EdAlive generously provided A, B, and C with one-year subscriptions to both Typing Tournament Online and Maths Invaders Online. EdAlive is an Australian based company that believes every child is unique and that education is key to helping them live life to the fullest.
Typing Tournament Online is a complete, 10-finger typing course designed for ages 6 to adult. For those wondering, 10-finger typing is the ability to type using both hands and all 10 fingers. With continued practice and through muscle memory, students will be able to type fast without having to look at the keyboard. This program progressively introduces the entire keyboard through 16 Levels, 128 lessons, games, and drills. You can start at the beginning or jump right in at your existing skill level and progress at your own pace. Typing Tournament Online actively promotes the use of the correct fingers on the correct keys. Animations are used to show the correct finger positions. Muscle Memory is built through Home Row and Vertical Key Path exercises. Typing Tournament Online's Multiple Progressions Model assumes that existing key mastery must be demonstrated before new keys will be introduced. Let me take you through Typing Tournament Online!
Here is B's Homescreen
When you watch the intro video you will see that your goal is to go on a quest and prove yourself worthy. You must complete every task at all 3 map locations (Shire, Village, and Castle) and then you may challenge The Dark Typist and his Typing Machine.
Here is B's Map, you can see that she is on Map 1 in The Shire on Lesson 5
Here is her progress
Lesson five introduces the keys G, W, Y and P (lessons do not introduce more than 4 keys at a time).
The lesson shows you where the keys are located and animations are used to show correct finger positions. I like that it gives gentle reminders to have good hand, wrist and finger positions.
After instruction is given, you move onto Drill 1.
In Drill 1, the student begins typing the given words. B is typing in the above photo.
After completing Drill 1, you will receive speed and error information.
After Drill 1, you progress through the other steps until you take a test. There are 3 drills and 3 game options to play (Siege, Powder Keg and Dragon Chase) before taking your test.
A is playing Powder Keg above.
B did not pass her first test on Level 1. I like that it encouraged her to do some more drills and try again!
I asked A, B and C what they think of Typing Tournament Online and all three of them really like it. They appreciate that it doesn't introduce too many keys at a time. They also appreciate that they can choose their own goal speed. B really likes that you can change your lesson speed between slow and fast so that you can tweak it to go at your own pace. C really appreciates having the games, especially when he is having trouble passing a lesson test. I love that my kids are enjoying typing and want to learn.
Typing Tournament Online works 24/7 wherever there is an internet connection and does not need an App. So far, we have only used Typing Tournament Online on our Windows PC computer; however, it works on Apple Macs, Surface Tablets, iPads and iPhones, and Android tablets and phones. How can it work on items without keyboards? It cleverly solves this problem by substituting its own, specially created onscreen keyboard with a standard layout - pretty nifty.
Maths Invaders Online has 2 main sections (Galactic Campaign and Space Rescue) as well as a practice section in a very fun space theme.
Space Rescue
In Space Rescue you answer math questions in order to charge your rescue scanner. Your scanner lets you guess the position of ships to rescue them. It reminds me a little of the game Battleship but different.
What's available in the Practice area.
Here you can see a few of the zones.
You progress through step levels within each zone. Here you see that you blast math facts from your spaceship. You enter in the correct number on your keyboard and use the arrow keys to direct the blaster at the correct box.
The main component of Maths Invaders Online is Galactic Campaign.
Here you can see a few of the zones.
You progress through step levels within each zone. Here you see that you blast math facts from your spaceship. You enter in the correct number on your keyboard and use the arrow keys to direct the blaster at the correct box.
Within each number step, you have the opportunity to earn 3 stars (basic speed, expert speed and master speed). Each star has multiple waves of math facts.
A likes to progress through the steps quickly not always earning 3 stars while B and C are sticklers for having every star.
There are printable worksheets for each step as well as printable certificates of achievement and color sheets.
Example of Printable Worksheet
A, B, and C really enjoy Maths Invaders and feel that it helps them with their mental math tremendously! Again, I appreciate that they want to learn and practice honing in on their math skills.
Similarly to Typing Tournament Online, we have only used Maths Invaders Online on our Windows PC computer to date; however, it also works on Apple Macs, Surface Tablets, iPads, Chromebooks, and Android tablets.
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2 comments:
Wow, Kathryn - you've been blogging a lot of reviews lately. I'm impressed.
We stay busy but I love all the opportunities we have had to try out new materials!
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