The best wireless keyboard and mouse for teachers can mean connecting to near any device and using the setup with which you're comfortable. That can be a cable-free setting as well, allowing you to keep an eye-friendly distance from your display when working.

These allow teachers to move between classrooms and stay connected using wireless devices that suit them. This can include carrying a personal setup that stays connected to multiple devices across the school. Or it can be having a setup in each classroom that can be easily tidied away out of sight when not in use, and without a tangle of cables.

Battery life is the downside here, but barely. Since most of these will last for months or years on a charge, even that won't be something you need to spend much time worrying about.

It's worth looking for wireless keyboard models with mechanical keys, to give tactile feedback, with a full-sized layout for ease and finger protection. And on the wireless mouse, a scroll wheel and multiple buttons can be helpful additions to consider.

• Best Laptops for Teachers
• Best Tools for Teachers

The very best wireless keyboard and mouse for teachers 

1. Apple Magic Keyboard and Mouse 2: The best wireless keyboard and mouse for teachers overall

Despite this being named as a pair, the Apple Magic Keyboard 2 and Apple Magic Mouse 2 are generally sold separately. And neither is cheap. But as you can see from the design, both are very well made and, as such, are priced reasonably. 

The mouse stands out as a minimalist dream of a smooth glass-topped joy to hold. Accuracy is excellent on most surfaces, and the touch-sensitive scroll works well as do the mechanical dual button clicks. With battery life that goes for months and charges using an Apple Lightning cable, it couldn't be easier to use and pair with Bluetooth.

The keyboard is equally impressive, with a solid metallic frame that keeps everything compact and is strong for carrying about, while remaining perfectly spaced for typing, even for long periods. The mechanical keys are excellent for feedback while the butterfly action creates a satisfying re-spring feel. Numbers and F keys are all included, and everything charges via the Lightning port to keep going for months on end.

2. Logitech MK360: Best quality keyboard and mouse on a budget

The Logitech MK360 wireless keyboard and mouse gets you all the quality you'd expect from this brand, but without costing too much. As such, you get a super compact design that makes this setup ideal for popping in a bag between classes. The ease of setup and connection continue to make for simplicity of use, and those programmable F keys make personalization a must.

The battery life is superb, with a good three years of use on the keyboard and a year on the mouse before you need new batteries. The mouse is nice and portable yet has a height that makes for a comfortable hand rest even for longer periods of use. Dual keys and a scroll wheel give you plenty of control, while the detection of movement works across most surfaces.

A terrific setup even when you don't consider how affordable this combination is.

3. Microsoft Wireless Desktop 900: Best keyboard and mouse for Windows users

The Microsoft Wireless Desktop 900 is an ideal setup for anyone who uses a Windows device. With special deals for educational pricing, this is a great option to look at when buying on the school- or district-wide level. Complete with a USB dongle, this is good to plug-and-play with most Windows devices without the need to setup. That makes it ideal for moving between machines and rooms in school.

Running on replaceable batteries, the life between changing these is a good two years, and with the batteries included, it's a great deal. The keyboard itself is a classic full-sized layout with resistance on the push, which is liked by some but not all. It's still compact and highly portable, with the USB dongle tucking away inside the mouse. A solid build that works well and is made to last. Although the auto power off setup that turns on when key presses are detected can waste power in a bag.

4. Dell Premier Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard and Mouse: Best premium setup for multitasking

The Dell Premier Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard and Mouse is a terrific setup that does a lot to justify that higher price. The build quality, for a start, is fantastic, with a metallic finish on the solid keyboard and ergonomically comfortable mouse. This not only adds strength for portability and longevity but also looks great as a bonus and feels nice to the touch.

Despite being Dell, this setup is both Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi compatible across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. It can even be connected to three devices at the same time, allowing you to jump between gadgets while staying in control – ideal when presenting to the class across devices. All that and this has a stunning battery life of up to 36 months.

5. Adesso Tru-Form Wireless Ergo Mini Keyboard and Mouse: Best for ergonomic comfort

The Adesso Tru-Form Wireless Ergo Mini Keyboard and Mouse offers you all the comfort of an ergonomically designed keyboard and mouse while still remaining portable. This rare combination means you won't have to worry about strain injury if using these for long periods – this even has a built-in wrist rest for added comfort.

