Keyboard layout (partial)
A master typist can make the jump to master keyboarding, but a keyboard master typically cannot master a typewriter as easily. However, learning a few basic approaches and teaching your fingers to respond to mental commands will set you on the road to becoming a master typist.
Mental Strategy
First, study and learn the letter keys on the keyboard, then tackle the number and other peripheral keys until you can draw the entire keyboard from memory on a blank piece of paper.
Equipment
Once you feel comfortable with the keyboard layout, all you'll need is a computer desk, adjustable office chair, typewriter or keyboard, copy holder for your sight lessons, transcribing/dictation machine and a typing tutor computer program.
Typewriter Versus Computer
A computer program that teaches professional typing is great for learning the basics and charting your progress, regardless of whether you're learning on a typewriter or keyboard. But training on a typewriter has certain advantages, such as teaching a student type without backspacing. IBM Selectric typewriters are still used in some job testing centers.
Posture
Use a chair with no arm rests, bend your arms into a 45-degree angle and let your hands hover above the keyboard. Put both feet flat on the floor, don't hunch your back or raise your shoulders and don't rest your elbows on the desk. In spite of all this you should be relaxed while you're seated.
Practice Sessions
Practice at least an hour a day five days a week. Start with an accuracy drill followed by a speed drill. For instance, do several 3-minute accuracy drills and follow those with a number of 1- and 2-minute speed drills, continually pushing yourself to get faster and be more accurate.
Transcribing
When you learn transcribe you'll be able to use your ears instead of your eyes to visualize your typing. The goal is to relax, maintain your posture and spell each letter of each word. At that point your trained fingers will take over.
Ultimately, you'll learn a lot once you know type, as you'll be exposed to a number of genres you might not otherwise have learned about. For instance, a legal transcriber will find her vocabulary improving as she learns to spell words important in the world of law, as legal and medical terminology are heavily based on Latin and Greek roots.
Master Typist
Once you learn type and are hired by a company you'll be able to produce medical, legal, scientific and engineering documents efficiently and accurately. A master legal or medical transcriber typically can type at least 65 words per minute and produce seven to 10 pages per hour. In addition, her spelling should be good enough that she only needs to consult a dictionary once or twice a day.
Tags: computer program, legal medical, master typist, typewriter keyboard