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Student Guide for

UltraKey 5.0 for Windows and Macintosh UK Edition

Published by

www.bytesoflearning.com

©Copyright 2010 Bytes of Learning Incorporated The UltraKey name and logo and the Bytes of Learning name and logo are registered trademarks of Bytes of

Learning Incorporated. Take It Home Bonus and School Link are trademarks of Bytes of Learning Incorporated. All other trademarks in this guide are the property of their respective owners.

Created in Canada Version 5.0.8.1

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UltraKey 5.0 Student Guide ©Copyright 2010 Bytes of Learning Incorporated I

Contents Acknowledgements & Copy Permission ..............................................................................................i

Bytes of Learning Development Team ............................................................................................................ i Thanks to Lakewood Elementary School and Modesto, California ................................................................. i Limited Reproduction Permission ................................................................................................................... i

What Excellent Keyboarding Does for You ......................................................................................... 1 What You Learn with UltraKey .......................................................................................................... 2 The UltraKey Tips for Success ............................................................................................................ 3 Logging in to UltraKey ....................................................................................................................... 4

Opening an Existing Record............................................................................................................................ 4 Creating a New Record ................................................................................................................................... 5 Saving Records ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Working in Practice Mode .............................................................................................................................. 7

Taking a Challenge Level Test ............................................................................................................ 8 Getting to Know UltraKey................................................................................................................ 10

Screen Buttons ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Getting Help Using UltraKey......................................................................................................................... 12

Accessing Help ............................................................................................................................... 12 What is in Help ............................................................................................................................... 12

Using Menus ................................................................................................................................................. 13 File Menu ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Edit Menu....................................................................................................................................... 13 GoTo Menu .................................................................................................................................... 14 Movies Menu ................................................................................................................................. 15 Help Menu ..................................................................................................................................... 15

Operating UltraKey with the Keyboard ........................................................................................................ 15 Technical Notes ............................................................................................................................................ 15

UltraKey Voices .............................................................................................................................. 15 Printer Setup and Viewing Reports ................................................................................................ 15

Learning Correct Posture ................................................................................................................. 16 Tip for Students Learning Posture ................................................................................................................ 20

Learning Finger Names .................................................................................................................... 21 The Importance of Home Row Position ....................................................................................................... 21 How the Module Proceeds ........................................................................................................................... 21

Taking Lessons ................................................................................................................................ 25 Completing a Lesson .................................................................................................................................... 25 Tips for Students Taking Lessons.................................................................................................................. 30

Learning More about Keyboarding .................................................................................................. 31 Accessing More Information ........................................................................................................................ 31 What is in More Information........................................................................................................................ 31

Improving Performance with Skill Checks ........................................................................................ 32 Taking Skill Checks ........................................................................................................................................ 32 Reading Copy Aloud ..................................................................................................................................... 36 Skill Check Reports and Printouts ................................................................................................................ 37 Tips for Students Taking Skill Checks ............................................................................................................ 37

Mastering the Typing Forum ........................................................................................................... 38 Taking a Typing Test ..................................................................................................................................... 38 Using Free Typing ......................................................................................................................................... 41

Student Progress Reports ................................................................................................................ 43

Contents

II UltraKey 5.0 Student Guide ©Copyright 2010 Bytes of Learning Incorporated

Accessing Reports from the Student Interface ............................................................................................ 43 Learning at Home with UltraKey ...................................................................................................... 44

Logging in to Your School Record from Home ............................................................................................. 44 Using an Exported UltraKey Record at Home .............................................................................................. 45

Exporting a record ......................................................................................................................... 45 Opening an Exported Record ........................................................................................................ 45 Saving an Exported Record ............................................................................................................ 45 Returning an Exported Record to School ...................................................................................... 45 Never Tamper with an UltraKey Record ........................................................................................ 45

Congratulations from UltraKey ........................................................................................................ 46 Index .................................................................................................................................................i

UltraKey 5.0 Student Guide ©Copyright 2010 Bytes of Learning Incorporated i

Acknowledgements & Copy Permission

Bytes of Learning Development Team

UltraKey is the work of many talented and dedicated people.

Development Direction and Oversight: Art Willer

Project Management and Design: Julie B. Sorensen

Research, Development and Programming:

Paul Thomas with Diego Quesada

Additional Programming: Frank Huntley, Kingston Software Factory

Keyboarding Instructional Process: Frances Henderson and Cheryl Cerri-Llamas

3D Graphics and VR: Votch Levi, BVS Media Productions

Videography: Chris Oar, BVS Media Productions

Video Editing: Michael Filson, BVS Media Productions

Video Narration: Pam Imbessi

Thanks to Lakewood Elementary School and Modesto, California

Live video footage for UltraKey was shot at Lakewood Elementary School, in Modesto, California. Administrators, teachers, students, parents and other members of the Modesto community, including the City of Modesto Police Department, co-operated. Bytes of Learning is very grateful to these people for their wonderful support and encouragement.

Limited Reproduction Permission

This manual may be printed and reproduced by the licensed district or school for any of the following purposes:

For use by students in the district or schools that have purchased an UltraKey 5.0 license.

For use by teachers in the district or schools that have purchased an UltraKey 5.0 license.

For use in any training workshop or seminar provided for teachers who are learning to use UltraKey, or who are evaluating UltraKey.