This Windows-only setup uses replaceable batteries that last up to six months. But it's the built-in scroll-wheel on the keyboard that's a stand-out rare addition – great for touch typists. The keyboard uses a membrane for quiet typing that's built to last long term. A very accurate mouse with side buttons, built-in track wheel, and USB dongle connectivity make this a really appealing setup that helps justify that price.

6. Logitech MX Mechanical Combo: Best portable all rounder

The Logitech MX Mechanical Combo is not only a great option for portability -- if you go for the smaller TKL option -- but is also an all round winner for so many reasons. Firstly, quality is premium here, with tactile and quiet mechanical switches fronted by those wonderful MX Keys. 

You also get a pretty long battery life of up to 70 days, Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity, an 8,000 DPI seven button MX Master 3S mouse, plus a MagSpeed Wheel and emojis built right into the keyboard. 

In addition, there's adjustable tilt on that keyboard for comfort and write protection. This setup really does it all and can be portable too. The catch? It's pretty pricey -- but you do get that Logitech peace of mind knowing it's going to last.

7. RedThunder K84: Best budget gaming keyboard and mouse

The RedThunder K84 wireless keyboard and mouse setup is built for gaming yet doesn't command the usually high price that goes with a setup of that type. 

Both the keyboard and mouse are ergonomic and designed for longer stints of use, ideal for gaming clubs in school and beyond.

The mouse has a decent 3,200 DPI with its honeycomb optical setup as well as LED rainbow lighting. The keyboard is a 75% setup, making it highly mobile while still offering 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, long battery life, and ABS-keycaps with a ten million keystroke lifetime.

An impressive setup for a really low price.

• Best Laptops for Teachers
• Best Tools for Teachers

Teaching from home with an iPad doesn’t have to mean being stuck using the tablet’s on-screen keyboard. The $50 Brydge 9.7 keyboard-case takes a minute to install and provides a great keyboard and the ability to teach from home with a little extra grace.

Made of forged aluminum, the Brydge 9.7 keyboard-case is sturdy, has rounded corners and can protect the tablet’s back if dropped. The space gray, silver or gold look of the case matches the iPad’s design, making it seem as if it was designed as a notebook from the start.

At just over 1 pound, the Brydge 9.7 keyboard-case is light, ideal for transporting to school. Add in my sixth-generation iPad and the whole thing weighs a reasonable 2.1 pounds. That’s significantly lighter than a small notebook, such as Dell’s 3.1-pound Chromebook 3100, although that does have a larger 11-inch screen.

Securing an iPad in the Brydge 9.7 keyboard-case 

It takes a second or two to install the case on an iPad, although some older 9.7-inch iPads and the iPad Air 2 will require using the included rubber hinge shims to get the tablet to seat properly.

The iPad is secured in landscape, rather than portrait, which gives it more of a notebook feel. The power button is on the upper left and the volume- up and down keys are nearby, along the top. The Home button is on the right which can make the fingerprint scanner awkward to use. Another issue is the webcam. It sits too low and ends up providing an excellent view of the user’s neck, unless you angle the tablet quite far back. Happily, the system’s back camera works well and isn’t obscured by the case.

The Brydge 9.7 keyboard-case’s hinge has smooth action but it can be a little awkward to open. There’s a small cutout to slip a fingernail in but it generally requires two hands to maneuver. Inside, it has 17-mm keys with about 1.5 mm of travel. Angled for comfortable typing, the keys are backlit with the choice of three light levels, which is useful if presenting in a darkened classroom. It’s overall very accurate, but the keys are a little too close together and I found myself hitting the wrong one on occasion. 

Surprisingly sturdy (always useful in classroom environments), the screen doesn’t wobble even when I tapped it or moved items around. The Brydge case, however, lacks a trackpad or any place to stash Apple’s Pencil stylus.

The best part is that if a busy teacher needs to quickly change from using the iPad in notebook guise, it can be easily pulled away from the keyboard base for use as a pure tablet. It takes only a moment to put it back together again.

Flexibility and potential use for remote learning 

With the Brydge 9.7’s keyboard-case, it’s quicker and more comfortable to type than the iPad’s on-screen keyboard. In addition to the expected letter, number and symbol keys, the Brydge 9.7 keyboard-case has a key to lock and unlock the screen, a Home key, the ability to control audio or video tracks as well as have Siri listen to (or ignore) your requests.

