Typing Master Mavis Beacon Free Download
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Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is an application software program designed to teach touch typing. Released in late 1987 by The Software Toolworks, the program aimed to enhance users' typing skills through a series of interactive lessons and games.
Founded by Les Crane, Walt Bilofsky, and Mike Duffy, The Software Toolworks[2] was known for its Chessmaster 2000, a chess simulator. Norm Worthington and Mike Duffy also played a role in the program's development.[citation needed]
The original photograph used to depict Mavis Beacon was that of Haitian-born model Renee L'Esperance. The name "Mavis" was derived from Mavis Staples, the lead vocalist for the Staple Singers, and the surname "Beacon" was chosen for its association with a guiding light.[4][5] Les Crane, the former talk-show host who was a partner in The Software Toolworks during its early years, played a role in creating the persona of Mavis Beacon.[4]
Since its initial release in 1987, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing has undergone numerous iterations. The 2011 Ultimate Mac Edition by Software MacKiev introduced two-player competitive typing network games, integration with iTunes, Dvorak keyboard support, practice typing song lyrics, RSS news feeds, and classic novels.[8] In 2021, Encore, Inc. released Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 2020.[2]
In 1999, the series had sold over six million copies.[2] In 2000, two products from the franchise were on the Top Selling Educational Software list. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 10.0 is in the fourth position, while Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 5.0 is ranked eighth.[9]
In 2024, a documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, which investigates who is Mavis Beacon. Turns out that the image of a corporately attired Black woman on the software packaging, was not of someone named Mavis Beacon, but rather a Haitian model named Renee L'Esperance. She was paid $500 for posing for the marketing photo, wasn't involved in the development or the sales of the software and did not share in any of the presumably significant profits generated by the product. Ms. L'Esperance herself neither appears in nor is directly quoted in the documentary.[11]
Users can find themselves racing a virtual car by accurately typing words that appear on the screen.[12] The program also includes typing drills that present users with passages of text to type out, which provides a comprehensive overview of their progress. Successful completion of lessons and tests can result in the achievement of certificates.[13]
Amiga Format's Paul Tyrrell praised its user-friendly design.[16] Nick Veitch of CU Amiga noted that the program was more interesting than traditional educational packages.[16] Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Version 5 was described as a "well-polished program" by Superkids.
Type better than ever with the all-new Personal Edition of Mavis Beacon Teaches typing Powered by UltraKey! Success comes easy with our latest award-winning software program. It's educational and fun!
Discover the most efficient approach to learning and mastering typing fundmentals. If you want to improve typing skills quickly and easily, you can rely on Mavis Beacon. The latest version of the Personal Edition is packed with features tailored for your individual success.
Designed by educators, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Powered by UltraKey uses a success-based approach to typing instruction. This powerful and motivating method sharpens new skills. You set personal goals and achieve them, one by one. Guided roadmaps aid your progress. Expert instruction, positive reinforcement and interactive games encourage you to type your best.
Take your pick of six different games. All will put your typing accuracy and knowledge to the test. Are you ready for the Typing Wizard challenge? Build your typing power as you progress through all six interactive levels.
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Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing for Schools makes learning easy. For beginners, Mavis starts with the very basics of typing. They learn the arrangement of the keyboard and how to use the correct finger for each key. Once they have mastered these fundamentals, the program analyzes their progress and gives them personalized tutorials.
If your students used a keyboard before, or they know nothing of the touch typing method, then they are beginners. The Beginner level introduces them to all of the alphabet keys and emphasizes accuracy. If your students type slower than thirty WPM (Words per Minute) or one hundred KPM (Keys per Minute), the program places them in this level. They must increase their speed through accuracy training before they can proceed to the next level.
If your students are advanced typist, the Advanced lessons get their fingers warmed up and let them type lots of interesting advanced text. Here, Mavis Beacon analyzes their typing and constructs lessons that address their weaknesses and reinforce their strengths.
Then ask your students to set their computer monitors at a comfortable reading distance in front of them, with the top of the screen slightly below eye level. They can protect their eyes from glare by carefully positioning their monitors. You can also have your students try a glare screen (if you have access to them), light background screen color, and sufficient lighting for all your students work stations.
If your students use a copystand to hold their typing materials, ask them to adjust it so that it is level with their monitor. When they must look at it for long periods, instruct them to relax their eyes by occasionally looking away from the screen and focusing on a distant object.
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing for Schools does design some lessons in the regular curriculum to work without the Backspace key, especially the games. In these cases, the Backspace key automatically turns off.
Stress this principle in the classroom: Increase your speed to a higher level only after you have gained complete control at a lower level. Measure your typing ability, as Mavis Beacon does, by the number of errors that you make. If you make too many errors, you are typing faster than your ability to control your keystrokes.
Explain to your students the Home Row position. Explain that their left hand, starting with the little finger, should rest on the [A], [S], [D], and [F] keys; that their right hand, starting with their index finger, should rest on the [J], [K], [L], and [;] keys. The program shows them how their fingers can reach to cover the entire keyboard from this position.
The illustration below is a keyboard that looks like the one on which they are learning. Notice how there are lines separating the keys from each other. Between the lines, you see the keys that each finger controls. For example, the left index finger press the [F], [G], [R], [T], [V], [B], [4], and [5] keys. These keys form a group. The standard QWERTY keyboard contains five rows of keys:
The keys labeled with letters of the alphabet normally type a lowercase letter when struck. To get an uppercase letter, explain to your students that they must hold down a Shift key while they press the letter key. The correct technique is to hold down the Shift key nearest the little finger of your other hand. For example, if your students want to type an uppercase F, they should press the [F] key with their left index fingers while holding down the right Shift key with the little finger on their right hands.
In the past, if you were able to type fast, people would often look at you funny and think of you as someone who spends too much time in front of a PC. However, things have changed, and now, if you can type at speeds of over 80 words per minute, without looking at the keyboard, you will see that people look at you with admiration.
Most people now understand the amount of work needed to reach that level of typing. They are trying their best to reach such a high level too, often using educational software. This is a review of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing which provides customizable and educational training instructions for everyone.
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing still offers a unique option: customizable training. Unlike many other popular typing software, Mavis Beacon allows users to create a customized training plan that focuses on the areas where they need the most help.
Mavis Beacon is available in three different versions, all of them powered by Ultrakey v2. Each version makes provision for the unique needs of different target groups. They were designed by professional educational experts, using a success-based approach.
Progress is made step-by-step, with constant feedback and positive reinforcement. You set your own goals and achieve them one by one. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing is suitable for users from age eight and upwards.
This version is meant for a single user. It can be used with Windows or Mac operating systems. You can get the program as a download version or in DVD format. The software can be used on only one specific computer.
1. Self-paced. You decide how fast or how long you wish to train. You can repeat lessons at any time, and you can take on the drills and exercises as many times as you want. You will always receive feedback after each exercise or drill.
2. User friendly. Mavis Beacon boasts an intuitive user interface that will ensure that you are never at a loss. You can make numerous changes to the interface to provide your personal preferences, age, and learning style. There are 12 interface themes to choose from, and each theme can be adapted separately.
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