KAZ wins Teach Secondary 2023 Award

KAZ wins teach secondary award 2023

After approximately a year and a half of development, we are pleased to announce the launch of our new VI edition, developed with advice and guidance from the Thomas Pocklington Trust. 

This edition has been incorporated as a free option in all KAZ courses.

Learning to touch type is considered one of the most beneficial skills for visually impaired and blind individuals, allowing the transfer of thoughts quickly and automatically onto a screen. It provides an invaluable tool and asset for independent learning and communicating.

Learning to touch type at any age can dramatically boost confidence, self-belief and independence. However, teaching learners with visual impairment early can drastically transform their experience at school and in FE/HE, putting them on a more even standing with their sighted peers and opening up new career opportunities.

It is achieving muscle memory and automaticity when touch typing, that increases efficiency and productivity. However and most importantly, learning this skill frees the conscious mind to concentrate on planning, composing, processing and editing, significantly improving the quality of the work produced.

The KAZ course has been designed to work as a stand-alone product or alongside Jaws and other screen readers, SuperNova and other magnifying software/hardware products and captioning software. It has been completely rewritten to cater to VI and blind users. 

“We have used and incorporated the most up-to-date technology while developing the course and are thrilled to have finally released this edition, which has been many years in the planning. We are further delighted that Teach Secondary has just awarded the edition first prize, SEND category.” 

Sheraleen Braganza, Director of Education & SEND.

“Of all the traditional teaching methods I’ve seen, KAZ offers a unique teaching style that I feel could be more engaging for students learning to touch type. It’s pleasing to see such a comprehensive course out there.”

Graham Page – Technology officer, Thomas Pocklington Trust

(The Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity that supports blind and partially sighted people with a focus on education, employment and engagement. Their mission is to support visually impaired people of all ages to live the life they want to lead.)

Additionally, the course has just won the Teach Secondary prize for best resource, SEND category 2023.

Teach Secondary Judge, Rebecca Leek commented, “This is a product that does what it says it does really well. Adaptations have been well-researched and it will make a difference to so many learners as it is an accessible tool that enables students to develop an invaluable life skill. It is good value for money and has been sensitively developed over time, with consideration of different learners’ needs.”

The best way to learn touch typing? 

Which is the best way to learn the skill of touch typing?  Choose A, B or C

Which is the best way to learn the skill of touch typing?  Choose A, B or C

A – Quickly, using a unique, tried, tested and proven method.

B – With software offering hundreds of lessons and including games?

C – Using a free product which offers distractions, advertisements and harvests data?

If your answer is A, here are ten reasons why KAZ stands out from the rest

1. A one-off, fair and affordable price to learn the skill. No unnecessary monthly payments designed to keep you active and which you will forget to cancel. Statistics show that all learning, if not concentrated, simply extends — as will your subscription.

2. KAZ is simple! No need to spend countless hours at the keyboard trawling through mundane exercises, never-ending courses and playing games. Whilst initially appearing impressive, statistics have consistently proven that numerous lessons and games, whilst fun, will delay or extend the learning process. Learn quickly; just 90 minutes are needed with our © course, which can be broken down into bitesize six weekly modules and then put into daily practice.

3. KAZ is still the only neurodiverse typing tutor catering to all learners, including those with special educational needs. Learning styles differ for each individual, and the KAZ ©Preference Screen tailors the course to each individual, including VI. Typing is a communication skill that can help overcome many obstacles, including face-to-face communication.

4. KAZ explains the importance of correct posture, workstation setup, typing technique and the causes, symptoms and preventative measures of RSI.

5. KAZ is entirely GDPR compliant and is a member of ico.org.uk. We are FERPA and CIPA compliant (US) and abide by all their rules and regulations. For this reason, we are the preferred choice for Schools in the UK and are rapidly being taken up in the US. 

Our download edition does not require any internet access after activation. It is used in schools where the internet is restricted or unavailable. All data is limited to the computer, and NO data is transferred back to our servers. This makes KAZ the perfect solution when used in a protected environment or when children use the software.

