Typing using the Word Wacker touch typing program.

This is the Introduction Screen

Click on [New User] and enter your first and last name when requested.

If two selections appear at the bottom of the screen to "Try the Program" or "Enter Registration Key," please try the program.

Then if you like the program, we ask that you register the program.

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Main Menu

This is the Main Menu.

Click on "Beginning Keystrokes" if you are a beginner.

If you already have good typing skills, with the correct finger-keystroke reaches, you are welcome to click on "Skill Building."

Please think before you jump ahead. Sure, you can "do it your way," but it is best to let the Little Professor be your guide and follow the sequence shown.

When the computer is "online," clicking the "On Line Help" button will give you the current screen.

The screen will appear as shown after clicking on "Beginning Keystrokes."

There are five major typing topics for "Beginning Keystrokes:" "Getting Started"; "Beginning Letters;" "Advanced Letters;" "A to Z Typing," and "Tricky Fingers."

Each of these topics contain 10 exercises.

Also notice that "Getting Started" is highlighted in green.

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Beginning Keystrokes

After clicking on "Getting Started," the Beginning Keystrokes screen will appear as shown.

There are 10 exercises to "get you started." The Little Professor will help you "train your fingers."

What should you do after reading the screen? Simply click on the green button.

After clicking on the green "Start" the screen will appear as shown.

Notice the detailed instructions on which finger is assigned to which key. The Little Professor does not leave anything to chance. Follow his guidance and you will learn touch typing.

After reading and checking your finger positions, simply click on the green button.

This is the actual typing exercise. Follow the correct keystrokes, and type the exercise. Adjust the sound so you can hear when an error is made.

After completion of an exercise, save the results if you wish. Or, please repeat an exercise until you feel comfortable.

If you save the exercise, you will go to the next exercise in the series.

The selection is set up for the next exercise in the series,"Home Row Review." The Little Professor knows you have just typed the home row, but practice is required to build the correct finger-keystroke reaches.

After typing the exercises in "Getting Started" you will be guided through the exercises in: "Beginning Letters," "Advanced Letters," "A to Z Typing," and then "Tricky Fingers."

Nimble Fingers: Skill Building and Beyond

Skill Building

After you have mastered the difficult basic keystrokes, you will enjoy the "Skill Building" topic.

Please take your time and don't rush through the previous exercises in "Beginning Keystrokes."

If you are not satisfied with your speed and/or accuracy, then re-key an exercise. You have to develop the correct finger-key reaches before so you can build speed and accuracy.

With the main menu shown, click on "Skill Building."

Within the major topic of "Skill Building" notice that [Speed Building] is recommended (highlighted in green) along with the ten Speed Building exercises.

You could jump ahead by clicking on [Strange but True] to display the ten exercises in that topic.

However, please be patient and let the "Little Professor" guide you through the program.

Skill Building topics are more interesting. Typing exercises are available dealing with "Speed Building, "Strange but True," "Pets and Things," Hobbies," and "Careers."

Only slected portions of the sceen are shown from now on to save space.

	There are ten "Advanced Keystroke Topics."	Then the Little Professor guides you through ten "Skill Building Topics."

And then there are the "Accuracy Drills" topics.

There are ten typing exercises within each of the "buttons" shown on the topics screen. That means each topic screen can access 100 typing exercises.

But wait! There are 100 more exercises in the "Progress Review" topics shown.

Why more exercises? There are over 500 exercises so far. So, why more exercises?

Simple. We don't want you to become bored. Exercises are "up beat" on a wide variety of topics.

You can have fun while building speed and accuracy. And all this time the Little Professor will be watching you, and may even send you "back-to-the-classroom" for practice on troublesome keystrokes.

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Adding On Line Exercises

The selections available on the main menu are shown on the left. If the "Online Exercises" button is not shown, then the "Control Panel" (which is password protected) was used to limit access to this selection.

This often happens in educational situations where the instructor wants to limit web access.
Of course, in order to use "Add Online Exercises," your computer must be online.

Using the "Add Exercises" screen shown, let's add an exercise to Word Wacker by downloading the exercise from the web.

These exercises are FREE and can be used to customize the program to your own specific keyboarding application.

Exercises dealing with health care terms and/or legal terms tend to be extremely demanding. For the moment, we'll keep it fun.

Click the underlined to browse the web exercises. This is a good way to get an overview of the exercises available for downloading.

A partial screen is shown below of what will appear if you click the underlined to browse the web exercises.

Get on the typing bus! Take a tour of the extensive specialized exercises available for downloading.

To take a tour click on the small

bus.

You can learn the terms used in various fields, while building typing speed and accuracy.

While on the bus tour, you will see two icons.

	This is a "Grade A" exercise. It is not necessarily a difficult exercise, but the terms used represent the major terminology in the field.
	This is a challenging exercise. More on these exercises in a moment.

Click on "1 Minute" and the one minute topics will appear as shown.

Each of these topics have numerous exercises. Exercises vary because we are constantly updating the web.

Click on "1 Minute" and the one minute topics will appear as shown.

Click on the "Sports" topic and the exercises in this topic will appear as shown.

