Typing Instructor Review

Typing Instructor Review – Increase Speed Through Games & Travel

These days we spend hours each day in front of a computer and we still mainly use the keyboard to interact with our software. It goes without saying then that your productivity is directly related to the level of your keyboard skills.

Typing Instructor, by Individual Software, will help you to learn how to type properly, faster and with greater accuracy. It is one of the best typing programs available and suitable for students, adults and children alike. In this post, I’ll share my Typing Instructor review.

Typing Instructor – Overview

Typing Instructor is an award-winning product that not only teaches you how to touch type but also how to improve your typing speed and accuracy. It has an innovative approach to teaching, using themed adventures where you have to earn points (by achieving your goals) to advance to the next destination.

Learning approach – It offers a unique learning method, in the form of a virtual trip. Out of the 36 available ones, a destination is selected at the start of the program and a travel theme out of the three available ones. Thus begins the interactive journey that is Typing Instructor, and that’s how you start filling out your virtual passport with visas from all the different countries you’re visiting.

• Innovative learning methods
• Compatible with Windows and Mac
• Dynamic learning and tracking
• Preset goals based on skill level
• 5 users per individual license
• School licenses available

Versions – Typing Instructor is available in various versions, making it ideal for students of all ages and at any level of typing proficiency. It is also ideal for use in schools and organizations because it offers extensive management features that allow teachers and managers to register students, monitor their progress, and generate a variety of reports.

Goals – As mentioned above in the features section, Typing Instructor comes with preset goals that it suggests to you after you take an initial test. The test will measure your words-per-minute count, assess your skill level, and then suggest a goal within your reach if you work hard enough. If you are not satisfied with the goals that it suggests, then you can always input your own.

Reports – The software offers dynamic learning, so it constantly monitors your performance in each exercise you complete. More and more difficult tests are provided on a regular basis, so the software can further evaluate your performance.

Typing Instructor – 4 Main Editions

Typing Instructor has been a top-rated typing program for some time and has won many awards. Over time, the designers realized that different users have different needs. That is why Typing Instructor is now available in four different versions.

1. Typing Instructor Platinum – Windows, Mac

Typing Instructor Platinum is available in both English and Spanish. It boasts an impressive array of features that will suit the needs of users at all levels.

Professional design – Typing Instructor radiates a professional approach to the design of the interface, its various components and the use of the latest educational principles in the structuring of the lessons. You will not find any hitches or error messages here.

Individualized lesson plans – One of the most interesting features is that you can choose from twenty different lesson plans. The lesson plans allow you to choose an instructional plan that will take your proficiency level as the starting point. There is even a lesson plan specially designed for kids! If none of the plans suit you, you can create your own lesson plan.

Travel themes – Typing Instructor has shunned the old-fashioned and often boring classroom-like approach to training. Instead, you will be embarking upon a narrative traveling adventure where each destination will help you to master new skills.

You can go on a time travel trip, a photo safari, or a round-the-world trip. You advance to new destinations by completing lessons, game challenges, and tests designed to ensure that you have achieved your goals. You will quickly find that you HAVE to earn that next reward!

Constant feedback – As you complete tests and exercises, you will be given feedback, and if you have any weak points, a special lesson plan is generated to help you overcome those weak points. You can repeat any lesson, test, or challenge as many times as you wish.

Comprehensive approach to typing – Typing Instructor Platinum does not only teach you proper touch typing techniques. It covers the full spectrum of all aspects related to typing. You will also learn how to use the numerical keypad and all the special function keys. Important matters such as posture and the correct way of positioning the monitor, keyboard, and mouse are also comprehensively covered.

Stimulating practice material – Practice makes perfect but it is boring to practice by repeating certain words, letters and phrases over and over again. Typing instructor lets you choose your practice material from a wide variety of topics, including sport, medicine and classical literature.

2. Typing Instructor Web + Web for Kids

There is a large degree of similarity between Typing Instructor Web and Typing Instructor Web for Kids when compared with Platinum 21 and Typing Instructor Platinum for Kids 5.

They all use the same proven teaching methods and techniques and they all concentrate on learning whilst having fun. The main differences are:

Pricing – Typing Instructor Web requires a quarterly or annual subscription and can be used by multiple students. The annual plan of $29.99 is a better value if you plan to use Typing Instructor Web or Kids for more than 6 months.

Learn anywhere and at any time – You can access your training from any location and whenever you have time to spare. You may use any device that has an internet browser. This means that you can also use your tablet or any other smart device.

Real time feedback – As you type, you will hear voice-over instructions. You will also see an on-screen keyboard showing the correct placement of the hands and fingers. This allows you to assess your own performance from minute to minute.

Ideal for schools – Apart from the fact that these versions can be used by multiple students, they also feature a comprehensive management component. Teachers and managers can register students, monitor their progress, compare results and print a wide variety of reports. Teachers can also grade their students.

It is possible to register a Typing Instructor Web license for a district that consists of many schools and each school of many classes. This means that several managers can be registered. A district manager, for example, will have access to all the records of all the schools. A school manager will have access to all the classes, and a teacher will have access to their class.