6. SENCOs and SEN Assessors asked us to help individuals with short-term memory (i.e., which is learned in week one, can be forgotten in week three). In developing the challenge modules, our unique learning method is captured in three simple challenges, all against the clock. Additionally, with text-to-speech software now licensed for the course, students see the word, hear the word and then type the word, allowing simple refreshment of the course whilst building muscle memory. This has proven so successful that it has been implemented in all KAZ courses.

Challenge 1 – focuses on the keys and characters learned in the first two phrases. Word banks have been created, which generate a series of 20 words per session. Each word is seen, heard, and typed three times against the clock. This helps the students develop muscle memory and, importantly, recognise words by sight. This is essential as, with practice, students develop ‘automaticity’ – the ability to ‘think-type’.

Challenge 2 – focuses on the keys and characters learned in the third and fourth phrases.

Challenge 3 – focuses on the keys and characters learned in the fifth and final phrase.

Schools & FE/HE can also select/add Key Stage or KS-12 vocabulary through a fourth challenge module developed to help teachers, and SENCOs include unique vocabulary or weekly spelling lists into the course.

7. KAZ’s unique learning method consists of five short phrases covering all 26 alphabet characters. The phrases have been designed to work both sides symmetrically and simultaneously, often called ’brain balance’. The first phase starts with the index fingers and the thumbs, as these are the most dextrous, with the additional phrases gradually introducing the other fingers.

8. The course caters for individuals diagnosed with Meares-Irlen syndrome. Add your RGB reference number into the KAZ course or select/create your filter colour.

9. The only typing tutor officially recognised in the UK with a nationally approved Ofqual regulated qualification. Available as an entry-level 1 and advanced level 2 with all student educational records updated with the qualification.

10. A newly developed VI edition – developed with advice and guidance from the Thomas Pocklington Trust. We have always had accessibility functions built into our courses since our inception (1995). We also believe software should be accessible and not attract premium pricing.

Reviews

We, at KAZ:

  • Are inclusive
  • Use a proven Accelerated Learning teaching method based on brain balance and muscle memory
  • Use a unique Preference Screen to minimize visual disturbances
  • Will teach you to type the a-z keys in just 90 minutes

But what do the reviews say?

New Touch Typing Qualification – Ofqual regulated

New Open Awards Ofqual regulated KAZ Touch typing Qualification

We are delighted to have partnered with Open Awards and to have produced the only National Ofqual Regulated Qualifications in touch typing skills – entry levels 1 and 2. Ideal for individuals, education and business settings. 

There is no minimum age requirement. All successful candidates are awarded a digital certificate and have the qualification added to their education record if a valid Unique Learner Number is entered.

Is there a better way to prepare students for FE/HE and prove to prospective employers they are ready for the workplace? 

There are two levels available – Level 1 and Level 2. We have designed the admin panel so teachers/administrators do not have to decide which ‘level’ to allocate at the onset. They can assign their preferred level to each student and monitor the results of their ‘Practice Tests’ before allocating the final level. However, once they register their students for the ‘Assessment’, the level cannot be changed as this will be automatically uploaded to the OA portal.

Level 1 – 610/1412/6 Award in Touch Typing Skills (RQF) – 4 Credits

Theory Assessment – Level 1 – 35 minutes duration (16 questions – MCQ & T/F format)

Practical Typing Test – 3 minutes covering a-z and specific puncuation keys on the keyboard.

Pass: Theory – 50%, TypingTest – 25wpm 

(Suitable for a Level 1 command of English)

Level 2 – 610/1413/8 Award in Touch Typing Skills (RQF) – 6 Credits

Theory Assessment – Level 2 – 55 minutes duration (16 questions – MCQ & T/F format)

Practical Typing Test – 3 minutes covering the whole keyboard.

Pass: Theory – 50%, Typing Test –  35wpm

(Suitable for a Level 2 command of English)

As an authorised centre of Open Awards, all testing will be carried out via our platform. All you have to do is upload your students to your Open Awards portal. All costs are included witin the price (registration fees, centre fees, uploading to the OA portal and digital certification fees, once approved and authorised by the OA team. There will be NO additional charges.

If you already registered as a course provider with Open Awards and would like us to arrange a sub-licence, please get in touch.

It doesn’t matter if your school uses a different typing software. Simply select the ‘Assessment Only’ option.  We will provide full revision notes and a practice test to enable earners to prepare for the Assessment.

