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Documentation about TypeToLearn


TypeToLearn is the keyboarding software purchased for use at YISS.  The current version is called TTL4, with category settings for Young (K-2), Intermediate (3-6), and Older(7-12) students.  The TTL4 program should already be pre-loaded onto ES and MS macbooks.

E.Kosmack started using TTL4 with her sixth-grade tech classes in September 2014.

We have built teacher usernames for all teachers of grades 1-5, and we encourage those teachers to try the software themselves, so see how it could best work for your students.

There are student usernames for middle school (6-8), and we are planning to add younger grade levels when requested by the teachers.

Notes about usernames and security:  this program provides minimal security -- any teacher can update any other user’s name and password.   It also allows duplicate names, so be careful when selecting Alicia Kim, for example.   
We are standardizing on username=first initial lastname;  for example Alicia Kim = akim.  In case of a duplicate, let’s create username akim2 akim3, etc.  (Keep the proper first initial, keep the correct spelling, and just add a numeric suffix.  Do not change the name or use a nickname to differentiate, as it will be difficult for librarian to track nicknames.)

Teachers must create their own “class”, then select studentnames into each “class”.   
We can batch-upload student and teacher usernames, but class groupings must be done by each teacher.   Our batch-upload standard is to set password=username (shhh, don’t tell anyone!).   The name fields accept only letters and a few undocumented special characters.
Although the program is pre-loaded onto each machine, TTL4 still must connect to the internet to coordinate username/password, and keep track of student progress.  Thus, the teacher can select reports of progress of specific classes and students.  

There are general pre-set categories with age-appropriate features.  The teacher can then adjust various options to control features available -- for example, when to allow game-playing as opposed to instructional lessons or formative assessments.  It is designed, however for individual advancement within a framework, not for lock-step lesson accomplishment.

For tests of typing speed, I recommend use of www.typingtest.com, which is a different company, but has a very realistic and reliable assessment tool.

Any questions, please check with me for technical details, or Emily Kosmack as the most experienced user.
--Jeffrey Thomas,  November 2014

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