Managers can also:

• Print certificates of achievements.
• Generate and print custom reports.
• Turn games on and off.
• Assign additional practice or exercises.

Ideal for organizations – More and more organizations realize that superior keyboard skills hold many benefits. This is why so many organizations now offer their employees training in this regard. Typing Instructor Web offers the same comprehensive management features that Typing Instructor Web for Kids does.

Support – Online support is available to both students and managers. In most cases, the extensive FAQ section on their website will provide a solution to the problem or query. If this is not the case, an online query can be logged.

3. Typing Instructor for Kids – Windows, Mac

Typing Instructor for Kids was specially designed to teach kids all the basic keyboard skills, the proper hand positions, speed, and accuracy. This is not a watered-down version of the Typing Instructor Platinum version. It offers the same features, but the materials, exercises, and game challenges are specially designed to be age-appropriate. Here is how they did it:

Focus on adventure, challenges and rewards – Kids love challenges and they are generally competitive. Typing Instructor for Kids takes full advantage of this fact and places a high priority on fun, challenges, and rewards. Kids can collect points and treasures as they complete each lesson during an adventure-filled journey to all kinds of magical realms. In the process, the training aims are achieved without the kids even knowing that they are actually learning new skills.

Appropriate practice material – Kids practice their skills by typing fairy tales and classical tales that are enticing and interesting. They can even create their own stories.

Immediate feedback – All students are given feedback immediately after completing a lesson, test, challenge or exercise in Typing Instructor. The feedback is precise and covers words-per-minute typed, accuracy rate, and an assessment of the performance related to each finger, hand, key, and row. This feedback can be printed for record-keeping purposes. Even better, results are stored for up to five kids. If there are weak points, additional exercises are suggested.

4. Typing Instructor Disney: Mickey’s Typing Adventure (Windows)

Developed for younger kids, Typing Instructor Disney: Mickey’s Typing Adventure is available for installation or download on a Windows platform, as well as a web version where you do not download any software.

Differences – The main difference is that the web version allows access to the program from anywhere, as long as you have internet access. The Windows version restricts you to a single computer. The pricing also differs. The Windows version requires a once-off payment, while the web version requires you to subscribe on a quarterly or annual basis.

Disney: Mickey’s Typing Adventure closely resembles Typing Instructor for Kids Platinum 5. It uses the same formula of focusing on fun while learning. In this case, however, all the lovable and funny Disney characters are featured.

Characters – They are all there: Minnie, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, and many others will delight the kids. You play the role of the HERO. Mickey’s friends are in trouble, and you have to rescue them. To do this, you have to create magic with your keyboard. So, while you learn to type, you travel from one destination to the next (in a land called Typelandia) and release Mickey’s friends one by one. The more you learn, the more magic you create.

Other noteworthy features

• Superb animation worthy of the Disney name.
• Practice your typing skills by typing your favorite Disney stories.
• Print coloring pages of all your favorite Disney characters.
• Print a certificate of achievement when you complete the adventure.

Typing Instructor Review – Pros and Cons

• Solid reputation for reliable results
• Innovative, motivational and easy to use
• Good graphics, audio and animations
• Large number of interactive games
• Support for 5 users
• Accurate tracking of results

Cons

• Sometimes hard to navigate interface
• No notable extras
• No video training

Interface – One downside is the cumbersome and relatively slow interface. Don’t be surprised to see that you don’t know how to proceed when you start the program because that’s a problem other users have faced. The interface is not easy to navigate and lacks a clear structure. Even after getting used to it you will still be annoyed because reaching certain lessons or menus requires more than a few clicks and a little wait time.

Accessibility – When it comes to being accessible for the entire family though, things change immediately. Typing Instructor offers a huge number of games that the entire family can enjoy while also practicing their typing. Children and adults alike will have hours of fun trying to beat a certain high score or trying to pass a certain level in one of the many games being offered.

User opinions – TJ Smith has this to say about Typing Instructor: “The games are entertaining, and the typing drills, skills and tests are efficient.” Amhcdb has this to say about TI: “My son really enjoys the software and is looking forward to completing more lessons.”

Alternatives – There are many other tutors available. The KAZ Tutor is the best option if you want to learn the keyboard within 90 minutes. For those preferring a visual approach to learning Typesy offers video tutorials.

Typing Instructor Review – Summary

Typing Instructor is a solid choice for most users but it faces tough competition as well.

Even though it doesn’t come with any video training or other notable extras, Typing Instructor is certainly a good way of increasing your typing speed while also having a blast with your family. Many games are one of its biggest assets, and we should not forget about it.

Furthermore, some tutors are certainly more effective but somehow boring, not Typing Instructor. If you want to improve your keyboard skills in a fun manner, this is just the program for you. Over the years, Typing Instructor has earned a solid reputation for providing high-quality instruction that almost guarantees success.

Have you tried or tested any Typing Instructor Edition? Please share your opinion in the comments below.

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Sources: Disney – Wikipedia | Countries in the World – 2