Learn to Type With UltraKey Online Family Subscription

Update: Bytes of Learning went out of business and no longer offers UltraKey. For now, I am keeping this review up for guidelines on what to look for in a good typing program.

With the use of technology becoming more and more mainstream, the need for keyboarding remains ever present and is a valuable communication skill for our children to learn.  This last month we reviewed the UltraKey Online Family Subscription by Bytes of Learning.  With up to eight user accounts available, UltraKey Online is a great fit for larger families, such as ours.

UltraKey Online Family Edition

While children as young as six could use the program, it is most effective for children ages 8 and up.  We began the program with my ten year old daughter, Ellawyn.  This year she decided she wanted to type all of her writing assignments herself and the process has been long and arduous as she hadn’t really learned how to type yet.  She was, therefore, very excited to start using UltraKey Online.  
Not long after she began, my seven year old son asked if he could do it also, so I set up an account for him as well.  Even though he is younger than the recommended age, he didn’t have any problem maneuvering through the lessons.

Getting Started

Once you register for an account online, you will receive an email explaining how to access your dashboard. Because UltraKey Online is a web-based application, your access is unique to you.  It does, however, function and feel like a website.  
I found their dashboard easy to use.  As you click on each tab, it describes what it is and how to use it.  If you still have questions or need help, there is a contact button on each page.  I do recommend at least browsing through the manual.  I found it informative and while I could have figured out things through trial and error easily enough on my own, it was nice to just have all the information laid out.
As you add each student, you will be able to customize a plan specific to that child, including how they want to view their Instructional Display.  For example, my daughter did not want the hands shown at all on the keys, but my son wanted a translucent hand display to show the proper way to strike the keys.  I felt like I had control over every aspect of the program.  I could choose whether or not to allow back-spacing during tests, how many paragraphs or minutes typing tests should take, whether or not I wanted my children to be able to set any of these themselves or if I wanted it locked.  You really can personalize it.
In addition, you can access reports in Student Management that lets you see what progress your child is making and what they have been doing.  Here are the reports from both my daughter and son:  

homeschool typing

homeschool typing

homeschool typing

homeschool typing

homeschool typing

Program Overview

 If you choose to have your students learn step-by-step (another feature you can modify), then your children will start with lessons on posture and finger placement.  There is even a video segment for stretching exercises that they encourage the children to do periodically.  At first my kids thought these were silly, but my husband, who is a software engineer, reiterated how important good posture is and the importance of frequent stretching.  After that, they were all on board.  I really appreciated that these elements were included, because good keyboarding is more than just being able to type quickly.

homeschool typing

homeschool typing
Haydn doing some of the stretching exercises.

The program takes a multi-media approach to teaching keyboarding.  There are videos, interactive lessons, games, and automated voice that helps you pay better attention to the lessons.  As the teacher, you also have your own instruction area that is separate from your allotted student spots, so that you can do the program yourself, either to help your children navigate the program or to improve your own typing skills.
UltraKey Online Family Edition

homeschool typing

If you already have a child who has some typing skills, but needs to improve them, UltraKey Online has an assessment test that will recommend what your goal should be.  It also gives a suggestion to help you know whether or not you should increase or decrease your goal.

UltraKey Online Family Edition

Truly, this has been one subject that both of them clamor to do.  Bytes of Learning recommends at least 20 minutes of practice daily for the best results and I have not had to remind them once to do their typing.  In fact, when my daughter reached her goal and got her diploma, my son was a few lessons behind her and sat down that day to finish them so he could get his diploma also.  I actually have to tell them they need to quit typing and move on to something else because they love it so much.  It has quickly become a favorite subject.   
Now that they have met their goal of 90% accuracy and learned all the keys and the proper striking technique, we will set a new goal to increase their wpm, while staying within a 90% accuracy range.

homeschool typing

If you are looking for a stellar program to teach your children keyboarding skills, I would highly recommend UltraKey Online Family Subscription by Bytes of Learning.  
UltraKey Bytes of Learning
If you would like to read more reviews about the UltraKey Online Family Subscription by homeschool parents like myself, click the link below.
UltraKey {Bytes of Learning Reviews}


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