Teaching mum to touch type/keyboard questions.

Culinia · 19 Mar 2011, 17:49

I was going to teach my mum to touch type some time over the summer (from June or something) since I think it would be beneficial to her (plus I won't have to type out all of her papers any more lol).

I wanted to ask a few things.

First being, should I teach her how to touch type on her laptop keyboard, we'll probably be sitting on the couch, not sure if this is a good idea or do you think I should teach her on a desk with a proper keyboard?

Which leads me to the next question, do you think I should buy her a proper keyboard beforehand or after she knows how to touch type as a gift for her hard work? Or should I hook out an el cheapo rubber dome and leave it as that?

Also, I originally thought I should teach her colemak (the same one I use) but I was thinking she be probably better off with qwerty so she won't have to worry about changing layouts all the time at work for example (not very IT competent). So my question is this, should I blank the keys (felt-tip pen?) so she is not tempted to 'cheat' and disrupt the learning process?

What you guys think?

ripster · 19 Mar 2011, 18:07

I would leave your mom alone and be a good son and type her papers for her.

And good sons never teach their Moms Colemak. Even on April 1st.

gore · 19 Mar 2011, 19:18

Blank just the letter keys to start with. Blank more as time goes by.

ripster · 19 Mar 2011, 19:20

I forced my kid to learn some Mavis Beacon type program each day one summer before he could do Video Games.

You could try that with your Mom and "FarmVille".

Moth · 19 Mar 2011, 19:44

Definitely stick to QWERTY layout. You don't want to make it harder for poor old mum.

And I would suggest starting on some cheapo rubber dome. If she learns to touch type on that, and you put her on a mechanical later, she will appreciate the quality and tactility of her new mech switches much more.

ripster · 19 Mar 2011, 19:51

On April 1 I recommend you do this to Mum.

Culinia · 19 Mar 2011, 20:26

Thanks gore + Moth -- will do.

ripster wrote:I forced my kid to learn some Mavis Beacon type program each day one summer before he could do Video Games.

You could try that with your Mom and "FarmVille".

LOL ^^ Not sure about the mouse though

Seriously · 19 Mar 2011, 20:34

You could IM her often, and have her try to keep up with lightning-fast-reflexes. This is actually an interesting question though- I learned mainly from playing games and being forced to type quickly. So, if FarmVille has keyboard shortcuts or something, you could teach her those?

ripster · 19 Mar 2011, 20:36

Porn Live Chat is another good place to learn to type.

xbb · 19 Mar 2011, 20:54

ripster wrote:Porn Live Chat is another good place to learn to type.

with one hand at time?

ripster · 19 Mar 2011, 20:58

A true test of whether you are Otaku ready.

daedalus · 19 Mar 2011, 22:06

Best way to learn typing is with practice really. There's no magic way to become a 100WPM typist over night.

Seriously · 19 Mar 2011, 22:13

daedalus wrote:Best way to learn typing is with practice really. There's no magic way to become a 100WPM typist over night.

Yeah, but what is the best way to practice? Since I learned at a young age, I really don't remember how I started typing so fast- then again, my typing style is super odd. My fingers are on shift-a-w-d, and k-l-;-shift. :S

Unless you want her to learn a-s-d-f j-k-l-;, I'd just have her try and type as fast as possible. Sooner or later I think most keys will become muscle memory. Slowly blanking keys like stated earlier seems like a great idea.

sixty · 19 Mar 2011, 22:20

I would also slowly blank keys, start with the common ones, then proceed further!

daedalus · 19 Mar 2011, 22:25

Seriously wrote:
daedalus wrote:Best way to learn typing is with practice really. There's no magic way to become a 100WPM typist over night.
Yeah, but what is the best way to practice? Since I learned at a young age, I really don't remember how I started typing so fast- then again, my typing style is super odd. My fingers are on shift-a-w-d, and k-l-;-shift. :S

Unless you want her to learn a-s-d-f j-k-l-;, I'd just have her try and type as fast as possible. Sooner or later I think most keys will become muscle memory. Slowly blanking keys like stated earlier seems like a great idea.

For me, it was too much MSN messenger when I was 15.

Seriously · 19 Mar 2011, 22:36

daedalus wrote:For me, it was too much MSN messenger when I was 15.

Bahaha- I learned from using MSN when I was like 13/14, too! That and IRC, along with long ingame chats in UT99 or Tribes 2. (Yeah, I'm a young one. ;/)