The keyboard-case I looked at fit like a hand in glove with my 6th-generation iPad, and also works with 5th-generation systems and Air units. There are models for 10.2- and 10.5-inch iPads as well as the first four generations of the iPad Pro. The problem is some of Brydge’s cases cost as much as $230. Your best bet to find the right Brydge keyboard for your iPad is to start at the company’s compatibility site. 

While the Brydge case doesn’t use any of the iPad’s power to run the keyboard, the downside is that because the keyboard uses Bluetooth to connect, it still needs to be periodically charged. It comes with a micro-USB cable but no AC adapter.

A bonus is the keyboard’s battery gauge key. Press it for a few seconds and the Power LED blinks green for 75 percent or more charge or yellow for between 25 and 74 percent. When it’s red, the battery has for 24 percent or less of its charge. One charge was more than enough for a month of daily use.

Verdict: Is the Brydge 9.7 worth it? 

Overall, the Brydge 9.7 keyboard-case does an excellent job of turning an iPad into a full-fledged notebook but does without a trackpad that some of the company’s other models have. The design also lacks a place to stash the iPad’s Pencil stylus. Still, the $50 Brydge 9.7 keyboard-case can transform an iPad into a remote teaching machine, ready for an online class. 

Grade: 88/100

More: Brydge

* More from T&L: Wireless keyboards: Review for schools

The mark of a good teacher is often the inability to sit still while the class does its work. With that in mind, teachers should have wireless keyboards to roam around the room to help and encourage students while remaining connected to the class’s projector or large screen display.

With wireless keyboards, teachers can not only control what classes see but work with students individually or in small groups. In a very real sense, it lets the teacher be in two places at once. She continues to control the room’s computer regardless of where in the room she is, making it a simple and inexpensive way to increase the classroom’s connectivity and interactivity.

To help pick the best wireless keyboards for on-the-go teaching, I used four similar devices for several weeks. In addition to creating presentations and Web research, I used them for online curriculum and finding videos. More to the point, I tried each with three different computers (HP’s Chromebook X2, Macbook Air and Lenovo ThinkPad T470) and moved around the room to gauge the range of each.

Any of these wireless keyboards will help get a teacher out of her chair and about in the classroom. Here’re my favorites.

AmazonBasics Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad for Smart TV

As the name implies, the AmazonBasics Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad is simple, rudimentary and inexpensive, but can free a teacher from the tyranny of the desk.

At 1.0-by-14.6-by-5.1 inches and 12.1 ounces, it’s the biggest of the four I tried. Overall, the AmazonBasics keyboard proved to be light enough to carry around the class but works best on a table. The combination of a 4.0-inch touchpad and 19.0-millimeter keys makes for quick typing and navigation although the keys aren’t backlit and there’s no Print Screen key.

It connects to a computer via its included USB transmitter but can’t handle a Bluetooth connection. Powered by an included pair of AAA batteries that should be good for several months of daily use, the AmazonBasics keyboard worked perfectly with the three computers I used and had a 45-foot range.

Solid and competent, the $24 AmazonBasics Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad comes with a 30-day warranty is the bargain of the bunch that falls short compared to the 1-year warranties of the others. It may not have backlit keys or specialty keys, but it is without a doubt the most economical way to stay connected while working the classroom.

B+

More: Amazon

Logitech K600 TV Keyboard

Don’t let the name fool you. Logitech’s K600 TV Keyboard is for more than picking Netflix movies on your smart screen because it can help roaming teachers stay connected.

At 0.8-by-14.4-by-4.6 inches and 1.1 pounds, the K600 is a little smaller than the AmazonBasics keyboard, and in fact, works better on the lap or a desk than being held. The 17.9-millimeter keys are comfortable but the K600’s 2.2-inch round touchpad was the smallest and hardest to get used to of the four. It includes handy extras like the D pad in the upper right for moving among on-screen items and media keys but lacks a Print Screen key.

The K600 is unique in that it can connect to three separate devices via Bluetooth or with its included USB transmitter. Its range was exceptional at 60-feet using the USB transmitter and 35-feet using Bluetooth. It worked with the three systems I used and can control Samsung, Sony or LG TVs.

Powered by two AAA batteries that Logitech says should last for a year, the K600 does without backlit keys and its $70 price tag (with a one-year warranty) can be a hard sell at schools.

B+

More: Logitech

iogear GKB635W Wireless Smart TV Keyboard with Trackball/fc 2-7

The only keyboard reviewed here to have a trackball instead of a touchpad, the iogear GKB635W keyboard presents a different approach to wireless keyboards.