Any copies of this manual must bear the original copyright notices. Anyone receiving a copy

of the manual must be aware the manual is copyrighted, and further copying may not occur

without the publisher’s permission.

UltraKey 5.0 Student Guide ©Copyright 2010 Bytes of Learning Incorporated 1

What Excellent Keyboarding Does for You

Computers are really powerful tools but, if you cannot keyboard well, the inability to keyboard stands like a glass wall between you and all that power.

When you learn to keyboard well, it is like getting the keys to the world.

Ask any person who can keyboard well: How much does that person value the skill? Does that person think you should learn to keyboard well?

Every excellent typist will encourage you. Ever since they learned to keyboard, the skill has been a significant part of their lives and their success.

Left on your own, you could invent your own way to type. Perhaps you already have. Why should you learn to type differently?

When you learn to keyboard the way experts type, you reach your full potential.

The Lakewood Elementary School students featured in the UltraKey videos average 80 words per minute. Their top typist reached 119 words per minute when he was in grade four!

When the Lakewood students graduated to high school, they zoomed through their high school courses much faster than students who could not keyboard as well. As a result, the teachers had to offer accelerated programs just for them. That is how much their keyboarding skill improved their ability to study and learn!

If you are already in the work force, imagine being able to do twice or three times as much work as you now accomplish or you can take far less time to accomplish the same thing. You will not only be happier and more productive -- you will probably get a promotion!

Unleash the full power of computers in your life.

Learn to keyboard well.

2 UltraKey 5.0 Student Guide ©Copyright 2010 Bytes of Learning Incorporated

What You Learn with UltraKey

You already know UltraKey is going to help you keyboard better.

However, that is not all you are about to learn.

Typing skill is measured by how well you control the keyboard.

Control begins with learning how to sit correctly. The UltraKey Posture module teaches you how to sit and how to position your head, arms and hands.

The Finger Names module starts you in the habit of placing your hands in the home row position. Your fingers have to learn where to start before they learn where to go. Starting in the right place is the first step to keyboard control.

You build control by teaching your fingers how to reach each key. The Lessons module builds the reach for each key so you can type any word!

A reflex action is when your brain does something without you thinking about it. For example, when an expert typist keyboards the word the, the person’s brain no longer thinks t … h … e. The brain thinks the as a single word, and the fingers do the rest. For the expert, the is a single reflex action.

UltraKey teaches you letter chains, letter pairs, and words so they become reflex actions. The more reflex actions you learn, the faster and better you type!

Skill checks provide the keyboarding practice you need to build typing reflexes and your confidence.

Experimenting with skill checks and typing tests, lets you discover what works for you. You learn to manage yourself and the situation for the best results.

You have learned keyboard control when you find yourself keyboarding about as fast as you can talk. You rarely have to look at your hands or even think about what your hands are doing. You just think the words and your fingers type them without a second thought!

All this is what you are about to learn with UltraKey.


The UltraKey Tips for Success

Have you ever watched a good typist’s fingers flying over the keys and thought: “Wow, I’d like to be able to do that!”

You can! Patience, time, and effort will lead you to success. Here are some special tips to help make the most of each keyboarding activity:

• Make correct fingering a habit.

Follow UltraKey directions carefully for posture, reaches, and fingering whenever you keyboard.

Approach the keyboard the same way every time, whether using UltraKey or not.

• Take charge of your own learning.

To help you learn keyboard control, UltraKey puts you in charge of your own learning. You determine your goals. You choose the activity. You set the pace. Make keyboarding well your personal source of pride and accomplishment.

• Keyboard daily.

Daily practice is better than having a long session once a week. Even five minutes of practice every day helps.

• Concentrate.

Shut everything out of your mind but the keyboarding lesson. As you keyboard, say the letters until you are sure of their locations. Feel, hear and see every action to help your mind and body learn to keyboard.

• Help your fingers learn new keys.

Before keyboarding, look at the new keys to see the location. Feel the distance your fingers must travel. Then, close your eyes. Make the reaches without striking the keys.

• Keep going.

Type whole sentences and paragraphs without stopping, even when you make mistakes. Stopping interrupts your typing and loses time. When you keep going, you naturally develop more accurate keyboarding. You type more, and you have fewer errors to correct.

• Be positive.

Accept that you will make errors while learning. Focus on what you do well. Learning any skill takes patience, lots of practice, and a great attitude.

As you use UltraKey, one of the goals is to identify what works for you personally.

When you discover ideas like the ones listed above, write a note to yourself or make a small sign so you can make the discovery a lifelong habit.


Logging in to UltraKey

Opening an Existing Record

1. On the UltraKey welcome screen, click Next.

2. Unless a default host has been set, the host list appears.

Select the host you wish to connect to or select Local for local records.

Click Connect.

You can also double-click a host.

3. If a default host has been selected, the classes for that host are listed automatically. Otherwise, they are listed when you click Connect.

Choose the class and click Open or double-click the class name.

Macintosh Users:

UltraKey operates identically on Mac and Windows with few exceptions. Appearance is the same except for some elements such as button styles.



4. Choose your name from the class list.

Double-click the name or click Open.

5. Enter your password.

Capitals and small letters do not matter when you enter the password. If UltraKey says the password is not correct, then you have entered a wrong letter or digit. Try again.

If you have forgotten your password, ask the teacher to enter a new password for you in class management.

