before they eat you! The activities in these lands build upon each other so students can’t move on until their skills are ready. The changes in scenery add a lot of variety to the lessons, but you can still rely on helpful features including visual instruction with the 3-D guide hands and keyboard. Accuracy and speed (WPM) are also tracked throughout, with students getting instant feedback on their performance, and earning rewards as well.

Of course, the arcade-like games will be the most fun to the beginning typist! The further students advance in the program, the more games will be available to them. Once they make it through all five lands, students capture the Castle, which opens the Lost City, a new addition to the program that provides two new games (Treasure Quest and Ziggy’s Pyramid). While capturing the Castle and exploring the Lost City are the ultimate goals of the game, students earn treasures and points all through the program, which keeps them motivated and entertained. Students can also visit Explorer Isle at any point to play their favorite games (except for Lost City games), using only the keys that they have covered already. They can also visit Story Lagoon and practice typing one of 40 familiar stories, including fairy tales and classic literature. With this program's careful progression, interesting storyline, high-quality animation, 30+ games, multiple skill levels, and English/Spanish instruction, it’s no wonder it is the winner of so many prestigious educational awards. This one comes highly recommended, folks! Please note that software comes in a paper sleeve, not a box. System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7; Mac OSX 10.4 or higher (including Snow Leopard), 480 MB hard drive space, CD-ROM drive. ~ Rachel

Customer Reviews

 
Stephanie F. from Arkansas wrote the following on 05/06/2008:
My 6 year old loves this product. He uses it on his laptop daily without prompting. The correct keys light up on the screen to encourage the student to not look down at the keyboard. He is learning very quickly and able to transfer this to proper keystrokes for the written portion of Rosetta Stone Spanish. No preparation is required on the parent's part. I do glance at his hand and body position to ensure proper form. You can check the progress the student is making on both speed and accuracy. Definitely worth the money. Start early and teach them to type before bad habits form.

 
Lisa C. from Texas wrote the following on 01/29/2009:
This is a really great software to teach kids how to type. It's so much more engaging and interactive than just using a book. My 10 year old son is using this in our homeschool. We both like the fact that he can just insert the CD-ROM, listen to a few instructions, and go. One of the neat things about this program is that in the top portion of the screen will be the typing assignment (that highlights each letter as the child types it) then in the bottom portion there is an interactive illustration of a keyboard with moving hands...showing where to have the hands in "home row" and then what fingers to use to strike which keys. Another thing I like is that the child has to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency before moving on to the next level. At the end of each assignment, your child gets a readout of their wpm and accuracy. It's all done in a colorful and engaging format. I highly recommend this software.