CIS 103 Learning the Keyboard

Instructor: Dave Fitzgerald

Office Location:Justin Whiting Hall, room 150D

Office Hours:Please email me for an appointment

Phone:517.796.8676

E-Mail:

Course URL:

GDP Webpage:

Course Description

Learn keyboard fundamentals for success in computer related programs. The students learn proper finger placement and key locations on a microcomputer.

Course Overview

The course text describes keyboarding, formerly known as typing, as “the act of entering data by means of designated computer keys”. Keyboarding is taught on computers. This course provides instruction and practice on the alphabet, numbers, and symbols as well as the basics of word processing using web based computer software.

The course will be completed using an on-line keyboarding software program (GDP.) There is a document posted within the course web site to help you create an account to begin using the GDP software program.

To access the online keyboarding software, go to:

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, successful students have mastered the following tasks:

  • Type at least 20 words a minute (see Timed Writings Scale).
  • Know basic key locations on a computer keyboard.
  • Demonstrate proper finger placementwhen using a computer keyboard.
  • Demonstrate acceptable work habits, work station organization, and typing posture.

Required Textbook

Gregg College Keyboarding, Lessons 1-20,11th edition, by Ober, Johnson, Zimmerly; McGraw-Hill Irwin Publishers, ISBN-13 9780077344221. This text is available at the JCC bookstore.

Included with the course textbook package is a Users’ Guide/Support Manual containing information that covers most technical aspects of the Gregg College Keyboarding course. Please become familiar with the manual—it will answer many of your questions about using the GDP software program.The packet will also contain an access code needed to create your account within the online GDP software program. This code will be required to complete your keyboarding class assignments.

Associate DegreeOutcomes

The Jackson Community College Board of Trustees has developed a list of essential skills which all of its associate degree graduates will enhance during their college experience. The Board has said:

JCC's goal is to prepare students to live productive and meaningful lives. Implicit in this goal are efforts to prepare students to: (a) live and work in the twenty-first century, (b) be employed in situations which will require retraining several times during a productive life, and (c) function in a rapidly changing informational society.

The highest priority skills include, among others:

ADO 7-D
Facility in the use of
computers
and
other technologies
appropriate to the program
of study / 1)Use the computer for word processing tasks and as a tool for obtaining information.
or
2)If appropriate, demonstrate ability to use discipline-specific technologies.

Grading

Completion of Lessons 1-2050%

Speed/Accuracy50%

Completion of Lessons

Progress Reports

I will pull a progress report twice during the semester. The first report will be pulled for lessons 1 – 10 and the second report will be pulled for lessons 11 – 20. At the end of the course, I will average these two reports to figure the Completion of Lessons part of your grade.

Lesson Content

Lessons 1-10 are the most basic and have one-minute timings only. The Home Keys are introduced. By lesson 10, the entire alphabet is covered. Although lessons 1-10 are submitted and recorded for credit, the one-minute timing scores are not counted toward the course speed and accuracy grade.This part of the course is to be completed by midnight on Sunday February 2, 2014.

Beginning in Lesson 11, number keys are introduced, and timings are now 2-minutes long. These timings will be recorded and can be counted toward the course speed and accuracy grade. At lesson 15, symbols are introduced up through lesson 20. Lessons continually review and reinforce the letters, numbers and symbols introduced in previous lessons. This part of the course is to be completed by midnight on Sunday March 2, 2014.

Speed/Accuracy

Timings/Grading Scale

CIS 1031

CIS 103 Learning the Keyboard

29-30 wpm - 4.0

27-28 wpm - 3.5

24-26 wpm - 3.0

22-23 wpm - 2.5

20-21 wpm - 2.0

18-19 wpm - 1.5

16-17 wpm - 1.0

15 wpm - 0.5

CIS 1031

CIS 103 Learning the Keyboard

The best three timings (2 minute timings with 5 or fewer errors only) in the entire course will be averaged for the final score. You may submit as many timings as you wish until you are happy with your final timing grade!

Relax and have fun!

Notes:

CIS 1031