Click on "Beauty Pageant" and the exercise will appear as shown.

The exercise deals with selecting a "cute" garbage truck.

Use a similar approach to download any of the timed typing exercises.

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Downloading Flash Cards

With "Add Exercise" shown, click on "Flash Cards." Then click on the "Geography & History" topic and select the exercise on "State Codes."

The screen will appear as shown. This web site is constantly updated, so the actual screen will vary.

Select "View Exercise," and the screen will appear as shown.

Could you learn by typing this practical exercise? If you think so, then click "Add Exercise" so it will be available for typing.

How do you type the exercises once they have been downloaded? Simple.

With the main menu show, click on "Timed Writings" to type the 1-, 3-, and 5-minute writings. If you want to type the Flash Card exercises, then click on the "Flash Card" button.

The "Flash Cards" screen will appear as shown.

Once again, there are a lot of exercises. The exercises that have been downloaded are available by clicking "Bonus Section."

Beginners often run into trouble with the pace of Flash Cards.

Words quickly appear on the screen for keyboarding. Learn to look at the word as a whole and type the word as a whole. That is, instead of typing the individual letters "t" "h" "e" type "the" as a whole word. It take practice, but the payoff in typing speed is enormous.

The screen will appear as shown if the "Options" button is selected. Change the time to a slower pace, perhaps 3 seconds, and save options.

Now you are ready to tackle Flash Cards. Start with the two letter words, then build up to more challanging exercises. Then set the time at 1 second.

Be careful when this symbol appears next to a web download. This indicates a very challenging exercise, that you might end up "wacking your head" when typing.

Please don't shy away from tackling these challenging exercises, which are often found in Medical Terminology and in "Legal Terminology." Use the "Options" button to change the time to a slower pace, perhaps 6 seconds. Then save the changes. Use the "Bonus Sections" button, and select the Flash Card exercise desired.

Don't just "bang away" at these Flash Card exercises. Type an exercise, and if you are not satisfied with your typing speed and accuracy, go back to "Beginning Keystrokes" and practice the basic keystrokes.

When you are satisfied with your typing speed and accuracy, try typing these exercises at a 3 second display speed. Then you will see why these exercises have the "wack head" icon.

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Using The Control Panel

This section is for advanced users. If you are a beginner skip the control panel.

The control panel is used to change the program by removing/adding sound and by removing web access. You can also remove users, create report cards, and create your own exercises.

The left-hand portion of the Main Menu screen is shown.

Click on "Control Panel."

The "Control Panel" can be password protected. If Nimble Fingers is used in a classroom environment, do not let others access the Control Panel.

Select a password that is easy to remember; save it. The re-click on the control panel and the screen shown above will appear. Enter your password for access into the control panel.

After typing the password, click "OK" and the "Control Panel" will appear as shown.

This allows you to review the progress of program users and change numerous default features to adapt the program to your needs.

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The Control Panel - Creating Your Own Exercises

Withe the Control panel shown, click on "Create Custom Exercises."

The screen will appear as shown.

You can either type or clip and paste exercises onto this screen.

Now, let your thoughts run free and develop your own exercises.

Do you want to know more about Flash Cards? Then click, tell me more.

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Typing Tips

Set up a schedule. Unless you establish a "schedule for learning" it is all to easy to find an excuse for not practicing. The Little Professor never promised you a rose garden. It takes practice to develop touch-keyboarding skills.

Do you have an extra fifteen minutes? Then you can complete a couple of practice exercises. It might not sound like much, but you have helped develop your typing skills.

Type without looking at the keys. Use a quick stroke to strike each key. Do not �press� or �mash� the key. Strike the key quickly and move on!

Locate the home-row keys. Force yourself to use the correct fingers to strike the keys. If you forget which finger to use, look at the picture accompanying the exercise. The beginning exercises are extremely important because you are developing correct keystroke patterns.

Which typing exercise would you select?
With Nimble Fingers - Word Wacker and Typing & Data Entry programs, You select the drill of interest to you.

A few of the over 500 typing exercises are shown. We will try to
keep things interesting for you.

Plus there are hundreds of FREE exercises available as downloads.

Note: The Busy Fingers typing program for kids is
a simple-to-use program with exercises appropriate for kids.
There are no downloads, and you "only" have 300 exercises to
chose from, not 500 plus typing exercises.

How about a typing exercise on gas stations?
The first drive-in gas station was opened in 1913 by the Gulf Oil Company.
It was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Prior to that, car owners
bought the exact amount of gas needed, usually in two-gallon containers
from stores that sold "petroleum spirits." Customers soon realized it
was easier and quicker to buy from a gas station. They also appreciated
having only a short jog to a handy out house, that was an out back
"service station."

Or a typing exercise on a movie theater?
In 1896, the first movie theater opened in New York City. At Koster and
Bial's Music Hall, patrons watched a movie together for the first time.
Before this, viewers watched films individually by looking into a box-
like "peep show." Viewers were amazed at the show and joined in and
laughed together. The popcorn was stale, and no one was quiet. Some
women wore extra large hats which spoiled the view of the screen.