Computers for Beginners 2:

Use the Keyboard

Mar 2020 YG/ DC

Learning Outcomes

In this class you will:

1. Familiarize yourself with alphabet keys, number keys and symbol keys.
2. Practice typing using an iPad App.
3. Review where to get more typing practice.

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What is a Keyboard?
The keyboard is a piece of equipment used to communicate with a
computer. It allows you to enter data into a computer. iPads come with
a “virtual keyboard” which appears whenever you open an app which
requires typing.

Tap once on suggested words to autofill

To use numbers and To hide the

symbols tap here keyboard tap
here

To return to the
letter keyboard tap
here

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 Exercise 1: Tour the keyboard

Typing
Touch typing is the ability to use muscle memory to find keys quickly
using all fingers. Touch typing is an acquired skill that takes practice.
Touch typing is not the goal of this class.

For now, don’t worry if you use only a few fingers. You will get more
comfortable with practice. Accuracy, not speed, is the goal.

In North America we call this a QWERTY keyboard.

Can anyone tell me why?

This diagram depicts the “classic” layout of the keys in rows. Most
practice lessons use the terms: Home Row, Top Row, Bottom Row.

Backspace Key

Top Row

Home Row

Bottom Row

Spacebar

Shift Keys

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In addition to the letter keys, you will use the Spacebar to create
spaces between words.

Use the Return Key (or Enter Key) to move your cursor (a vertical line
which indicates where you can type) to the next line and begin typing a
new sentence.

Use the Shift Keys (one for each of your right/left hands) to type capital
letters or the special characters (such as the question mark).
How to use shift: hold down the shift key, then tap on the desired key,
then release both keys.

Use the Backspace Key to move your cursor backwards and erase
typing.

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Accessing Numbers and Symbol Keys

Because the iPad is small, Apple created a compact virtual keyboard.

This will appear on the screen in any context where you need to type:
for example, if you open a Pages document or if you tap in the address
bar of a web browser, or search box.

To access numbers and symbols tap the button marked #+=

To open even more To return to the letter

symbols tap here keyboard tap here

To close or hide the keyboard tap the key in the lower right corner with
the keyboard icon and a down arrow.

To close or hide the

keyboard tap here

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Exercise 2: Using Pages

Pages is a free alternative to Microsoft Word made by Apple. It is a

basic, but useful, word processing program which allows you to make,
save and share documents of all kinds. Like Word it includes templates
for letters, resumes, reports, newsletters, and more.

1. Tap once on the Pages logo to open the app

2. Tap on Create Document
3. Explore: Swipe up to scroll down through the list of templates (Pages
gives you a wide range of pre-designed templates for resumes,
reports, books, flyers, newsletters, and more!)
4. Choose Blank from the top of the list

The white workspace represents a sheet of paper. The black flashing

line is called the text cursor. The text cursor shows you where you are
typing.

Note: If the Virtual keyboard appears on your screen, tap the Bluetooth
button on the external keyboard to reconnect.

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Exercise 3: Row Practice

Tip: Saying the key aloud (or in your head) as you type will boost
memory.

1. Type asdfg
2. Press Enter to begin a new line
Repeat twice.
3. Type ;lkjh
4. Press Enter
Repeat twice.
5. Type asdfg ;lkjh
Tip: Use the spacebar to create a space between g and ;
6. Press Enter
Repeat twice.

Tips: Pages will automatically capitalize the first letter of a

sentence for you. Don’t worry about that for this exercise.

Pages will also indicate “misspelled words” with a wavy red

underline or it may even Autocorrect with its best guess. Don’t
worry about that for this class.

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Exercise 4: Top Row Practice

1. Type qwerty
2. Press Enter
Repeat twice.
3. Type poiu
4. Press Enter
Repeat twice.
5. Type qwerty poiu
Tip: Use the spacebar to create a space between t and p
6. Press Enter
Repeat twice.

Exercise 5: Bottom Row Practice

1. Type zxcvb
2. Press Enter
Repeat twice.
3. Type .,mn
4. Press Enter
Repeat twice.
5. Type zxcvb.,mn
6. Press Enter
Repeat twice.