At any time during the login process, you can strike Ctrl-T or click the Speak button to have information read to you. This is not available when speech is turned off for the host or class.

Creating a New Record

To create a new record in the class, click New when the class list is displayed.

If the New button is gray, this means that class enrollment is closed. You cannot create a new record. The teacher must do it in the UltraKey class management.

1. Type your first and last names in the spaces provided.

Then click Next.



2. If passwords are a class requirement, you must enter a password.

Do not enter a password that friends know. Do enter a password you can remember.

It does not have to be a word. Capitals and small letters do not matter.

3. Enter the password again to make sure you can remember it.

If you cannot enter it again correctly, UltraKey lets you try the same password or enter a different password.

You must enter it twice the same way before UltraKey accepts the password.

4. Unless the teacher sets UltraKey to provide a challenge level test, choose a challenge level.

If the teacher requires a challenge level test, then you do not choose a challenge level until the test is complete.

Choose a level and click Next.

5. Check your name and the class name. If everything is correct, click Next. Go back if you need to change anything.

Saving Records

UltraKey saves your record as you learn, and it saves it when you close your record. You do not have to tell UltraKey to save it.



Working in Practice Mode

Teachers and students can use UltraKey in practice mode without opening, creating or saving a record. This feature is useful when teachers demonstrate UltraKey or students do not have access to their records.

To operate UltraKey in practice mode, choose Practice Mode from the File menu when the UltraKey title screen is displayed. Follow the instructions displayed. UltraKey will operate in this mode using the general options set for the local copy of UltraKey unless a default host has contacted. In the latter case, UltraKey uses the general options associated with that host.


Taking a Challenge Level Test

Your teacher can set UltraKey to provide a challenge level test when you start UltraKey. You can also take it on your own by clicking the Challenge Level Test button when you are at the UltraKey introduction screen.

1. Read the introduction. Then, strike the space bar or click the arrow button.

2. Put your hands as you see on the screen.

Strike the space bar when you are ready.

3. Take a deep breath, keep your hand position and start typing whatever you see presented.

Do not stop before you finish.

Do not worry about mistakes. Just keep going and do your best.

Strike Enter or Return to finish the last paragraph.

Taking a Challenge Level Test


4. When you complete the last paragraph in the test, UltraKey scores it and presents the results.

Look at your typing.

Strike the space bar or click the arrow button to see more.

5. A graph shows your accuracy and speed on this challenge level test.

6. Consider the challenge level UltraKey is recommending.

Is this a challenge for you?

If you can do better, try the test again by clicking the retake button.


Getting to Know UltraKey

When you log into UltraKey, the screen can look different depending on the theme. However, the buttons and layout are the same in all themes.

Screen Buttons

Always displays a summary of where you are. Clicking this button, displays your name, your class and your current challenge level.

Exits the current activity and displays the UltraKey introduction screen shown above.

Presents the Posture module, which introduces correct posture and challenges you to remember the key points.

Presents the Finger Names module, which introduces correct striking technique and provides practice with your finger names. The Posture and Finger Names modules should be completed before entering other modules.

Takes you to the Lessons menu. This is where all new keys and combinations are introduced.

Accesses the Skill Check menu. Skill checks provide practice for each new lesson and assess whether you are meeting your challenge level.



Takes you to the Typing Forum, where you can take typing tests or carry out free typing activities.

Displays progress reports on screen. You can print reports but it might be enough to view them on screen.

Closes your UltraKey record.

Reads aloud the current screen. Speech has to be enabled by the teacher. Choose a different voice by selecting Voice from the Edit menu.

Turns automatic speech on and off.

Provides spoken assistance in English or Spanish. A Spanish voice must be present.

Starts the live UltraKey introduction video. Other videos are offered in the Posture and Finger Names modules.

Accesses the Keyboarding Support Center at the Bytes of Learning web site. This access might be disabled because the teacher has turned it off in class management.

Provides help and tips for better use of all the UltraKey lessons.

Accesses the UltraKey information site installed with UltraKey. You can learn many interesting facts about keyboarding that are not presented in the main UltraKey lessons.



Getting Help Using UltraKey

UltraKey includes an onboard help site, installed in the program directory with UltraKey.

This help site is a quick summary of the most critical information needed to operate UltraKey and understand its elements. Much of the information you read there is expressed in more detail in guides such as this manual.

On Windows computers, UltraKey uses a customer web viewer to review the Help web site. This reduces concerns that some schools have permitting students to use Internet browsers. On Macintosh computers, UltraKey uses the built-in Help Viewer mechanism.

Accessing Help

Managers and students access onboard Help by choosing Using UltraKey from the Help menu. F1 is the key equivalent.

Students can click the Help button shown above.

What is in Help

When you access onboard help, the menu at right appears.

Click any menu item. For example, About Posture reveals information about the Posture module and how to operate it. A sample of About Lessons appears below:



Using Menus

UltraKey menus provide access to all UltraKey modules, personal preferences and other useful functions.

File Menu

Close closes the UltraKey record.

Save writes to Local or transmits to host.

Page Setup is used when printouts do not appear as expected.

View Report presents user record on screen.

Print Report prints selected items.

Exit (Quit on Mac) closes UltraKey. Your record is automatically saved.

Edit Menu

Edit functions are subject to class options and conditions. Anything changed here is remembered in your record.

Speak reads the current screen

Speak Object reads highlighted text.

