Читать книгу Online Learning For Dummies - Susan Manning - Страница 94

Because most communication in online courses occurs via text, you need to be able to type quickly and accurately. Speed and accuracy are even more important during synchronous meetings, where you may be trying to answer questions in real time. (We explain synchronous learning in detail in Chapter 2.)

Being able to type quickly reduces the time it takes to complete assignments and participate in online discussions. Though the spell checker is a wonderful tool, accurate typing skills are always more desirable. A spell checker with automatic correction often “corrects” misspellings erroneously, replacing the word you intended with a similarly spelled one that changes the meaning of the sentence. So, no matter how well you type or how much you use a spell checker, always proofread your work before submitting it.

Whether you have your fingers properly placed on the keyboard or use the 2-finger, hunt-and-peck method doesn’t matter. No one will know how you type. However, if you need practice, you may want to consider a typing program that helps you learn how to type and provides timed tests that report your speed and accuracy. Examples are Typesy at www.typesy.com and TypingClub at www.typingclub.com.

Dictation is also an option for those who may experience painful carpal tunnel syndrome in their wrist or have arthritis. You used to have to purchase specialty software in order to take advantage of dictation features, but nowadays this capability is built into most operating systems — including mobile devices. (You may have used this feature for helping send text messages.) Dictation capabilities allow you to use a microphone to translate your speech to text. For example, all newer versions of Microsoft Word, including the online version, have a Dictate command that translates your speech to text, so you can do this on Windows, Macs, Chromebooks, and mobile devices. Some programs and devices come with accuracy training support to help learn your specific speech patterns.