Free Touch Typing Courses vs Premium
Some Key Things to Look Out for if You’re Considering a Free Touch Typing Course
When it comes to learning how to touch type, there are a lot of options available. And while it might be tempting to save some money by opting for a free online course, it’s important to be aware that not all touch typing courses are created equal. In fact, we’ve seen a lot of free courses that are downright bad. So how can you tell the difference between a good free touch typing course and a bad one?
Is the Touch Typing Course UK English?
Many of the free touch typing courses use US spellings and grammar which is obviously not ideal for children.
Does the Touch Typing Course Offer Customisation?
Does the free touch typing course allow you to choose the appropriate level for your child? If not, the lessons can end up either too easy (they get bored), or too hard (they give up).
How Easy is the Touch Typing Course to Use?
Some free typing programmes can be confusing for a child. They can be difficult to navigate and overwhelming making it difficult to know where to start and what to do next. Make sure instructions are clear and learning builds slowly.
What About Verification?
Free online touch typing courses let the user skip lessons without checking that the skills have been learnt properly. You will need to closely supervise your child to ensure they follow the lessons in the right order.
Accountability
Free touch typing courses are great if your child is super motivated. But more often than not, without someone there to help them through it, most are likely to give up. You will need to make sure they are staying on track.
Does the Touch Typing Course Encourage Motivation?
What incentives does the free typing programme offer to help the child continue learning? What criteria do they use to ensure they progress through the programme at the right pace?
Inclusive Design
It’s really important that the free typing programme has written and spoken instructions and allows you to change fonts, backgrounds and even content, to make it accessible to children with specific learning difficulties.
Is the Touch Typing Course Fun?
Does the free typing programme offer age-appropriate typing games to make learning fun? Can they be modified to suit the needs of the child?
Focus on Touch Typing Accuracy Not Speed
A free typing programme should always focus on accuracy first but unfortunately many don’t. This can result in children not touch typing correctly, so they end back at square one. What accuracy level does the programme set? Can you change it?
Extension Activities
Learning to touch type is the ideal time to practice spellings, complete dictation exercises and story writing. Does the free online programme offer these additional options?
So are Free Touch Typing Courses the Way to Go?
Hopefully, the above list of things to look out for will help steer you in the right direction when choosing a touch typing course. Touch typing is an important skill for anyone who spends a lot of time at a computer, but with so many free courses available online, it can be tempting to just choose the first one you find.
Our tutor-supported touch typing courses will give you the peace of mind to help you improve your speed, accuracy and overall productivity.