For pricing and to find out more: https://kaz-type.com/products/openawards-ofqual-regulated-qualification

Open Awards/Ofqual will monitor all results and review pass mark criteria at the end of the 2023 school year.

For any further information please contact: qualification@kaz-type.com

How to get the best out of KAZ’s touch typing software in training

KAZ in training

Test Train Certify

KAZ software is designed to ensure ‘your’ employees are trained to type quickly and correctly and if they can already type, to correct bad habits, which tend to ‘develop’ over time. 

Step 1Request each employee to take a KAZ typing test

This is free on our website. Alternatively, request 10 free typing tests from the KAZ office.

(As a guide, 35wpm is the ‘tipping point’ where all fingers and thumbs are being used to type correctly. However, many of our clients do not test but put all employees through the training, as the course also corrects bad habits and takes just 90 minutes.)

Step 2Train all staff with scores less than 35wpm

Simply ask them to start at the top and work through each module in order, ending with the ‘Final Assessment’.

Step 3Monitor progress

All staff that successfully pass the ‘final assessment’ will be typing at 35wpm or more. This is your confirmation that the training has been successful and typing speed will only increase with practice. All successful candidates will automatically receive a CPD certificate, a copy of which will be recorded in your admin panel.

(If you have a low take up, we suggest offering an Amazon voucher or similar to the most improved typist. KAZ will forward a £250 Amazon voucher for all purchases of 500+ licences.)

‘Your Success is Our Success’

 Recommended in Which? magazine Feb 2020

Recognition of skills with digital badging

KAZ City & Guilds digital badge

At KAZ we know the benefits of digital badging and in 2019 we were delighted to receive approval for our online touch typing course and become City & Guilds Assured.

Digital badges provide a flexibility that the GCSE and A level exam boards can only dream of. This benefits education, students and companies.

One of our key audiences is home learners and they took a real hammering on the exam front last summer as the government decided that ‘not all external candidates were able to be awarded a grade this summer because some will not have been in a position to provide sufficient evidence to enable their exam centre to include them in their centre assessment grades and rankings.’

Some estimates indicated that over 20,000 students were affected and unable to move on to college or university or to certain careers. 

Contrast this with digital exams, taken online at the end of a course or module by everyone, whether they are studying at school, college, in a workplace or at home. 

Changing landscape

We were interested to see an article in FE News from the Fashion Retail Academy that claimed they had witnessed a 135% rise in students signing up for a fast track career entry. 

They feel that after lockdowns and the uncertainty of the last year, some students are unwilling to enter into long term commitments and want short periods of study that will produce quick results and give them a head start when applying for jobs. 

Increasingly, we are getting requests from people who are looking to change their job, moving from catering or retail into a job with more of an IT focus or young people who want to provide evidence of efficient keyboarding skills alongside vocational qualifications.

Digital badges recognise skills and experience and offer so many advantages to students, apprentices, career changers and young people looking for their first job.

  • They recognise individuals’ skills and talents 
  • They are a digital showcase for individual skills
  • The secure online system keeps everything in a safe place 
  • The badge can be verified online straightaway 
  • Potential employers or colleges can see how the candidate proved their skills and who endorsed it 
  • The badges can be added to CVs and shared via social media, especially useful now that 92% of recruiters are using social media to identify the right candidate 

We have seen how young people are turned off by schoolwork and are reportedly less engaged now that public exams are not going ahead in their usual format this summer.  

Most people like to have their achievements recognised. Badges are a simple way for individuals to showcase their achievements, and for prospective employers to verify them. 

This is an attractive modern solution to awarding qualifications and is so much more flexible than the current unwieldy exam system that it is hard to see why the government is not encouraging more widespread use.

Which? magazine recommends KAZ touch typing software

Which? magazine recommends KAZ touch typing software

‘Which? Magazine has been championing the cause for consumers since 1957. They are the UK’s best selling monthly magazine, trusted by more than 600,000 subscribers. Today, they have more than 1.3m members and supporters, making them the largest independent consumer body in the UK. 

