A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or
more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two
months apart.
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons
are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have
to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until
the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each
lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such,
we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final
exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work,
including the final exam.
Week One
Wednesday - Lesson 01
Our first lesson guides you step by step as you download, install, and set up Key Pro 5. You'll also get acquainted with the program, learning about the home row keys and the reach to the i key on the QWERTY keyboard. Are you confused about what home row and QWERTY mean? Don't worry—I'll explain it all.
Friday - Lesson 02
Now that you're getting comfortable with the home row on the QWERTY keyboard, it's time to introduce you to some new keys. Today you'll learn the proper techniques for lowercase letters. You'll also use Key Pro 5 to practice the reaches to the e and the n. Also, is all this typing causing you aches and pains? You'll find out how to reduce fatigue while typing. The good habits you learn today will pay off in the future!
Week Two
Wednesday - Lesson 03
In this lesson, you'll learn four new keystrokes: left SHIFT, h, t, and period (.). I'll also provide some tips on improving speed and accuracy and introduce you to the Key Pro 5 word processor program.
Friday - Lesson 04
Continue to build your keyboarding vocabulary by learning four new key reaches in this lesson: r, right SHIFT, c, and o. We'll also talk about “the Zen of typing” . . . in other words, how touch-typing becomes an instinctive and unconscious action.
Week Three
Wednesday - Lesson 05
Your typing vocabulary continues to expand rapidly with the addition of the reaches to the w, comma, b, and p. Before you know it, you'll be typing complete paragraphs! This lesson also covers what you need to know about carpal tunnel syndrome, a serious and painful condition that you can avoid.
Friday - Lesson 06
Expand your typing vocabulary by mastering four more key reaches: the g, question mark (?), x, and u. Just a few more reaches, and you'll know how to type the whole alphabet! In this lesson, you'll also learn about the function (FN) key and the numbers lock (NUM LOCK) key, which are on most laptop keyboards.
Week Four
Wednesday - Lesson 07
Today you'll add another four reaches to your typing vocabulary: q, m, v, and apostrophe ('). You'll also learn how to save a document with a word processing program.
Friday - Lesson 08
It's time to add another four reaches to your typing vocabulary: the z, y, quotation mark ("), and TAB keys. After this lesson, you'll know the reaches to all the alphabetic keys! You'll also find out how to open, edit, and resave word processing documents.
Week Five
Wednesday - Lesson 09
Are you ready to improve your skills and learn some new ones? After you review the z, y, x, q, v, quotation mark, and CAPS LOCK keys, you'll learn the reaches to the numbers 1 and 8. Then you'll take timed writings in the Key Pro 5 word processor.
Friday - Lesson 10
What's the difference between the DELETE key, the BACKSPACE key, and the Cut command? By the end of this lesson, you'll understand how and when to use these three editing tools. You'll also continue to improve your skills with the alphabetic keys, plus you'll learn more number reaches: 5, 0, 2, and 7.
Week Six
Wednesday - Lesson 11
When should you spell out numbers (like this: one, nine, five hundred), and when should you write them as figures (1, 9, 500)? I'll explain in this lesson. You'll also continue to improve your skills with the keys you've already learned, and you'll finish the number reaches by mastering 4, 9, 3, and 6. Then you’ll learn two symbol reaches: the dollar sign ($) and the hyphen (-).
Friday - Lesson 12
You've already mastered some of the symbols and punctuation marks. Today, in our last lesson together, you'll meet the rest of the symbols. You'll also work on your accuracy and speed with the Key Pro 5 Skill Building lessons. And you'll find out how you can continue to hone your keyboarding skills long after you've finished this course!