Ainsworth Keyboard Trainer Reviewer's Comments

Our "TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award Winner" is Ainsworth Keyboard Trainer by Ainsworth & Partners, Inc. This typing software tutorial is simple to use, even for large groups such as typing classes, and is compatible with more computers than most typing software we've seen. We were impressed with this typing program's ability to identify typing trouble spots and then effectively strengthen those typing weaknesses.

The reason that Ainsworth Keyboard Trainer didn't earn our top spot is because this typing software doesn't offer easy-to-follow hand guides to illustrate finger positioning, customization isn't as intuitive, and the program doesn't have as many typing games as Typing Instructor For Kids.

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Ease of Use:  

Ainsworth Keyboard Trainer is well-designed typing software that works for individuals and groups of children equally well. The opening screen offers new students several choices, including practice drills, lessons, tests and more. After choosing a task, on-screen instructions guide your child, so that navigation is simple.

Feature Set:  

Ainsworth Keyboard Trainer includes hundreds of lessons and can track the typing progress of each individual accurately.

After taking typing lessons, children can practice typing drills to hone skills. Ainsworth Keyboard Trainer uses these drills to zero in on weaknesses—often a certain finger or specific missed keys—and then generates a new typing drill that focuses specifically on strengthening them. You can set up a custom typing test to track improvements.

This typing software also offers a progress report page that records several separate factors, such as the typist's skill with alphabetical keys, punctuation keys, numeric keys, symbol keys and more.

As this typing software is so good at finding a typist's weak spots, we were a little disappointed that there was no initial typing test offered to determine an accurate starting level for new typing students.

Ease of Installation:  

We had no trouble installing Ainsworth Keyboard Trainer.

Help/Support:  

The help files in this typing software are good, but not as good as they could be. When you click for help in Ainsworth Keyboard Trainer, a window pops up with brief instructions relevant to that screen. While relevant help is a time-saver, it's tougher to learn about subjects unrelated to the screen because Ainsworth offers no searchable index.

For example, we wanted to find out if this typing program could print typing certificates of achievement, but had no way to search for this topic in this typing software.

But the Ainsworth & Partners, Inc. website does offer an FAQ page and a customer support email address.

Summary:  

This is good typing software for either a classroom setting or individual use, but younger kids may need some help from an adult to use this program initially. While Ainsworth Keyboard Trainer is pricier than most typing software, the program is well designed, easy to use, fun, and will improve a child's keyboarding skills.