To start, the keyboard’s 19-millimeter optical trackball responds instantly to the touch and presents an alternate scenario. By rolling my thumb over it, I was able to get more accurate positioning of the pointer than with any of the touchpad keyboards. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, the GKB635W has resolution settings for 600-, 1,000- and 1,600 counts per inch for a variety of tasks.

On the other hand, at 1.1 pounds, it’s just as heavy as the much larger Logitech K600TV and works well in the hand or on a desk. Its 18.6-mm keys are comfortable to use but they lack the K18’s backlighting. There’s a handy scroll wheel as well as keys for controlling multimedia, opening a search window and Print Screen.

Its small USB transmitter connects to a computer or smart TV with a 50-foot range but can’t connect via Bluetooth. It worked well with all three test systems and uses two AA batteries. It has an on/off switch and low-battery indicator. 

With a one-year warranty, the iogear GKB635W costs about $43 on Amazon, making it a nice alternative for those who prefer a trackball.

A-

More: iogear

Inland K18 Mini Wireless Keyboard

Small and inexpensive, the Inland K18 keyboard can stay online longer while lighting up a classroom.

At 11.6 ounces and 0.6-by-12.8-by 4.7 inches, the K18 is light and easy to use in my hands, on a table or my lap. Its generous 4.3-inch rectangular touchpad is on the right and the 17.3-millimeter keys are rimmed in white, making them visually stand out. The tiny shift key was the source of several typos at first and took some getting used to.   

The K18’s backlit keys glow red, blue or green, making it perfect for teaching by the glow of a projector. In addition to a key for choosing the backlighting color, the K18 has media controls and Print Screen. It can only connect via its USB transmitter and had a 60-foot range. It can’t use Bluetooth but worked with all three of my test systems.

Rather than having to replace its batteries every few months, the K18’s rechargeable battery pack can save money over its life and includes a built-in USB cable for charging. Available at Micro Center stores and Web site for $30 (with a one-year warranty), the K18 may not be the cheapest keyboard but it is the best and brightest for roving teachers.

A

More here

 Keyboarding, or typing, is a critical skill for students to learn in their pursuit of technology literacy. It is a stepping stone to using a computer and can be introduced as early as kindergarten. It can be taught in blocks during free time or even in summer classes.

15 Sites for Keyboarding/Typing

ABCya! - A fun site/app for kids who are learning how to type with games such as Alpha Munchies, Cup Stack Typing, and Jump Key.

AlfaTyping - An abundance of typing resources, including tutorials and walkthroughs.

FreeTypingGame.net - A nice little site for practicing different skills, with various activities designed for kids.

Learn 2 Type - A simple site with online tests to track how many words per minute a student can type.

Learning Games for Kids - Offers educational games including more than 20 typing challenge activities.

Nitro Type - Students participate in worldwide, real-time competitions to pit their typing abilities against others.

Power Typing - Features seven easy-to-use online typing challenges.

RoomRecess - A fun site with a variety of keyboarding games, including Letter Bursts, Popcorn Typer, and Launch Key.

TypeDojo - Designed for students in grades 1 to 8, it includes lessons and games, plus progress certificates. 

TypeKids - With more than 30 interactive lessons woven around a pirate-based storyline, this site encourages students to learn while they also earn badges and coins.

TypeTastic! - One of the best sites for learning how to type through game-based learning, it includes a teacher dashboard for monitoring student progress.

Typing.com - Find a wide range of tutoring resources such as tests, lessons, coding fundamentals, and multilingual applications.

Typing Agent - An amazing site for grades K-12 for learning how to type.  Best of all are the abundance of features that Typing Agent offers users such as a teacher dashboard to track student progress, coding tools, digital citizenship, and more.

Typing Web - A free typing tutor that offers a teacher portal to track students. Also, certificates can be printed following the completion of lessons.

TypingClub - An interactive site with a portal that features instructional videos and typing playback, and also unveils a unique story as the student progresses.

For my Keyboarding/Typing Pinterest board click here.

David Kapuler is an educational consultant with more than 10 years of experience working in the K-12 environment. For more information about his work, contact him at dkapuler@gmail.com and read his blog at cyber-kap.blogspot.com.

From Jessica Richards at TopTenReviews: The world of Mickey Mouse and his friends cleverly disguises some serious, structured instruction in this kids typing software. As Mary Poppins might say, this keyboard application for kids exemplifies how "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down."