Spell Word spells out highlighted text.

Dual Language Speak provides spoken help in Spanish when a voice is present.

Show Student Information presents name, class and challenge level.

Name edits your name.

Password changes your password.

Reset Lesson Record clears lessons.

Reset Skill Check Record clears skill checks.

Reset Forum Record clears all typing tests.

Challenge Level changes challenge level.

Voice selects a preferred voice.

Dual Language Support sets voice.

Show Hands hides or shows hands.

Show Key Frames hides or shows frames.

Show Time Bar is for skill checks and tests.

Allow Editing is for skill checks and tests.

Skin Tone changes colour and translucency.

Theme chooses from four pre-set themes.



Edit Menu – Speech Sub-menu

Off disables all speech.

Manual means only speak when requested.

Auto means speak with each new screen.

Spell Words means spell words displayed in lessons.

Edit Menu – Sounds Sub-menu

Musical Sounds play when you get excellent results in lessons.

Key Clicks sound as you strike keys.

Bell Sounds issue when you strike wrong keys.

Button Clicks sound when you click buttons.

Edit Menu – Fonts Sub-menu

Standard displays regular font size.

Large displays a larger font size.

Edit Menu – Keyboard Display Sub-menu

No Labels removes letters from keys.

Small Labels displays small letters on keys.

Large Labels places large letters on keys.

No Colours removes colour patterning.

Colours displays colour patterning.

GoTo Menu

GoTo menu items take you to the parts of UltraKey they name.

Notice the key commands that let you go to modules without removing your hands from the keyboard:

Ctrl-1 / Cmd-1 Posture

Ctrl-2 / Cmd-2 Finger Names

Ctrl-3 / Cmd-3 Lessons

Ctrl-4 / Cmd-4 Skill Check

Ctrl-5 / Cmd-5 Typing Forum



Movies Menu

UltraKey movies can be accessed at any time through this menu.

Correct Posture VR presents a full screen virtual reality video that lets you explore the key points of a model typist. When VR is not supported, a linear movie is offered instead.

Help Menu

Using UltraKey provides tips and instructions on how to use UltraKey.

More Information accesses additional onboard information about keyboarding such as repetitive strain injuries.

Keyboarding Support Center goes to the Bytes of Learning web-based support area.

Student Guide opens student user guide. Acrobat Reader is required.

About UltraKey displays the version and license details for the copy of UltraKey. On Macintosh, this is on the UltraKey menu.

Operating UltraKey with the Keyboard

In the student area of UltraKey, all lessons of the program are controllable using only the keyboard. Menus default to the recommended items. Just strike Enter, Return, or the space bar to select menu items. Escape exits any activity.

Technical Notes

UltraKey Voices

UltraKey voice selections depend entirely on the voices available on the computer. The UltraKey installer offers some good quality voices. Recent Windows computers with Vista offer several excellent voices. Macintosh computers offer many good selections on all OS X computers.

When you choose a voice, it is remembered in your record. However, if you use a computer where that voice is not available, you might have to choose another more suitable voice.

Dual language support requires a voice be installed for the particular language. For clarity and correct pronunciation in Spanish, a voice for Spanish must be installed.

Printer Setup and Viewing Reports

UltraKey uses the default printer to display printable reports on the computer screen.

If UltraKey is unable to view a report on a Windows computer, it means a printer might not be available on the computer or a printer needs to be set as default. UltraKey uses its own view mechanism on the Macintosh.


Learning Correct Posture

If you play baseball and have difficulty hitting the ball, the coach will tell you to change your stance. The coach will tell you to place your feet differently, hold your body a certain way, mind where you hold the bat, and keep your eye on the ball.

In keyboarding, we call the way you position your feet, body, hands, and head, posture. Posture is as important to keyboarding, as stance is to hitting a baseball.

The Posture module helps you learn the important elements of correct posture.

Click the Posture button or strike Ctrl-1 (Cmd-1 on Mac) to get started.

At the Posture welcome screen, click the Introduction to Posture movie, and watch the live video.

The video shows real people and the value of correct posture.

When you finish reviewing the video, strike the space bar to move on or click the forward arrow button shown above.

You can proceed through all the screens using these two methods.

The next screen shows what poor posture looks like.



Moving forward, check your own posture right away to match the model you see.

Now, use the mouse to explore the virtual reality model. Click the mouse on the video, hold down the mouse button and drag to cause the video view to change. When VR is not supported, a linear movie is displayed.

As you explore, different messages appear on the left. You can click the buttons on the left image to make the virtual reality video move to that view.

Check your posture as each key element is shown.

1.



2.

3.

4.

5.



6.

7.

8.

9.

Now have some fun. Click the model to correct her posture. See whether you can find all the areas to fix!



Tip for Students Learning Posture

Make a habit of checking your posture before you start keyboarding. If your position is uncomfortable, change your situation. If you can elevate your chair, raise it to make yourself comfortable. Many computers have separate keyboards. Consider moving the keyboard onto your lap if it is too high. Whatever it takes, move yourself or the computer so you can adopt the best posture.


Learning Finger Names

Finger Names teaches the names of the fingers and the home row position to prepare you for the UltraKey lessons.

The Importance of Home Row Position

Home row and anchoring over home row is important because it provides a starting position for each reach your fingers make.

It is very important to keep your fingers over home row when you are keyboarding.

