In approximately 50-60 hours (a good quarter or semester course), beginners can reach speeds of 25-35+ WPM and also attain accepted accuracy standards of one (1) error per minute of timed writing. Timing drills range from 15-second to 5-minute and allow more reinforcement to maintain the skills learned.

There are over 560 timed drills that are automatically scored and recorded when the student meets the standards set by the instructor (the instructor set his/her own grading and accuracy standards. Every lesson contains timed drills and students are encouraged to meet the standards applied by the instructor beginning right with Lesson 1.

The course is divided into four sections. Each section can be applied separately or all encompassing.

1. Lessons 1-11 (Learning Keyboard) contain 15-second, 30-second, and 1-minute timings. The purpose of short timings in the beginning is to train the fingers and the mind to work together at a rapid rate.
2. Lessons 12-24 (Achieving Mastery) reinforce all key reaches and include longer timings: 15-second, 30-second, and 1-3 minute timings.
3. Lessons 25-33 (Numbers & Symbols) include 15-second, 30-second, and 1-3 minute timings inclusive of alphabetic and number/symbol keys.
4. Optional Timings contain additional timings ranging from 3-5 minutes that allow for more practice of advanced content of a longer timing length. Each timing is a short educational story (e.g. "The discovery of Penicillin", "Who was Benedict Arnold", etc).

Standards can be individualized to each type of student so that each student is challenged: the special needs, beginning students, and experienced students can all be graded differently by applying different appropriate for each student type. In additional to individualizing goals, accuracy standards, minimum speeds, etc., the number of lessons can also be individualized. For example, special needs students might be assigned only lesson 1-11; beginners might be assigned lessons 1-24, while experienced students might begin at lesson 12 (skipping the learning key reaches section). Instructors may also choose to omit lessons 25-33 which cover numbers and symbols.

For experienced typists, use the 3-minute Course Entry timing. If a student already can type 40 WPM, apply a higher grading scale of 50 WPM as the goal for each timed drill in each lesson. When the course is finished, the Course Exit timing should be taken. The Course Entry score, Course Exit score, and Improvement score will show on the Final Grade Report. There is much to be gained by going over the basics again at a high rate of speed (goal) each time.

Is there any document processing or formatting included (letters, memos, tables, reports, etc.)? Yes, and it is free! Nuts 'n' Bolts Formatting is an eBook that is available to all EPC customers. Most keyboarding textbooks are expensive, thick, quickly outdated textbooks with more formatting than can be used, and the instructions change everytime the office software changes (usually every 3 years). This leaves instructors with expensive keyboarding books with outdated instructions. EPC releases this eBook in PDF format and keeps up with the version changes at no charge. It makes perfect sense. Instructors can downlaod the sections they wish to cover, use a copy center to run off a classroom set--free! EPC also provides its eBooks at a minimal charge if you desire to purchase a bound, pre-printed copy.

Does your keyboarding course require an "exposure" to the Ten Key pad? You can have the "exposure" free by requesting that we add the Ten Key Mastery course to your other courses on your online account. The Ten Key Mastery course will run in a 'demo' mode with only limited lessons available, but usually enough to satisfy an "exposure" requirement.