Tip: Use your finger to scroll down the page when you start to
run out of room.

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Exercise 6: All Alphabet Keys
A pangram is a sentence that contains all letters of the alphabet. With
practice, the location of each key will become embedded in your
memory.

1. Type A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

2. Press Enter
Repeat twice.

Stretch and Relax!

Take frequent breaks when working at the computer. While working,
you are sitting in an unnatural position, reaching for the mouse, and
staring at the screen.
 Look away from the computer screen.
 Stand up and stretch your shoulders.
 Gently roll your head to relieve neck strain.
 Shake hands out gently, and open and close your fingers.

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Exercise 7: Use Shift to Capitalize

To capitalize a letter, tap the Shift key then tap the letter you want to
type. If you double-tap the shift key, you will lock the shift key and all
your letters will be captialized. Tap the shift key one more time to
release the “Caps Lock”.

TIP: there are two shift keys. Depending on which letter you are typing
you might prefer the right or left shift key.

1. Type A Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog

2. Press Enter

Exercise 8: Deleting a Document

To delete a document:
1. Tap on Documents (top left)
2. Press and hold on the document you want to delete
3. Tap once on the Delete option in the pop-up menu
4. Note: there are other useful options in this same menu

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 Exercise 9: Typing Practice

1. Does everyone remember how to check if your Wi-Fi is on and how to

turn it off?
Go offline by using Airplane Mode and turn off Wi-Fi (to reduce ads)
2. Tap once on the Type Fast app to open
3. Tap on Play
4. Type in the words on the screen
5. Ignore the countdown, focus on accuracy not speed
6. Have fun!

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Review Quiz

Question #1
To type a capital W, you need to
a) Hold down the Shift key and the w key at the same time.
b) Hold down the Ctrl key and the w key at the same time.
c) Hold down the w key for 5 seconds.
d) Press the Shift key then press the w key.

Question #2
The Backspace key is used to
a) Close a window.
b) Erase typing errors.
c) Go to a website.
d) Move the cursor to the bottom of the page.

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Quiz Answer Key
1) A – Hold down the Shift key and the w key at the same time.
2) B – Erase typing errors.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practice on the iPad using Chrome and visit these websites:

Typing Club
typingclub.com/sportal/catalog.html

typeonline.co.uk
typeonline.co.uk

Power Typing
powertyping.com

TIP: in North America we use a QWERTY keyboard

Avoid DVORAK keyboard lessons

Practice using a PC:

Below are excellent sites for practice on a PC. They do not work well on the iPad.

GCF Learn Free Typing Tutorial

gcflearnfree.org/typing

Peter's Online Typing Course

typing-lessons.org

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Optional Exercise: Symbols

When would you use special characters? Consider an email address

such as [email protected] or how about when you create a password.

To return to the
letter keyboard tap
here

1. Type @ # $ & *
Tip: Use the spacebar to create a space between each symbol for
this exercise!
2. Press Enter
Repeat twice.
3. Type ( ) ’ ”
4. Press Enter
Repeat twice.
1. Type @ # $ & * ( ) ’ ”
Repeat twice.

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OPTIONAL Exercise: Secure Passwords

Using a secure password - something unique that will be difficult, if not

impossible, for others to guess - is the first step to keeping your
information and identity safe online.

Some elements of a strong password include (but are not limited to):
 Minimum of 8 characters in length
 String of random words, but not a phrase
 A combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and
symbols

Demo: Combining Keys for Safe Password

How Secure is My Password http://howsecureismypassword.net is a

website that estimates how long it currently takes a computer to crack
a password.

Example Time to crack

password instantly
captainpugtree 51 years
Captainpugtree 837 thousand years
C@ptainpugtree 29 million years

Capitalizing a letter makes the password stronger. Adding a symbol to a

password makes it even stronger!
In the example above, it will take 28,163,000 years longer to crack the
password C@ptainpugtree just by adding the @ symbol in place of the
letter a and capitalizing the C.

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