When you are just learning to type, you should rest your fingers lightly on the home row keys. This provides a better reference point to help you learn the key reaches. As you become more expert, the fingers can begin to hover over the home row without touching the keys.

How the Module Proceeds

Click the Finger Names button or select Fingers from the GoTo menu. You can also strike Ctrl-2 (Cmd-2 on Mac).

Play the video to learn about striking technique and the importance of the home row.

Strike the space bar or click the forward arrow button.

Watch the video that automatically starts. Messages are displayed at critical points during the video.

Replay the video if you want.

Strike space bar to proceed or click the arrow button.



Follow each Finger Name introductory step that is shown.

Place your hands as shown and strike the F key with your F finger.

Pay attention to each step of the lesson and keep doing what you see on the screen.

Strike F again.

Strike F to see all the left hand finger names.

Learn the touch of the home row keys by striking A S D F.

Do not go ahead of the instruction. It is best to hold the position and learn the feel, one key at a time.

Macintosh Users:




Continue the same calm approach as you learn the names of the right hand fingers.

You are learning more than just their names. You are learning how the positions feel.

Close your eyes and focus on how the home row position feels.

The thumb completes the finger names.

Use the right thumb as shown. Keep the left thumb tucked away.

Some left-handed people prefer to use the left thumb to strike the space bar and keep the right thumb tucked away. That is okay.

Do not use both thumbs.

You have now learned the home row position.

For all the remaining UltraKey lessons and in every keyboarding situation, start with your hands in home row position.



Anchoring is the habit of keeping at least one finger of one hand on its home row key.

If you do not do this, your hands drift and strike the wrong keys.

Anchoring means to give your fingers a reference point you can feel, so the fingers know where they are.

When you gain more confidence, you can stop doing this but do it for now.

UltraKey provides practice with the home row using this simple exercise.

As UltraKey highlights each letter, say the letter in your mind and strike the key.

It is important to say the finger names in your mind as you strike the keys. Your brain memorizes the finger names and how each finger position feels.

UltraKey requires a certain amount of practice before it lets you strike Enter or Return.

When you do, UltraKey celebrates your success with a little jingle and the presentation you see.

Move on to the UltraKey Lessons module.

Note: When you take UltraKey lessons, the program will offer a warmup. You will see an exercise very similar to the home row practice shown above. Use this to teach your brain about the home row keys, your finger names and any other keys you have learned. Remember to strike Enter or Return when you have had enough warmup.


Taking Lessons

The Lessons module contains twelve instructional units. Each lesson builds on earlier lessons by presenting new reaches and then combining them with keys already learned.

Each lesson introduces students to new keys one at a time. Students then exercise the new keys, practicing with the home row letter, then with common letter pairs and chains.

Completing a Lesson

Click the Lesson Module button or strike Ctrl-3 (Cmd-3 on Mac). The Lesson menu is presented.

Choose a Lesson. Strike Enter or Return or click the forward arrow button.

If the teacher has set sequence controls, you must complete the lessons in their presented order.

When you have completed a lesson, you can re-take it any time.

When you select a lesson, its steps are presented.

In the illustration at right, checkmarks indicate steps that have been completed.

The next step is selected for you depending on what you have completed before.

Select a step and strike Enter or Return or click the forward arrow button. You can also strike the space bar.

Macintosh Users:


Taking Lessons


Having selected a lesson step, UltraKey shows you how to get ready.

Place your hands in position as shown. Also, check your posture.

Strike the space bar when you are ready.

On your first lesson of the day, UltraKey offers a warm-up or you can choose a warm-up from the Step menu.

When the warm-up offer is accepted, UltraKey presents the screen at right. This exercise is like the Finger Names module practice.

UltraKey presents keys you have already learned. Warm up until UltraKey presents the later keys you have learned. Then strike Enter or Return.

In this lesson example, UltraKey introduces the W key action.

Watch the screen and strike the key exactly the same way.

Taking Lessons


UltraKey provides practice striking the W key and then striking its home row partner S.

Strike the two keys as smoothly as you can.

Several lines of typing are provided. The amount of lines depends on the practice weight selected in your challenge level.

Next, UltraKey challenges you to type chains. In this example, the chain WN is present. This chain appears in the word clown.

You practice letter chains and pairs so you can reduce the time spent between typing these keys.

That is how you become a faster typing, but speed is not necessary right now. Keyboard correctly as shown, not quickly.

On this screen, UltraKey is providing practice with letter pairs.

Letter chains use two hands, while letter pairs use reaches with one hand.

Like letter chains, learning to strike letter pairs in a smooth action, speeds up your typing. Do not rush. Focus on typing correctly.

Taking Lessons


You can repeat any lesson step by striking M when you see this message. Strike the space bar and move on unless you really need extra time.

After all the lesson keys, their home row partners, letter chains and letter pairs are introduced, UltraKey challenges you with whole words.

Type the words as smoothly as possible. Speed is not important. Your goal is to strike the keys cleanly and smoothly.

When you make errors, stop for a moment and let UltraKey show you the keystroke actions. UltraKey shows the next letter pair or chain action so you can get started and keep going with a smooth flow.

Now that you have learned the new keys in combinations and words, UltraKey removes the hands from the screen and challenges you with whole sentences.

Here, UltraKey does not stop you from making errors and it no longer shows you the keystroke. That is how real keyboarding works.

Continue keyboarding as smoothly as you can.

