UltraKey Online Family Subscription from Bytes of Learning: A TOS Crew Review

UltraKey Online Family Subscription from Bytes of Learning

Typing and keyboarding are a vital skill for today's world, and we have found a new program to help us master it! UltraKey Online Family Subscription from Bytes of Learning is a online customizable course that can get you up to speed in no time!

This self-paced course includes 12 lessons designed for ages 8 to adult. Sessions are meant to take approx. 20 minutes.

One of my favorite parts of this program is that it is completely customizable to each user - the UltraKey Online Family Subscription offers options for 3, 5 or 8 users, and the parent account is free (you can use it too - I did, and it's fun!)  The set up is very easy, and you can see everything on your dashboard.

Your student takes an assessment to help with placement.  Both of my testers (grades 3 & 4) are brand new typists, so they started at the beginning.  I took a test and decided I could use some extra practice, so I've been using the program too.  

At first - everyone learns about proper posture and finger placement.  The program uses a combination of short video animations, slides and audio instruction.  Each user can set their own goals or let the program set the goal based on assessment.  The goals can be changed.  

Each user can customize their settings - changing display colors, displaying the hands on screen, practice amounts, and if to allow backspacing. I never realized how much I do this, until I couldn't :-)

The program automatically returns to the spot you left off.  This program is very user friendly, and easy to learn - both of my testers were able to work completely independently.  Lessons focus on teaching a specific key, then letter combos, and finally integrating it into words and sentences.  

Once you complete the lesson, you are ready for a Skill Check.  This will assess your typing to your set goals - both for wpm and accuracy.  I found I had set my goals a bit high, and had to re-do them.  The program will not allow you to move on until you master your goal.  


The "My Reports" section allows me to see their progress.  Which lessons they have completed, skill checks, wpm and accuracy.  Printable certificates can be downloaded.  

In addition to working through the lessons - the Typing Forum allows you to take typing tests or use the free typing tool.  This is an area to practice your skills.

 The Game Zone has several options to incorporate your typing practice into games.  My testers really enjoyed this section - and were please by how the lessons had helped them! 

Overall, I am very impressed with this program.  It is user-friendly, works on any computer - or even on tablets (with keyboards), and is very affordable.   The program includes helpful PDF User Manuals, short videos and solid instruction.  I like that it's not overly animated, or game based.   It's engaging but, offers solid ways to actually improve both your speed and accuracy in typing.

 We have tried other approaches, but this program has really shown measurable results in our typing improvement.  You will want to check this one out!

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