Their magazines give a wealth of expert advice and information on a vast range of everyday products and services. From the latest test results to in-depth surveys and investigations, each month, Which? gives impartial advice and recommendations, the best deals and keeps you on top of consumer news

Completely independent

The unique thing about Which? is that they are completely independent. They have no owners, shareholders or government departments to answer to and you’ll never see an advert in their magazines or on their websites.

Their commitment to providing unbiased advice to consumers is at the heart of everything they do. This means they work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer, and nobody else – so you can rest assured that you’re getting the very best advice available.’ (Which Magazine – February 2020)

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It is for this reason that we are thrilled that Which? has recommended all KAZ typing editions (Corporate, Adult, Junior and Dyslexia).

‘To get the maximum benefits from a keyboard, you need to be able to touch – type. Learning how to do this is made easier by programs such as KAZ (Keyboard A–Z), which claims to deliver benefits in just 90 minutes. KAZ has Corporate, Adult, Junior and Dyslexia editions…’ (Which Magazine – February 2020)

‘Touch-typing really does save you time… and you are never too old to learn.’

                                                                 (Which? Magazine – February 2020)

How do I know if I need to learn to type?

How do I know if I need to learn to type

With so many of us now working from home, there is a constant need and expectation to work harder, faster and smarter, coupled with the anxiety to justify our productivity.

Had you ever looked around the office, watched your colleagues and thought that you really needed to type faster, or at least type as fast as some of your peers? Surprisingly, in these days of IT, computer and office-based working, 70% of office workers still do not type efficiently.* 

So what’s the simplest and easiest way to work faster? Well, if you spend a lot of time at the computer, you need to work out approximately how many hours a day you spend there and aim to reduce that time, with the proviso you get the same amount of work done. An easy and free way to check your typing proficiency is to follow the flowchart above. 

Take a free typing test on our site. Check your typing wpm score and find out if you are typing efficiently.

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What do we mean by efficiently?

We mean quick, accurate typing, using all fingers and thumbs, whilst looking ahead at the screen and not constantly glancing down at the keyboard… back up to the screen… back down to the keyboard etc.  

Why is this so important? Because when you touch type properly, the skill is automatised, enabling you to multi-task and think as you type. Productivity goes through the roof because there is little or no time spent searching for keys or correcting errors. Emphasis and focus are on creating and writing content quickly and efficiently. 

Think of it as learning to drive a car. At first, we all need instruction, followed by practice, then finally, a test. Driving is a skill which is learned. Similarly, with typing, how are we expected to type efficiently, if we are not taught? One main reason is that we are generally too busy and have little time to set aside to learn this skill. Alternatively, it could be due to a mental block from poor typing courses taken in our past, filled with painful thoughts of boredom, repeatedly typing the same phrases and exercises over and over again. Or it could simply be that we never realised just how much time learning to type could save us throughout our daily and working lives. 

Free up to 30% of your day!

Did you know that by learning to type you could free up to 30% of your day? If you don’t believe this statement, use our free ROI calculator and find out just how much time you could save annually. Click the link and scroll down the page.

Additionally, if you enter your hourly rate, you’ll find out how much money you could save your employer by learning to type efficiently. If you’re self-employed, that’s either wasted time or more billing time – you decide!

This is possibly a wake-up call and will help you understand why many employers and recruitment agencies now insist on candidates sitting a typing testbefore being considered or recommended for a position. The crazy thing is, typing as a skill is so easy to learn if taught correctly.

Set aside just 90 minutes to learn to type using KAZ’s © ‘Accelerated Learning’ teaching method and then practice on emails, essays etc. It is essential to maintain discipline and if you do, within a few hours you’ll be typing at least as fast as you were with 2 fingers but with the added benefit of knowing you will get much, much faster and also feel more relaxed whilst working at your computer. Sitting correctly and typing using good typing technique, rather than continually searching or thumping keys will also minimise the risk of you developing Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).

There is a reason why our course is used by both the UK and US governments, the MOD, the NHS, the police, businesses and schools worldwide.

We are still the only typing course available on the UK’s Learndirect and the US’s OpenSesame learning portals.

We don’t want to train you if you’re not going to benefit from our course. Why? We have a reputation to protect. Millions of people around the world have used, benefitted from and recommend KAZ. Our ethos is clear and our testimonials and partners are proof of our method working. 

