Keyboarding Tips for Students

Sit Erect: The feet should be flat on the floor.  Poor posture may lead to keyboarding errors.

Avoid Eyestrain: Adjust the angle of the monitor and/or the height of the chair as eyestrain occurs when there is a reflection on the monitor.

Make Adjustments: Check the distance from the keyboard.  Adjust the chair when necessary to avoid a common problem—that of sitting too close to the keyboard.  Also, re-adjust the angle of the monitor to minimize glare.

Check the Hand Position: Fingers should be on the home-row keys and the hand should slant upward at the same slant as the keyboard.  Do not let the wrist become lazy and rest against the desk or keyboard.

Move Only the Finger Needed: Move only the finger needed to strike a key.  Do not allow other fingers to wander away from their assigned home-row keys.

Use the Correct Finger-Keystroke: If need be, review instruction page(s) of each lesson in the Lerdeaux Keyboarding Program to know which finger to use.

Keyboarding Without Looking at the Keys: Use a quick stroke to strike and bounce off the keys.  Strike the key quickly and move on.

Re-key and Exercise if one is not Satisfied: After completing the beginning lessons, using the correct finger should be automatic.  If one still has to look at he keyboard when touching a particular key, redo the appropriate lesson.

Error Reduction: If continuous errors are occurring when using the bottom-row keys, move the chair back from the keyboard and slightly raise the wrist.