Taking Lessons


UltraKey does not track your speed in lessons, but it does consider how well you type. If UltraKey recommends more practice, consider striking M. Otherwise, strike space bar to finish the lesson.

To register a complete lesson, make sure you proceed to this final lesson screen.

As suggested, you should take the skill check corresponding to the lesson you have just completed.

Congratulations on completing this lesson. Strike the space bar one more time.

Macintosh Users:


Taking Lessons


Tips for Students Taking Lessons

UltraKey uses speech to help students learning English, students learning how to read, and students who are visually impaired. Speech can also help pace you through the lessons.

Watch the action of the fingers on the screen. Then look at your own fingers during the first few keystrokes. After that, keep your eyes and head up.

Take your time. Speed is not important in the lessons. The lesson goal is to help you learn new keystrokes and to combine these into smooth typing actions.

To avoid eyestrain, look away from the screen occasionally. As you learn to type, you use muscles that have to be conditioned for keyboarding. Take a stretch break when UltraKey suggests.

Never complete more than two lessons before taking a skill check. Skill checks provide valuable practice using newly learned keys in real typing.

Remember control is the goal. Practice correct posture and strike keys correctly. Before you know it, you will keyboard much better and faster.


Learning More about Keyboarding

UltraKey includes an onboard web site, installed in the program directory with UltraKey.

This web site provides additional information to teachers and students about keyboarding. Some experts say, “The topic of keyboarding is an inch wide and a mile deep.” You might think of the UltraKey More Information as the mile-deep part of keyboarding.

Accessing More Information

Students access More information by choosing it from the Help menu.

Students can click the More information button shown above.

What is in More Information

When you access More information, the menu at right appears.

Click any menu item for more information. For example, More Information Posture reveals information about safe posture, and why it is important. A sample appears below:


Improving Performance with Skill Checks

Skill checks should be taken after every one or two lessons are completed.

Each skill check provides students valuable practice, measures their skill, and suggests ways to improve. Each skill check also detects troublesome chains and letter pairs and offers remedial help when indicated.

.

Taking Skill Checks

Access the Skill Check module by clicking the module button or striking Ctrl-4 (Cmd-4 on Mac).

UltraKey presents the Skill Check menu, which looks very similar to the Lessons menu. That is because each Skill Check level complements the corresponding lesson level.

When you choose a skill check level, UltraKey presents the skill check passages available for your class.

Choose a passage. Double-click it or select it and strike Enter or Return, or strike the space bar.



Skill checks can be completed with a range of controls:

1, 2, 3, or all paragraphs.

1-minute to 5-minute timings.

Some choices might not be selectable depending on what the class options permit.

Choose the length of material you prefer. Strike Enter or Return. You can also strike the space bar.

Get ready by placing your hands as shown.

Check your posture.

Make sure you are alert but comfortable.

Strike the space bar.

Do not begin until you are ready. UltraKey does not begin any timing until you strike the first key.

If you are confident, consider hiding your typing by clicking

the Hide button. This helps you ignore errors and let your fingers do the typing.

Begin typing when ready.



This illustration shows what happens when the Hide button is clicked. On Mac, the letters are white on white so you cannot see them.

Type smoothly. Let UltraKey wrap the words. Only strike Enter or Return once at the end of each paragraph, including the last paragraph.

When finished, UltraKey analyzes your work. If you pass your challenge level or improve in some way, UltraKey congratulates you.

After you dismiss any messages, UltraKey presents the material you typed with a marked copy of your typing.

UltraKey looks for missed keys, extra keys and wrong keys because they tell about what you might improve.

When UltraKey detects a missed key, it inserts the key and colours it green. In the example, two w keys were missed in Morrow and wanted.

Macintosh Users:




Strike the space bar or click the forward arrow button to see a chart of your results on this skill check level.

The best result is framed. A best result is determined using options set by the teacher.

UltraKey provides a written recommendation based on your results and the analysis of your typing.

In this example, the student has achieved the challenge level, so UltraKey recommends taking the next lesson.

You can take a skill check again by clicking the retake button.

When troublesome chains or pairs are noticed, UltraKey offers extra practice.

Strike Enter or Return or strike the space bar.



UltraKey shows a chart of the logged chains or pairs. In this case, the chain co has been identified as troublesome.

Click Practice for help with this chain.

UltraKey demonstrates the keys with their home key partners and as letter chains.

Complete the exercises to improve with the troublesome chains or letter pairs. By doing, so you will develop the reflex to type these combinations.

UltraKey encourages you to take the skill check again, but it does not insist. That decision is yours.

If you have not passed the skill check, you should retake it.

Striking the space bar takes you back to the troublesome chains screen.

Click the retake button to measure your improvement.

Reading Copy Aloud

UltraKey can read aloud the whole copy presented or a part of it. If you highlight part of the copy and right-click the highlighted area on a Windows system or click the highlighted area on a Macintosh, UltraKey reads the selected section.



Skill Check Reports and Printouts

You can click the Report button any time to print a report on your current skill check performance. Select the most recent skill check report to view or print the current results.

Tips for Students Taking Skill Checks

Once you begin a skill check, keep going. When you make corrections or hesitate, you lose time.

UltraKey begins timing when you strike the first key. Timing continues until you end the test.

When you are building skill, you are exercising new muscles. Build strength over time.

Try different passages for the same skill check level.

