Classroom Instructor - Getting Started

Welcome to the KeyMaster^® team of educators who recognize keyboarding education as an important building block in acquiring advanced digital skills. We hope that you and your students will find great success in your pursuit toward keyboarding mastery. 

You may have a few questions about our KeyMaster^® Keyboards and how to best utilize them in the classroom.  Please review the following information as you integrate the KeyMaster^® Keyboard into your classroom.

 

 Educational Resources

The KeyMaster^® Keyboard lends itself well to keyboarding instruction, motivational games, and classroom fun as students discover their own potential as a typist.  We invite you to visit our KeyMaster^® Blog for activities and game ideas that utilize the KeyMaster^® Keyboard in your classroom.  KeyMaster^® also hosts the Keyboarding Teachers Unite Facebook group for keyboarding teachers that we encourage you to join to share questions and ideas with other keyboarding educators.

Classroom Integration Basics

1. Emphasize New Keys - As new keys are being introduced to the class, consider turning on or off specific keys to emphasize what keys are being taught.  For example, when giving instruction on the home row keys, invite students to turn on/off each key on the home row.
2. Keyboarding Practice - As individual keys are practiced and students grow more confident in their key-by-touch abilities, invite them to press black out practiced keys.  
3. Reinforcement Exercises - Help your students to identify “problem” keys that they are struggling to memorize.  Encourage them to black out these keys to eliminate their tendency to look for their locations while typing.
4. Test Keyboarding Proficiency - When completing timed writings or other summative assessments, use the “Lights” key to turn off all visibility to key lettering.  Teachers can easily identify students who are struggling with key memorization during this time and assign reinforcement exercises as needed to promote student success.
5. Compliment Keyboarding Software - As students complete lessons in their keyboarding software, ask them to follow the learning platform by blacking out new keys as they are being taught.  Over time, the entire keyboard will become blacked out as all keys have been taught, practiced, and mastered.
6. Added Fun and Games - Be creative with how you can use the KeyMaster^® Keyboard to make keyboarding practices fun and engaging.  Check out our KeyMaster^® Blog for fun ideas and activities you can use to promote key mastery in your own classroom.
7. Everyday Keyboard Use - Take advantage of the keyboard’s versatility by leaving lights on and keys visible during every day computer tasks and lights off during keyboard instruction.

Keyboard Positioning

For best "lights on" visibility, the KeyMaster^® Keyboard should be placed at elbow height, one hand span in front of the body, with keyboard kickstand extended.  This is the optimal height and distance for key visibility and proper keyboarding technique.

Cleaning Tips

Keyboards should be cleaned regularly to avoid oily buildup on the keys that may slightly alter the appearance of the black out feature on the keyboards.  A rubbing alcohol solution for cleaning keys is effective at removing buildup and keeping keys in optimal condition for "lights off" practice.

Lights On/Off Feature

All alpha and numeric keys may be turned on or blacked out as appropriate during keyboarding practice.  To turn on or off key visibility, press the "Lights" key.  To turn on or off visibility to specific keys, press the "Set" key, plus the desired key.