We purchased Type to Learn, despite its non-competitive home pricing, because my 12 year old daughter really liked the TTL product she had used at school and insisted that she would use this voluntarily all summer. Unlike other purchasing options, this one does not require extra licenses to be purchased in order to use it with more than once child, however it is limited to one computer installation. This is also an item where the Amazon implementation and pricing of the program are an excellent choice. Yes, there are free typing programs available, but given the overall quality of the different elements of this program, I have to rate this one a definite buy. I think the key to any typing program is frequency of use. I do mix it up- I alternate program days with days of having them retype short passages of their own writing and learning to edit using standard word processing software. Judging from my kids' reactions, the program does a good job at being motivational, increasing difficulty levels at an appropriate pace, and remaining interesting. Younger students may find the pre-test a bit long to get through at first, and will probably benefit from adult support, as well as some supervision to ensure they are truly using the home keys properly instead of hunting and pecking- no computer can adequately supplant human supervision! The pre-test does a decent job at starting the student at an appropriate level of difficulty and knowledge. The parent can input some custom content (think spelling words, history or science lesson keywords. The kids can customize some of the environment by changing the coaches' voice, the color of their badge, etc. When succeeding at a drill, the student is rewarded with interesting "did you know" type facts instead of dancing bears and video clips. The games and drills make typing practice really fun, but they aren't "fluff," they are legitimate typing drills, and the reminders that pop up remind the user of correct ergonomics and posture that affect both typing and long-term back and wrist health when using keyboards. A fast typist myself, I have even used it to improve my accuracy and precision, and found a level where the program can challenge me, yet my younger, elementary son can also use it as well. We love this program at our house, and I am very glad I listened when my kids asked me to check it out. Unlike other reviewers, we have had zero problems with installation or crashing. It is available in several formats, including web-based I am reviewing the CD version that is licensed for one computer, one household, multiple users, and we are using it on a PC with Windows 7. I read about this program quite a bit, and decided to give it a try. I have one older (logic stage/middle school) child who is ready to be a little more independent and from whom I can expect more in terms of editing and reworking his writing assignment, and one younger, grammar stage/elementary age child with dysgraphia, who will benefit from being able to type so that he can get his thoughts out more efficiently when writing, without the dysgraphia barrier barring his thoughts from making it to paper. I have two very different types of learners to work with, and they have different needs it is rare that I can find one product that works well for both. They had previously used it while in public school, and this is the only item from public school that they wished to replicate while at home. We were using another highly rated typing program, and my kids, who used to be in a public school, requested that I research and purchase this one.
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