Experiment. Try pushing hard. Then, slow down. Compare the results.

Everybody makes mistakes. The best strategy for real computer keyboarding is to keep on going. Then, go back and correct your errors.


Mastering the Typing Forum

The Typing Forum features two tools, Typing Tests and Free Typing.

Typing Tests is similar to Skill Check. It is intended to be used when students have completed the skill checks, and they are ready for greater challenges.

Free Typing lets users type whatever they want for however long they want and then print out their typing. UltraKey measures the gross speed but cannot analyze errors because it does not know what the student is expected to type.

Taking a Typing Test

Click the Typing Forum module button or strike Ctrl-5 (Cmd-5 on Mac).

The Typing Forum presents two choices.

Select Typing Tests and strike Enter or Return, or strike the space bar.

The typing test material is determined by the typing test management function set by the teacher in class management.

Choose a test and strike Enter or Return, or strike the space bar. You can also double-click a test title.

Macintosh Users:




Available test lengths are determined by the teacher using class option settings.

Choose a test length.

Strike Enter or Return.

UltraKey prompts you to get ready. Place your hands in the home row position, check your posture, and strike the space bar when ready.

UltraKey presents the test.

Take your time.

In the example, the typing in the lower window is hidden because the Hide button was clicked.

Begin typing when you are ready.



UltraKey assesses typing accuracy to the character level and highlights errors.

To show a missed key, UltraKey inserts the letter in your typing and highlights it.

Strike the space bar to see more.

UltraKey shows you how the latest result compares with earlier results.

The example only shows one result because the person has not taken more typing tests.

To retake the test, click the retake button.



Using Free Typing

To access Free Typing, click the Typing Forum button or strike Ctrl-5 (Cmd-5 on Mac).

Select Free Typing and strike Enter or Return, or strike the space bar.

Choose the length of material or length of time.

In this example, a 1-minute timing is selected.

Select a length and strike Enter or Return, or strike the space bar.

Place your hands in home row position and check your posture.

Strike the space bar.



When a timed typing is underway and the class options and preferences permit, a time bar is displayed. The time bar shows how much time you have left.

The timer does not start until you strike the first key. Start the timing only when you are ready.

In a timed typing test, UltraKey interrupts. Otherwise, UltraKey waits until you finish.

When you are finished, UltraKey displays what you typed and reports your speed.

You can print a copy of what you typed and review your accuracy.

Macintosh Users:



Student Progress Reports

Several kinds of reports show how the user is progressing.

Access the reports by clicking the Report button while the user’s record is open. Reports can also be accessed within the class management area.

Accessing Reports from the Student Interface

To access your report, click the Report button shown upper right. UltraKey displays the dialog at right:

Items are gray when there is nothing in your record to report, or the class options do not permit you to access this part of the report.

Check or clear the checks on those items to be viewed.

Click View to see the selected reports. An example appears below:


Learning at Home with UltraKey

To learn at home with UltraKey, you must purchase a copy of UltraKey for home use or you must acquire a copy from the school under a school lending license.

When you have UltraKey at home, the best way to have your learning recorded is to log into UltraKey with a connection key supplied by the school. A connection key lets UltraKey communicate with the school server through any Internet connection. When you log in this way, UltraKey records all your work.

Alternatively, you can take an exported record home. As long as you bring the record back to school, it can be imported into the school database.

Logging in to Your School Record from Home

If you have a home license for UltraKey or the school lends you a laptop with UltraKey installed, you should be able to log in to your school record from home.

Here is what you need:

The computer is connected to the Internet.

UltraKey is installed on the computer.

The school has provided you an UltraKey connection key file.

Here is what you do:

1. Double-click the UltraKey connection key file.

2. When UltraKey starts, it will automatically connect to the school data server and open the list of classes for your school. Open your class.

3. Open your record.

4. Enter your password and begin using UltraKey.

If double-clicking the connection key file fails to start UltraKey, start UltraKey and choose Open connection key from the File menu.

When you log in from home, UltraKey records your progress as if you are at school. When you are finished, close your record.

When you return to school and log in to UltraKey, everything you did at home will be there.



Using an Exported UltraKey Record at Home

If you have a licensed copy of UltraKey at home, you can take your record home and continue to record your progress in it. Then, you can bring the record back to school where it can be added back to the school database.

Exporting a record

Teachers or class managers can export any record in their class to an independent file.

Opening an Exported Record

You must have a licensed copy of UltraKey 5.0 on your home computer to use an exported record.

There are two ways to open the record in UltraKey:

Double-click the record file. UltraKey will start and open your record. Click Next to continue.

Or

Start UltraKey.

Choose Open from the UltraKey File menu and navigate to the record.

Select the record and click Open.

Saving an Exported Record

UltraKey automatically records work as you complete UltraKey lessons. You can also choose Save from the File menu. Always close your record before exiting or quitting UltraKey.

Returning an Exported Record to School

Provide a copy of the exported record file to the teacher or class manager. The class manager then needs to import the record into the class. A copy of your old record will still be in the class, but this is replaced when you import the newer record and your latest results will become part of the school database.

Never Tamper with an UltraKey Record

UltraKey records are encrypted. They can only be read and written by UltraKey. If you change a record using anything but UltraKey, it will be corrupted and any information in it can no longer be accessed.


Congratulations from UltraKey

Dear Student:

Greetings!

