The menus look rather different, however, we think they are an improvement, as they make the available options clearer. Touch Typing is just that. There should be no keeking* at the keyboard. Do not look at the keyboard or your hands, all the information you need is on the screen in Doorway Touch Type. Curriculum for Excellence. The same wordlists have been reorganised according to the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. If you have been using original Speller for some time, you may have to take some time to get used to the way the lists have been re-arranged. All the lists remain the same. You need to get into a comfortable position in which the hands fall naturally onto the keyboard. The surface on which the keyboard stands must not be too high. The wrists may rest on pads if you are typing for a long time. The wordlists in Speller 2 are exactly the same as in the old Speller. You may need to get used to the new arrangement. Be assured the lists are still all there.

Assessment mode is when a word is said but not displayed for the child and they have to type it in correctly without seeing it. This has been totally re-written in HTML5 and JavaScript. We had to save up the funds to cover this development. Our next conversion is Text Type, the touch typing activity that is widely used by visually impaired learners, as well as general learners. Touch Type will be a complete re-write with new features for VI learners. We are seeking funding for this and future conversions, and you can help by donating, or perhaps having a fund-raiser in your school. In Phase One, the program has been re-coded in html5 and JavaScript for a future-proof implementation. A few bugs have been corrected. Most keyboard types are now supported, including Mac; Windows US; Bluetooth keyboard for iPad or Android device. All the same features are there except for Practice Talking Keyboard. This feature will be included in Phase 2. The students have introduced a search feature which allows you to find a list with your target word in. This makes Speller a lot more useful for the casual user.Accuracy should come before speed. Start slowly. If you can type at a regular pace, almost to a beat, it will help you achieve a high speed. Note Text Type 3 now has a rough word per minutes (WPM) score. However, it is not introduced until all the characters have been introduced. Doorway Text Type is a touch typing tutor (TTT) takes learners from the home keys to mastery of the whole keyboard and typing sentences. This activity is designed to be as accessible as possible to visually impaired learners as possible. This should benefit all learners. Assessment and Learning– Most of our activities have two modes, or different sub activities, that are for either learning or assessment

Doorway Activities have been developed in Flash. This is a very suitable medium for creating these learning activities. However since the original development work was done, Flash has become less popular. The first blow was that Flash was not allowed on the iPad. An installation CD for Windows can be licensed, which avoids the use of an internet connection, and any restrictions on Flash. Learning mode is when the word is said and visually displayed for the child to practise typing to spell it. Doorway Speller.A teacher in Dundee has re-arranged and renamed the levels in line with current practiceI will post the link below, but you can also access it from the Doorway online link at the side, under parents.