LESSON PLAN

MARIO TEACHES TYPING 2

Grade: 4-5

Class size: 20

Area of nationally developed curriculum:

English - (Writing Strand)
Level 4.11 - A student learns to control most distinguishing linguistic structures and features of basic text through the use of a typing tutor.

Technology - (Information Strand)
Level 4.5(b) - A student describes how processing and transmitting information have evolved and are continuing to change.
Level 4.6 - A student selects and uses recognized procedures and languages through typing to process information and create information products.

Resources:

• 1 x Multi Media Computer
• 1 x CD-Rom Mario Teaches Typing 2
• 1 x Music Keyboard (on loan from music department)
• 1 x Electronic Typewriters (donated)

Introduction to the lesson plan:-

• Children with the average age of 8 to 10 years are targeted by this lesson plan.
• The lesson plan can be used over a period of time, allocated to a particular time slot each day.
• The aim of the activities is to provide a means of incorporating Mario Teaches Typing 2 into the curriculum.

Student Learning Outcomes:-
In referring to the Key Information Technology Outcomes (KITO's) and the Curriculum Profiles, learning objectives can be established that are suited to this level of the children's abilities. The level of KITO's looked at for this lesson, is level 3 and the mode is Operations.

On completion of this lesson of work each child will be able to:-

• Utilize the keyboard of a computer, unassisted
• Identify the different functions of the keys on the typing keyboard
• Recognize the difference between small and capital letters.
• Improve their spelling, through the different words that are typed.
• Create grammatically correct sentences and paragraph.
• Improve their hand dexterity.

Off-computer activities:-

• Students can investigate the evolution of the typewriter and how it has evolved.
• Students can practice on individual paper copies of a keyboard, the position of the fingers on a keyboard. The teacher can call out letters and words for the student's to practice or a list can be placed on the board for them to practice in their own time.
• Students can take turns in using the electronic typewriters, to practice these letters and words.
• Students can play the keyboard to initially help with finger movement and hand dexterity.
• Students can work on their spelling lists, adding new words or words they have had problems with when working on the computer using this software Mario Teaches Typing 2.

Computer-based activities:-

• Students can use the program to practice their typing skills and become familiar with the layout of the computer keyboard.
• Students when confident with the use of the typing tutor, can then start to type simple texts using other software programs such as Microsoft Word.
  

Classroom Management and Evaluation Strategies:-

A set of class rules pertaining to the computer which has been negotiated by the class will be posted on the notice board next to the computer. Any infringements of these rules will occur penalties.
As computer facilities are scarce, the computer will be put onto a roster which will be posted on the notice board. This will keep a record of participation of each student. A classroom management strategy will be that each student once they have completed a session on the computer will write their name on the roster. In doing this the children will have to take on some of the responsibility of their own learning in having to organize themselves and their time management.
This will also allow the teacher to keep an effective account of all the students and their computers utilizing the computer i.e. monitor timetable to see which individuals maybe offering resistance in using the computer.

Evaluation techniques that can be used during and after the unit of work are:

• Observations; physically watching the student whilst they are typing to see that they are using the right hand posture, fingers etc.
• Discussion and Questioning; discuss and question the results of the students investigation into the evolution of the typewriter. A display could be done recording these findings.
• Collecting samples of children's work; the results produced after the children have finished certain typing drills and text that they have produced using a word processing package.
• Spelling Tests; testing students on the words that are continually used in the program.

The results of the tests, samples of work etc will be included in the children's individual profiles. This profile is constructed on an ongoing basis to be used for teacher / parent interviews in assessing the child's overall performance in line with the learning outcomes based on the curriculum profiles for that particular grade.

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