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LOGO-L> Touch typing...



WaltWES@aol.com
Tue, 3 Oct 1995 18:33:04 -0400

Logo Reflector,
Update on touch typing in my Junior High computer lab.
During the summer I sent a message to the reflector asking if anyone had any
experience in logo programming that would help students learn to touch type.
I want to thank all for their responses, they were all helpful. The best
thing that came out of it all was that my Principal bought me MicroWorlds
Project Builder for my advanced class rather than making me teaching them to
touch type. Yea! Maybe he is not that bad after all.
Touch typing is so...
Back to touch typing...I did make two procedures that allow students to
practice typing. The students that wanted to learn how have been practicing
and are getting good at it.
The first program is a random letter generator. It is set up to practice
the left hand home row. If you want both home row letters change the random 4
to 8 and put j k l ; into the list with a s d f. The programs were written
with LogoWriter.

to output.letter
make "num random 4
make "num :num + 1
make "letter item :num [a s d f]
output.letter
end

to touch.type
print output.letter
cb
make "input readchar
ifelse :input = :letter
[ ]
[tone 144 3]
touch.type
end

The touch.type program prints the letter that output.letter generated. Then
waits for you to type a letter (hopefully the same letter). It then compares
the two to see if it is correct. If you type an incorrect letter the programs
blats out a tone telling you it is incorrect.
We continued by making the program keep track of our errors and timing how
long it took to do 9 letters. I had fun creating the programs with the
students but am glad that I do not have to teach them to touch type. They can
get that in High School. Now, how do I get MicroWorlds to see my mouse...

de Walt Smith
WaltWES@AOL.com
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