Pre-Course Checklist

Technologies & Touch Typing for Academic Success

Please do not be overwhelmed by the amount of information provided; experience has shown that informed parents benefit greatly. Rest assured, we will be available to support both you and the students to ensure success.

Essential Pre-Course Requirements

  1. Receive equipment Delivery

The following equipment will be delivered approximately two weeks before the course date.
(Obviously this is not the case when students are registered in the weeks before the course starts)

We supply

  • Keyboard

  • Webcam

  • Stickers & bands

    • Coloured: To cover every letter of the alphabet and common punctuation (NOT numbers).

    • Tactile: For the ‘F’ and the ‘J’ keys only.
      (Spares are provided. Please keep them in a safe place. Students will need them towards the end of the course)

Equipment will be delivered to the address provided when booking.
You can find this address in your order confirmation email.

Late course bookings will be delivered directly from Amazon to save time, so there could be three separate deliveries.

If you need the equipment to be delivered to a different address, please let us know ASAP by emailing info@achivenow.org.uk.

2. Check equipment works:

As soon as the equipment arrives, please:

  • Let us know when you have received it. This enables us to chase late equipment.

  • Test every letter of the keyboard works by typing ‘The quick brown dog jumped over the lazy fox’
    You are advised to to this BEFORE placing the stickers on the keys.

  • Test the webcam works. It must focus when pointing both straight ahead and down.


3. Ensure your device is set up for success:

These requirements are details when booking the course. Here is a reminder of what is required

Every student device must have

  • Two USB ports to allow the dedicated keyboard and external webcam to be used at the same time.

  • Working microphone & speaker - Please check these works

  • A “normal keyboard” that is WITHOUT stickers (used to type user ID and passwords). This is only necessary when students are working on a desktop computer.

The video shows how to set up equipment.

4. An email address for each student

This information was provided for each student when their place was booked on the course. Children need to know their email addresses and be able to type them easily, as they will be used to log in to various software during the course.

TIps.

  • Write it clearly on a Post-it note, which can be stuck to the students’ device.
    or

  • Type it so it can be cut and pasted when required.


5. A Zoom account is required for each student

Each student must have a Zoom account in their name

Every student needs a Zoom account with the student’s first and last name, NOT a parent’s name.

STUDENTS WITHOUT A ZOOM ACCOUNT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOGIN!!!!!

We will assume the Zoom account is set up using the student’s email address provided at registration. If this is not the case, please let us know ASAP.


6. Parent Pre-course Training.

First, parents are asked to watch a recorded training session, then attend live training 4 days before students start the course.

Please complete Steps 1 -5 above BEFORE attending the Live Parent Set-up meeting.

Only then will we be able to check everything is working correctly.

7. Google Chrome installed

Google Chrome must be installed on the student's device. This is REQUIRED for all students, regardless of the device used. Otherwise, the student will experience frustrating problems on the first day.
Click this link to download Google Chrome.


8 Create a ‘blind’ keyboard

Use the stickers to turn the keyboard supplied into a “blind” keyboard. To find out how see https://www.achievenow.org.uk/how-to-create-a-blind-keyboard


9. Print worksheets

Worksheets are provided for students. These need to be printed off before the Student Live Remote Training.


No essential, but worth considering

Each student may also benefit from:

  • An ad blocker installed (reduce distractions)

    These can be installed free of charge or for a voluntary contribution.

  • Headphones

    When more than one student works in the same space, they will need headphones so they do not disturb each other.

    essential when more than one student is working
    in the same space

    Headphones are advisable if students are working in the same space as a parent, as software can be noisy.

  • Blu Tak

    Blu Tak is helpful for keeping the external webcam in place. This is important when students are required to keep the webcam in the optimal position to view their fingers.



 

Before the course starts

Tell us if …

  • Your child can already touch type, or types quickly by looking at the keyboard.

  • Your child’s school requires a specific typing speed before students can type their schoolwork.

  • We can be contacted using this email: Info@achievenow.org.uk