Yes, we charge for our course but this is for a reason. Our research has proven that pop-ups, advertising, gaming, videos and extensive modules all simply delay or extend the learning process. These are just methods used to monetise training or to harvest data. We don’t do that. We are governed by ico.org.uk rules and fiercely protect our client’s data. 

Our course and trademarked teaching method were designed to teach you to type quickly and with minimal fuss. Few of us have the time to waste trailing alternatives and wasting precious time. Our course costs just £/$24.99 – that’s all. No recurring fees, just a fair price for a ‘skill for life’. 

How much time will you save by learning to type? 

The average person will save $/£3000 per annum X 30 years = $/£90,000 or more importantly, 300 hours per annum = 340 days over 30 years, which is almost one year of your life!

Tried, tested and proven!

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No games or videos but a method that works and promises to get you going in just 90 minutes** 

No hard-sell tactics, just a proven method that was tried, tested and proven by the Open University, who were so impressed, that they wrote a white paper on its effectiveness and deployed the course to all their 90,000+ students for over 14 years.***

* KAZ’s free typing test – from over 3000 tests taken, 70% show an average score of just 17.2wpm.

** Our tests and surveys have shown that the majority of users complete the a-z keys in just 90 minutes. However, this is not guaranteed and some individuals may take longer. KAZ is structured so that the individuals can work at their own pace. Allow an average of 4 hours plus practice time to complete the entire course covering the rest of the keyboard. 

*** Open University – white paper available on our website.

What WPM is considered a slow, fast or exceptional typing speed?

KAZ the best typing software

Learn to type faster and increase your employability

In today’s high tech world, it is hard to find an education, business or commercial environment without a computer or laptop. Typing ‘machines’ are everywhere and many now consider the skill of typing is as important as writing!

Being able to type fast and efficiently gives you positive advantages at school, in further education and the workplace. However, if you want to become an expert typist, increase your productivity, be able to multi-task, stand out from your peers/colleagues and increase your career prospects in a competitive workplace, learning to type will not be enough. You need to learn to touch type.

What’s the difference? 

Well, when you type with just two or a few fingers, although you may be fairly fast, you use your conscious mind. You think as you do. This adds additional mental load, does not allow you to type to your full capacity and makes it harder to multi-task.

However, when you touch type with all your fingers and thumbs, the process becomes automated and transfers to your subconscious, freeing your conscious mind to concentrate on the task at hand. It also increases productivity and enables you to multitask. With practice, muscle memory is built and your fingers instinctively reach for the right keys. This automatic response is what allows you to type faster.

What is the fastest typing speed? 

Using the English language, the world’s fastest typist, Barbara Blackburn, typed at 216WPM at her peak in 2005. She typed on a Dvorak keyboard, a keyboard specially designed to reduce finger movement.

What is the average accuracy and WPM? 

The average typing speed can vary dramatically from one course provider to another. This is because there is no authoritative industry standard. However, the Royal Signals, a division of the Royal Army and our research findings, whilst testing our teaching method on over 18,000 individuals per year for three years, suggest that 35WPM is the point when automaticity takes over, when typing with all fingers and thumbs. If you would like to improve your typing speed and achieve 35WPM, or if you want to exceed it and become an expert typist, try following the guidelines below.

 Why are you a slow typist?

There are several reasons why you may be a slow typist:

You may be typing with incorrect ergonomics

You may be using the wrong typing technique

You may not be practising enough  

How to improve a slow typing speed

Ergonomics is a science concerned with the design or arrangement of your workplace, equipment, furniture and systems. Good ergonomics will enhance your comfort, safety, efficiency and productivity. So, ensuring a good workplace setup and correct posture whilst sitting at the keyboard will help with your speed and efficiency when typing

Familiarising yourself with your keyboard structure and layout will also help your typing speed. There is no need to rush. With regular practice, muscle memory will build and you will quickly get acquainted with the layout

The starting position for your fingers when getting ready to touch type or when they are at rest and not typing is called the ‘home position’. The keys you place your fingers on are called the ‘home keys’. The ‘home position’ is situated on the middle row of your keyboard, as highlighted below. Using the home position when you are typing will allow your fingers to move to the correct keys more easily, hence increasing your typing speed

