Fall 2005, 3 credits
Instructor: / Kathy Murphy
Office: / 775-753-2307 (voice mail)
Text: / Keyboarding and Word Processing, Vanhuss, Forde, Woo 2002 or 2003 edition
ISBN# 0-538-72610-5 (with Keyboarding Pro software)
Introduction:
Keyboarding is a skill needed by all students regardless of career interest or academic ability. Keyboarding skills will increase the effective use of the computer. To use the computer effectively, the skills to access the computer must be learned.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement
Qualified students with physical or documented learning disabilities have the right to free accommodations to ensure equal access to educational opportunities at Great BasinCollege. For assistance, contact Student Services at 753-2279 or 753-2361.
If you need special course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please let me know at your earliest convenience.
Course Performance Objectives
Upon the completion of the course, the student should be able to:
Keyboard the letter, figures, and symbols by touch
Use correct techniques in keyboarding which will increase speed and accuracy and contribute to the student's overall efficiency and competency
Keyboard from corrected rough draft copy
Apply basic punctuation rules needed in office documents
Proofread documents for accuracy and evaluate their acceptability
Type 30 WPM by the end of the semester
Method of Instruction:
Students will complete:
Keyboarding drills contained in the Keyboarding Pro software program
Timed writings
Skill building exercises assigned by the instructor
Assignments:
See the attached course outline.
One lesson will be completed during each class period
Students will be required to complete, print and submit an instructor assigned timed writing for each lesson
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period. If turned in after class starts 15 points will be deducted.
Late assignments will be graded, with a 10 point per day reduction for each day they are late
If assignments are complete, the student will earn full credit. If any are incomplete or missing, the student will earn credit for what was completed.
In case of absences, arrangements must be made ahead of time with the instructor.
Attendance
You must attend class regularly if you intend to obtain the full benefit of instruction. I keep attendance records and you must notify me in advance if you expect to miss a class. If you do not notify me, your absence will be recorded as unexcused. The college catalog states that a student who has an excessive number of absences may be dropped from a course. In general, unexcused absences in excess of the number of credits to be earned in the course is considered excessive.
Class starts at 8:30 – all students should be in the classroom with computers on at that time.
Unless authorized before class all cell phones must be turned off during class.
Timed Writings:
Each class period a timed writing will be given.
Material for the timed writing will be given and the writing completed during the class period.
Timed writings cannot be taken or turned in late.
Objective of a timed writing is to Improve speed and accuracy in keyboarding
Academic Integrity:
The skills that are taught in this class can only be learned by use of the computer and practice. Students may work together but assignments and tests must be completed individually.
Great BasinCollege is dedicated to learning. Therefore, the college demands a high level of scholarly behavior and academic honesty. No form of academic dishonesty is acceptable. If two or more students turn in the same hardcopy assignment or collaborate on a test, punitive measures as described in the Rules and Disciplinary Procedures for Members of the University Community will be enforced.
Dropping the Class:
If a student is unable or unwilling to complete this class, you will need to contact Student Services and withdraw from the class before the official drop date.
Student Computer Lab Use:
Computer lab use is restricted to authorized individuals: students, faculty, and staff with appropriate logins.
Logins are issued to individual users and ARE NOT to be used by anyone else.
Food and drink are prohibited while in a computer lab. Items may be left on a table outside of a lab.
Children are allowed in the labs only if they are enrolled in a course offered specifically for them
Internet access is to be used for class-related work only. Internet activities will be randomly monitored.
Computer labs are for students to use for class-related work only.
Copying of ANY software is prohibited without prior authorization.
No ringing cellular phones in the labs.
Keyboarding Speed:
Timed writings will be given. During the final week of classes, timed writings will be given to determine your speed for your final grade. The score on the best timed writing will be worth 25% of your total grade. Keyboarding speed will be determined by completing a three-minute timed writing with three errors or less resulting in the following:
30+wpm = 100%
25-29 wpm = 85%
20-24 wpm = 75%
Less than 20 wpm = 65%.
Although each student will progress at his/her own rate, each student will be expected to increase their speed during this course.
Grading: Daily Work/Timed Writings 25% of grade
Midterm Exam 25% of grade
Final Exam 25% of grade
Speed 25% of grade
Grading Scale: 94 - 100 = A
90 - 93 = A-
87 - 89 = B+
83 - 86 = B
80 - 82 = B-
77 - 79 = C+
73 - 76 = C
70 - 72 = C-
67 - 69 = D+
63 - 66 = D
60 - 62 = D-
Below 59 = F
Withdraw = W
Ways to increase your keyboarding skills:
1. Feet placed appropriately for balance.
2. Center body to the "h" key with elbows at sides.
3. Sit up straight.
4. Curve fingers over the home keys.
5. Keep wrists off the keyboard.
6. Keep eyes on printed copy.
7. Key by touch.
Typing Tips and Tricks -
Type without looking at the keys. Use a quick stroke to strike and bounce off the keys. Think in terms of “snapping” your fingers quickly downward on the keys. Do not “press” or “mash” the key. Strike the key quickly and move on!
Sit erect. Your feet should be flat on the floor. Poor posture is tiring and leads to typing errors.
Avoid eyestrain. Eyestrain occurs when there is a reflection on the computer monitor. Adjust the angle of the monitor and/or the height of your chair to reduce reflections. The room should be slightly “dark” without major rays of sunlight. Squinting is very fatiguing. Monitor shields, or even monitor screens might be of some help.
Move only the fingers needed. Remember this! Move only the finger needed to strike a key. Do not allow other fingers to wander away from their assigned home-row keys. This may be awkward at first and will require will-power, but you can do it! Let your brain train your fingers.
Error reduction. If errors are occurring on the bottom-row keys, move your chair back from the keyboard and slightly raise your wrists.
Use the correct finger-keystroke. Study the pictures in the Nimble Fingers keyboarding program to know which finger to use. Whisper each letter before striking the key.
Check your hands! Your fingers should be on the home-row keys and your hands should slant upward at the same slant as the keyboard. Do not let your wrists become lazy and rest against the desk or the keyboard.
Make adjustments. Check your distance from the keyboard. Adjust your chair when necessary to avoid a common problem – that of sitting too close to the keyboard. Also, adjust the angle of your monitor to minimize glare. Eyestrain is very tiring and will result in an increased number of errors. Remove excessive paperwork, and don’t let direct sunlight in from windows that will result in screen glare.
Headaches? When was the last time you had your vision checked by a health care professional? If you don’t know, it may be time for a check up.
COT 101 – KeyboardingM-W-F 8:30 – 10:00Lund 111