Why this matters: Keyboarding skills are a serious business for today's digital learners, with the vast majority of kids having computers either at home or at school, or both. Teaching kids how to type early gives them a head start on digital learning and gives them confidence when using their devices and computers for schoolwork. To learn about Mickey's Typing Adventure's lessons, gameplay, skill building exercises and more, read the full review at toptenreviews.com

Epistory - Typing Chronicles

Practice typing by exploring and defending a world made of paper

Pros: Learn to type faster through timed events that depend on skill and accuracy.

Cons: By design, it's repetitive. Whether the story keeps players engaged enough to reach the end is iffy.

Bottom Line: Great for practicing touch-typing skills, this adventure game draws players in with a slowly revealed backstory.

Read more 

App of the Day picks are selected from the top edtech tools reviewed by Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. 

By Common Sense Education

UltraKey Online will make its debut at the International Society for Technology in Education Conference 2019 in Philadelphia.

UltraKey Online is a media-rich experience using 3D graphic animation, voice-supported instruction and video, all achieved using HTML5 and JavaScript – no installs or plugins. The software has been tested with iPads with keyboards and Chromebooks, during extensive classroom use.

UltraKey Online also provides administration and learning management tools for teachers and central staff, helping to support and monitor the program’s usage across the school district.

Educators who want to evaluate UltraKey Online are invited to acquire a free 1-month subscription for the software, fully enabled for school and district use. For product details, see: https://www.bytesoflearning.com/ultrakey-online

Typing.com now enables schools and districts using Typing.com in multiple classrooms the opportunity to set up a district-wide account, connecting schools and classrooms together and giving administrators access to progress reporting across schools. School and district accounts are free of charge.

Upon setting up a district account in Typing.com, users will have access to the following features:

• Administrator Role―New school and district administrator roles are available, in addition to the teacher role. Administrators can send instant invites to add new educators to the school account, assign roles, and view each of the other educators in the school or district.
• Add Multiple Teachers to a Class―This feature, created in response to users’ popular demand, allows for multiple teachers or administrators to manage individual classes. As a result, co-teachers, specialists and other educators can support the same group of students, and track and assess student progress.
• Custom Lesson Creation for Administrators―Typing.com recently released a new custom lesson creation tool for teachers. This supports cross-curricular learning by enabling teachers to generate original content for students to type, integrate with current events or classic literature, or focus on any other content students need to learn. This feature is now also available to administrators, who can create custom lessons and make them available to all teachers in the school.

Curious if TypingClub is the right typing program for your classroom? This super short video covers price, platforms, grades, and TypingClub's unique lesson customization options to help you decide whether this app is worth your time. For more, make sure to check out the full review on Common Sense Education: https://www.commonsense.org/education/website/typingclub

Type to Learn, a game-based keyboarding curriculum, has partnered with Clever to simplify the login process for students.

Schools using Type to Learn can now have their students connect to Clever’s web-based platform to use Type to Learn’s next-generation software. Cleverprovides a single sign-on for all software used in a school.

[Ultimate Resource Guide for the NEW Google Classroom!]

“Clever supports Type to Learn’s mission because we are dedicated to making the implementation of new technology seamless,” says Haley Garcia, Customer Success Manager at Sunburst Digital. “Saving time and integrating technology are key to our values and we’re happy Clever can make the process even easier.”

QwertyTown 2.0 maintains its keyboarding and digital literacy fundamentals while incorporating a range of new features and upgrades.

QwertyTown is a web-based keyboarding app that teaches typing, digital literacy, and online communication skills through gamification features, social motivation and engaging lessons and challenges.

[TypingMaster Introduces Gamified Keyboarding Curriculum for All Grade Levels]

QwertyTown 2.0 was rebuilt from the ground up in HTML5 making it compatible on any device, including Chromebooks, tablets, PCs and Macs.

In the new feature Head2Head, students face off and test their typing skills in a competitive duel. H2H will also be a free stand alone app offered in the Chrome Store for those students looking for a taste of the QwertyTown 2.0 experience.

For educators, QwertyTown now offers a robust set of progress reports that deliver a wide range of data. Educators can run customizable reports and download them in CSV format.

For a free 30 trial visit: www.qwertytown.com

TypingMaster today introduced TypeTastic School Edition, which includes an entire K-12 keyboarding curriculum, as well as a suite of teacher tools.