You must correct any bad habits you may have developed. When teaching ourselves to type, we often develop our own style of typing, normally using just our index fingers. This is known as the ‘hunt and peck’ method, where we look for keys one at a time and then press each key individually. This constant searching and pressing of individual keys, looking up at the screen and then back down at the keyboard is what slows our typing speed. In order to increase your typing speed, you need to stop ‘hunt and pecking’ and learn how to touch type (the ability to type subconsciously, using all your fingers and thumbs and without looking down at the keyboard)

How to turn a good typing speed into a fast typing speed  

Different typing software use different teaching methods and all have different opinions on what a fast or very fast typing speed is. At KAZ Type, we deem 50WPM, using all your fingers and thumbs as fast

However, to elevate yourself from an average typist to a fast typist you need to master the skill of touch typing. As mentioned above, touch typing is the method where you use muscle memory and not the sense of sight to find the keys. Certain fingers are responsible for pressing certain keys and with practice, muscle memory is built and fingers instinctively and automatically reach for the correct keys. This automaticity is what elevates your typing speed, as the need to look from keyboard to screen is completely eliminated. You simply think the word and it appears on the screen. A phrase known as ‘think type’. 

KAZ’s proven Accelerated Learning teaching method will teach you the position of the a-z keys in just 90 minutes. Incorporating ‘brain balance’ the method will train your fingers to work symmetrically and simultaneously, a direct result of both hemispheres of the brain working at the same time. No other typing software works in this way. With additional typing exercises, muscle memory and automaticity are also build and you will notice a distinct increase in your typing speed   

From ‘fast’ to ‘exceptional’

If you’ve followed all the guidelines above, transitioning from a fast to an exceptionally fast typist is down to one simple thing – practice. As the saying goes, ‘practice makes perfect’. However, to become an exceptionally fast typist, accuracy is key. There’s no point typing exceptionally fast if your text is littered with mistakes. KAZ’s SpeedBuilder module will allow you to build both your speed and accuracy simultaneously. Regular practice will increase your WPM with minimal errors and excel your typing to the next level.

City & Guilds Assured Typing Test 

Once you have achieved the WPM you want, take KAZ’s City & Guilds Assured typing test. On successful completion, you will be awarded a digital certificate and badge to showcase on you social media profiles, CVs and job applications by a globally recognised body.

https://kaz-type.com

The method works, my students almost across the board see gains

Greensboro school use KAZ

Greensboro Day School have been using KAZ for several years. 100% of students, grades 4-12, use laptops throughout the curriculum.

Q. How did you hear about KAZ? 

A. A former colleague recommended it.

Q. How important do you think the skill of touch typing is for students in today’s world? 

A. I think being able to type relatively quickly and accurately is very important to succeed in school and business.

Q. How have you implemented KAZ into your time table/learning? 

A. I dedicate several lesson sessions to teaching the students how to use KAZ, then monitor their progress. I assign independent practice based on their WPM and Accuracy scores from Speedbuilder tests. 

Q. What do you think of KAZ’s admin panel and recording of student progress? 

A. I like being able to see their latest WPM/Accuracy, though I wish it would qualify if the Speedbuilder taken was a “just the a-z” or “and the rest” keys. 

KAZ:We are looking into this.

Q. KAZ offering both a mainstream and SEN/Dyslexia edition in their school license – has this helped? 

A. I have only had one student with dyslexia that I used the program with. I appreciated having the option for that student.

Q. How efficient has KAZ been and are the children enjoying it?
A. I would rate it more efficient than fun. Some of the students really like typing and some don’t – I don’t think it is KAZ, I think it is typing in general for the students that don’t really enjoy it. 

Q. Is the fact that KAZ online can be used at school and at home a positive feature and why? 

A. This is a very positive feature and one of the reasons I have stuck with KAZ as I can assign portions of it for homework/independent practice and students may go at their own pace. 

Q. What do you think of KAZ? 

A. I really like KAZ and will keep using it because the method works (my students almost across the board see gains) and it is flexible enough for me to assign it they way I need to for my students. 

Greensboro Day School develops the intellectual, ethical, and interpersonal foundations students need to become constructive contributors to the world.

#1 Best Private High School in Guilford County

Give YOUR students a head start – teach them to type.