Dance Mat Typing Review for Teachers | Common Sense Education (2024)

Dance Mat Typing is a free online game that teaches kids to touch-type using the home-row method. Students progress through 12 stages within four levels (three stages per level) that slowly build the number of keys they're expected to master. The lessons begin with practice of individual keys and then move to short words and sentences that are made only from the previously practiced letters and characters. With each completed exercise, studentsreceivepraise and unlock musical numbers sung by that stage's animal host. Every stage reflects a different geographic location.

There'sno penalty for making a mistake in the game, though the game pings students with every error. When they're all done with each level,students can print out a certificate of accomplishment that lists the mastered keys, and students can keep practicing by typing passages and getting feedback on accuracy and words per minute.

For students who take to typing, the game's pace and colorful design can make for a fun way to practice. But apart from rote repetition, there's little here to help struggling students. Students with smaller hands may get frustrated at the emphasis on not looking at the keyboard. Several heavily accented characters might be hard to followfor ELLsand students with auditory processing needs who are better addressed by less-accented speech. Dance Mat Typing offers accessible and introductory typing practice,but teachers may want to look elsewhere for something more directed, engaging, and comprehensive with more extensive practice.

Though it's best to do the lessons in order, students canjump around to any level or stage, depending on what they want to practice. While the gamecoversmost of the keyboard keys, it won'tdo a complete job teaching students to type. That being said, althoughstudents will need additional typing practice after completing all the levels, Dance Mat Typing is still a fantastic introduction to the typing keyboard, and it will begin preparing the students who use itfor more difficult typing challenges and practice found elsewhere.

Dance Mat Typing Review for Teachers | Common Sense Education (2024)

FAQs

Dance Mat Typing Review for Teachers | Common Sense Education? ›

Dance Mat can improve keyboard familiarity, making children a little faster on the keyboard, but building the unconscious, automatic skill that unlocks so many more benefits requires about 25 hours of practice (that's active keyboard time) – that would be an awful lot of repetition of the 12 lessons in Dance Mat Typing ...

Is dance mat typing good? ›

Dance Mat can improve keyboard familiarity, making children a little faster on the keyboard, but building the unconscious, automatic skill that unlocks so many more benefits requires about 25 hours of practice (that's active keyboard time) – that would be an awful lot of repetition of the 12 lessons in Dance Mat Typing ...

How many levels are in dance mat typing? ›

Welcome to Dance Mat Typing, a fun way to learn touch typing

There are four levels to play, each divided into three stages.

How does dance mat typing work? ›

Dance Mat Typing is a free online game that teaches kids to touch-type using the home-row method. Students progress through 12 stages within four levels (three stages per level) that slowly build the number of keys they're expected to master.

Who made dance mat typing? ›

If you teach touch typing for kids, you've probably seen or used Dance Mat Typing from the BBC – it's been around for 20 years and is one of the longest serving touch typing programs. It's still a great free resource, giving an introduction to the idea of touch typing.

What is the most effective typing method? ›

The most common style of typing is touch-typing. It is the professional method and the technique that allows for faster typing. It involves training your brain to memorize the keys on the keyboard and be able to type without even looking at the screen or your hands.

What is the best typing practice online? ›

Websites to Practice Typing
  • http://www.typingtest.com/ ...
  • http://www.typeonline.co.uk/lesson1.html. ...
  • http://www.sense-lang.org/typing/ ...
  • http://www.rapidtyping.com/online-typing-games/typedown.html. ...
  • http://www.typing-lessons.org/ ...
  • http://www.how-to-type.com/touch-typing-lessons/how-to-type-capitals/ ...
  • http://play.typeracer.com/

What is the hardest dance type to learn? ›

The ballet dance style and moves are some of the most difficult ones that exist today. Here's what you need to know about why ballet is one of the toughest dances in the world.

What is dance mat touch typing level 3? ›

Taking Dance Mat Typing Level 3 enables you to learn the bottom row keys as well as the comma punctuation key. As of now, you have now covered the majority of the keyboard keys, and can therefore move your fingers around the keyboard with greater ease.

Is BBC dance mat typing free? ›

Do you have kids or students who want to learn how to type? Dance Mat Typing by the BBC is a good choice. It is interactive, fun, free and easy-to-use for kids; the system is complete with animated animal characters, graphics and sounds.

What is the dance mat typing fun way to learn keyboarding? ›

Dance Mat Typing is a fun way to learn touch typing. There are four levels to play, each divided into three stages. You start by learning the home row keys. Each stage builds on previous lessons, introducing new letters as you progress.

How many words can I type per minute? ›

What Is a Good Typing Speed?
Targets for an adultWords per minute (wpm)Characters per minute (cpm)
Average speed40 wpm and over200 cpm and over
Above average speed50 wpm and over250 cpm and over
Productive speed60 wpm and over300 cpm and over
High speed70 wpm and over350 cpm and over
1 more row
Nov 16, 2021

What is a good typing speed? ›

It's calculated in words per minute (WPM). A good typing speed in the workplace is around 40 to 60 WPM. Roles involving more typing, such as data entry or transcription, usually require employees to have a higher speed – around 60 to 90 WPM.

How to get better at typing? ›

5 Tips for Improving Your Typing Speed & Accuracy
  1. 1.) Use the correct starting position. When practicing your typing skills, it's important to use proper hand placement. ...
  2. 2.) Don't look down your hands. ...
  3. 3.) Maintain good posture. ...
  4. 4.) Find a comfortable position for your hands. ...
  5. 5.) Practice!

Are dance mats any good? ›

Working out on the Dance Mat can burn around 60 calories in 10 short minutes. As it's so addictive you'll soon find you've been playing for longer than that. Playing on the dance mat improves your fitness levels and co-ordination. It can be done alone, with a friend or with your children.

Is 70wpm typing good? ›

70 WPM is incredible! In general, the average typist can type 41 WPM; typing at or above 57 WPM is deemed above average. It is important to note that a high WPM with low accuracy is not a desirable goal; the amount of time needed to correct typing errors should be taken into account when testing a true WPM.

Is dance mat good exercise? ›

There was a significant positive intervention effect on weight (-1.7 kg, 95% CI: -2.9 to -0.4), BMI (-0.9 kg/m2, 95% CI: -1.3 to -0.4) and percentage of body fat (-2.2%, 95% CI: -4.2 to -0.2).

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