The expanded curriculum introduces students to more than 250 new keyboarding activities that cover touch-typing and fluency, numbers, and symbols. Students are taken to an island adventure to collect words and letters in alternating landscapes. Varying exercises are designed to support learning every step of the way, and the original FingerPaths keyboard helps students visualize key locations and finger movements. TypeTastic School Edition also includes all the original games that help younger students to play their way into typing while having fun.

[Free Site Helps Kids Hone Keyboarding Skills]

TypeTastic School Edition will be released in August 2018, with prices starting from $99 a year for a class of 40. A free trial is available through the website, along with a selection of complimentary games to help K–5 students to get familiar with the keyboard.

Typing.com

Clear typing instruction with detailed statistics and fun encouragement

[QwertyTown is the Place for Learning Keyboarding, Digital Citizenship]

Pros: Students get effective, entertaining typing instruction with helpful performance data.

Cons: There's no way to assign custom lessons to students, and the ads are distracting.

Bottom Line: Typing.com is a great go-to for teachers with clear, extensive instruction and practice and easily trackable metrics -- all available for free on the Web.

Site of the Week picks are selected from the top edtech tools reviewed by Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best edtech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly.

Read more here.

By Common Sense Education

Keyboarding or Typing is one the first and most vital skills for students to learn for technology literacy. This skill is the building block for using a computer and one that starts as early KDG if not sooner. Also, this is a nice skill/unit to teach in using "centers or blocks", free time, or even summer school.

David Kapuler is an educational consultant with more than 10 years of experience working in the K-12 environment. For more information about his work, contact him at dkapuler@gmail.com and read his blog at cyber-kap.blogspot.com.

QwertyTown

Fabulous keyboarding lessons entice kids with social rewards

[Encourage Writing and Strengthen Skills with Today's App]

Pros: A thorough keyboarding curriculum, along with social communication and competitive features, keep students' interest.

Cons: The color system makes it difficult to tell when students make a typing mistake, and there's little flexibility for individualized instruction.

Bottom Line: Fun, charming typing lessons get keyboarding students started on the right foot and keep them developing their skills.

Read more here.

App of the Day picks are selected from the top edtech tools reviewed by Common Sense Education, which helps educators find the best ed-tech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly.

By Common Sense Education

qwertytown.com■ Price: prices range from $2-$7 per student depending on district size

Quality and Effectiveness: QwertyTown 2.0, from Second Nature Learning, is an online keyboarding program that allows students to move at their own pace while learning how to type more efficiently and accurately. The lessons are scaffolded and include a demo, guided practice, and independent practice. The independent activities offer students a chance to assess their speed and accuracy. QwertyTown 2.0 covers the home row, the upper row, the lower row, the reach keys, numbers, punctuation, and symbols.

Ease of Use: QwertyTown 2.0 offers lesson starters for educators, helping students understand the importance of learning keyboarding. The wonderful support section includes tutorial videos, student benchmarks, and a teacher guide. Clear explanations show how to customize class and student settings for the teacher dashboard. There’s even a YouTube Channel that offers help on using various components of the program. Directions for each lesson are clear, and students can use audio and visual clues to help them navigate the keyboarding activities.

Creative Use of Technology: Each student creates an avatar for a personal feel. QwertyTown 2.0 uses voice to text when explaining directions, and students can create friend lists and challenge their friends to games. Students can communicate with teachers and peers depending on the settings the district sets. The Head 2 Head game lets students challenge a classmate or other user to a typing duel. Students can earn coins to be spent in the avatar store and tokens that can be used while playing Head 2 Head.

Suitability for Use in a School Environment: QwertyTown 2.0 meets a district’s elementary and middle school needs for helping students become more comfortable with keyboarding skills. The online application provides differentiated instruction and teacher-friendly controls. QwertyTown 2.0 also allows students to practice digital citizenship skills while communicating with other users. QwertyTown 2.0 offers robust student reporting features and uses Clever for automated roster management.

OVERALL RATING:

QwertyTown 2.0 is an excellent way for students to learn keyboarding and communication skills. It is user-friendly for both students and teachers.

TOP FEATURES

● Lessons are scaffolded to meet the needs of individual learners.

● Students learn valuable keyboarding skills in a fun and engaging way.

● Teachers and administration can easily track student progress with a convenient, easy-to-use dashboard.