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- --THE KEYBOARD TEACHER SOFTWARE--
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- INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM
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- THE KEYBOARD TEACHER operates with MS-DOS or PC-DOS, Ver. 2.0 or
- higher. The program functions on all IBM and compatible microcomputers
- that provide these minimum features: operate in an 80 column text mode,
- have a 360K disk drive, and 192K of internal memory. Program areas
- other than the word processor, SIMPLE WRITER, require only 128K of
- memory.
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- Available in both 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 inch disk formats, THE KEYBOARD
- TEACHER is operative with both color and noncolor computer monitors and
- is fully networkable. The program is coded in an efficient combination
- of approximately 90% "C" and 10% assembler languages.
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- A school site license that permits unlimited program duplication
- may be registered for $150; an encompassing system-wide site license
- accommodating up to 20 schools is available for $500. The registration
- fee for a single user is $30. Upon registration a user program diskette
- is shipped with a detailed User's Manual. Registration fees should be
- made payable to THE KEYBOARD TEACHER. Direct correspondence to: THE
- KEYBOARD TEACHER, 3131 Woods Lane, Marietta, GA 30060 or E-mail address
- grhodes@aol.com
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- THE KEYBOARD TEACHER execute command is: A>KBT.
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- Following the program's execution, its logo screen appears. The
- striking of any key moves the user to the Program Selection Menu. To
- select an item from any KEYBOARD TEACHER menu, other than the Tutorial
- Menu, the operator simply points at the desired item with the cursor,
- then selects this item with the Enter key. The Enter key is referred to
- as the "CR" key in the directive messages that appear in the screen's
- lower right corner. These messages, along with Function-1 help screens
- that appear in most program areas, offer continuing guidance to the
- program's user.
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- In the event the user becomes "stuck," the striking of either the
- Escape or CR key will generally enable the operator to continue.
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- Rapid cursor movement is accomplished by using the Tab key; should
- you wish to enter a student name to replace "Clare, David" that appears
- on the review disk, strike the Tab key until the cursor is positioned at
- "Student Name." Select this item by striking the CR (Enter) key, then
- key in the desired name. After the name is completed, again strike the
- CR key to create a file for the user. Strike the Tab key to return to
- the Program Selection Menu.
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- In the review disk selections of Keyboard and Keypad, semester
- score cards and cumulative semester grades are available for "Clare,
- David." In the event the student name is changed, to obtain this
- information the student name "Clare, David" must be reentered.
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- To enable a more efficient teacher review it is suggested that each
- review file be printed to hard copy using the "Print Options" of the
- Simple Writer word processor.
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- SOFTWARE PREVIEW
-
- THE KEYBOARD TEACHER consists of 5 separate programs, each of which
- is briefly summarized below.
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- 1) TUTORIAL, the initial program, introduces the student to each
- keyboard area and indicates the correct fingering patterns to be
- employed; this is accomplished through the use of keyboard color codes
- on the displayed keyboard.
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- 2) BEGINNER EXERCISES builds upon TUTORIAL and provides sequenced
- keyboarding drills to ensure the development of a touch keying skill.
- Separate drills are provided for the alphanumeric, keypad, and cursor
- key groups. All keying errors must be immediately corrected and a
- cumulative count is maintained of both the student's correct keystrokes
- and errors. In addition to basic drills, BEGINNER EXERCISES also
- includes a "game." Titled Speed Builders, the keys randomly light on
- the keyboard display as the student strives to strike the lighted key
- within the allotted time to earn "points." At the end of 1-minute an
- "arcade" score is provided. Speed Builders forces the student to
- abandon hunt-and-peck activities and engage in nonsighted, touch
- keyboarding.
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- 3) KEYBOARD follows the completion of BEGINNER EXERCISES. The
- program objectives are to further develop and evaluate the student's
- alphanumeric keying rate. A booklet of paragraph copy for 3-minute
- timings is built into the program. Each 3-minute timing is
- automatically scored for speed and errors--and is assigned a grade.
- When applied for evaluation, the timing results are permanently
- maintained to provide a cumulative student grade average.
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- 4) KEYPAD is based on procedures described for the KEYBOARD program
- with these exceptions: The keypad keys are employed to enter columns of
- numeric data during 1-minute timing intervals.
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- 5) SIMPLE WRITER, a basic word processor, utilizes the keyboarding
- skills developed in the four preceding programs. SIMPLE WRITER provides
- the tools needed to create letters, reports, and other document formats.
- While "simple," SIMPLE WRITER features the following items, some unique
- to word processing: Automatically computes left and right margins for
- printing; permits file titles up to 40 characters; computes student word
- per minute rates while in editor; automatically centers copy both
- vertically and horizontally--including column headings; "saves"
- deletions; and visually marks the beginning and end of each page. Also,
- the coding of shift-spacebar as an alternate backspace delete procedure
- enables rough draft keying speeds during document construction.
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- A two hour VHS video is available that describes in marked detail
- the features and capabilities of THE KEYBOARD TEACHER. The charge for
- this video is $20.
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