My name is UltraKey. I have been teaching keyboarding for over 25 years.

Many people do not know the program, UltraKey, is named after me. Many people do not even notice me as I lead them through their keyboarding lessons. That is enough said about me.

The real story is about you.

Congratulations on completing my course and mastering the skill of keyboarding by touch. I am sure you are already enjoying the benefits!

As long as you keyboard correctly, you will reach typing speeds you never thought you could reach. More importantly, you will communicate with a keyboard as comfortably as you talk.

Enjoy it. You have all my best wishes in whatever you do with this wonderful new skill.

Yours sincerely,

UltraKey

i UltraKey 5.0 Student Guide ©Copyright 2010 Bytes of Learning Incorporated

Index

A

Accuracy

In challenge level test, 9

In free typing, 42

In lessons, 29

In skill checks, 34

In typing tests, 40

Tips for improvement, 30, 37

Anchoring, 24

C

Challenge level test, 8

Congratulations from UltraKey,

46

Correct posture, 16

Correct Posture VR, 15

Creating a new record, 5

D

Development team, i

F

Finger names, 21

Anchoring, 24

Home row position, 23

Importance of home row, 21

Learning process, 21

Which thumb?, 23

Finishing a lesson, 29

Free typing

In the typing forum, 41

G

Getting to know UltraKey. See

also Help, onboard

Keyboard equivalents, 14

Operating with a keyboard, 15

Screen buttons, 10

Using menus, 13

H

Help, onboard

Access, 12

Content, 12

Introduction, 12

Hiding or showing your typing

In free typing, 42

In skill checks, 33

In typing tests, 39

Home row. See Finger names

How to operate UltraKey. See

Getting to know UltraKey

I

Improving with skill checks, 32

K

Keyboarding Support Center, 15

L

Lakewood Elementary School, i

Learning outcomes, 2

Learning process

Finger names, 21

Lessons, 25

Posture, 16

Skill checks, 32

Learning with UltraKey

Tips for success, 3

What you learn with UltraKey,

2

Why learn to keyboard, 1

Lessons

Finishing a lesson, 29

Introducing new keys, 26

Learning process, 25

Lesson steps, 25

Letter chains, 27

Letter pairs, 27

Repeating lesson steps, 28

Tips for students, 30

Warming up, 26

What UltraKey tracks, 29

Whole sentences, 28

Whole words, 28

Letter chains and pairs

Help with, 36

In lessons, 27

In skill checks, 35

Role in assessment, 32

Role in learning, 2, 25

Logging in from home, 44


Creating a new record, 5

Opening an existing record, 4

Saving a record, 6

Using practice mode, 7

M

More information about

keyboarding

Access, 31

Content, 31

Introduction, 31

Menu access, 15

O

Onboard help. See Help, onboard

Onboard web site, 15

Opening exported records

At home, 45

Operating by keyboard, 14, 15

Operating in practice mode, 7

P

Playing games with UltraKey. See

also Typing forum

Posture

Compare with baseball stance,

16

Key posture elements, 17

Posture puzzle, 19


Why posture is important, 16

Posture puzzle, 19

Practice mode, 7

Pre-testing, 8

Printer Setup, 15

Printing student reports

As a student, 43

Progress reports. See Student

reports

R

Reading copy aloud, 36

Reflex action, defined, 2

Remediation for troublesome

chains and letter pairs, 35

Reports. See Student reports


ii UltraKey 5.0 Student Guide ©Copyright 2010 Bytes of Learning Incorporated

Reproduction permission, i

Returning an exported record to

school, 45

S

Saving an exported record, 45

Saving records, 6

Saving student reports

As a student, 43

Skill check length

In skill checks, 33

Skill checks, student use of

Chart of your results, 35

Example of congratulations, 34

Hiding or showing typing, 33

How missed keys show, 34

Inserted keys, 34

Missed keys, 34

Reading copy aloud, 36

Reports and printouts, 37

Re-taking a skill check, 35

Skill check length, 33

Skill check passages, 32

Taking skill checks, 32


Troublesome chains, pairs, 35

Written recommendation, 35

Wrong keys, 34

Speed

In challenge level test, 9

In free typing, 42

In lessons, 29

In skill checks, 34

In typing tests, 40

Tips for improvement, 30, 37

Student reports

How students access, 43

Items not available, 43

Success, tips for, 3

T

Taking a challenge level test, 8

Taking lessons, 25

Taking skill checks. See Skill

checks

Tampering with a record, 45

Tips for students

Correct posture, 20

Improving with skill checks, 37

Taking lessons, 30

Tips for success, 3

Typing errors

How missed keys show, 34

Inserted keys, 34

Missed keys, 34

Wrong keys, 34

Typing forum

Taking a typing test, 38

Using free typing, 41

U

UltraKey development team, i

UltraKey voices, 15

Using an exported record at

home

Exporting a record, 45

Home license needed, 45

Opening a record, 45

Returning record to school, 45

Saving a record, 45

Tampering with a record, 45

Using menus, 13

Using UltraKey without a record.

See Practice mode

V

Viewing reports

As a student, 43

Printer setup, 15

Virtual reality video, 15

Voice selection, 15

W

Warming up, 26

What you learn with UltraKey, 2

Which thumb?, 23

Whole sentences, 28

Whole words, 28

Why home row is important, 21

Why learn to keyboard, 1

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