Internet-based typing software - TypeRacer

I've been totally addicted to TypeRacer (the online head-to-head competitive typing game - check it out at typeracer.com) for a couple of years, but I have always been wondering how to use it in a classroom. I think it's one of the only ways for students to get actually excited about typing - since it plays on their competitiveness with each other. But I'm not so sure I want my students racing strangers on the internet, or not having control over what they type.

But I just heard that TypeRacer is now offering a School Edition of their service...

http://data.typeracer.com/admin/schools?af=xs5ym

Has anyone here tried it? Do you think it works well in the classroom? I'd love to give it a shot...

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Permalink Reply by Vicky S on August 4, 2010 at 6:21pm

Oh wow, I'll need to check out the school edition. I have used this in the classroom by creating a private room & giving students that URL - they only race other students in their class then. My only problem with it has been the PG-13 language in some of what they've had to type.

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Permalink Reply by Tore Olsson on August 5, 2010 at 1:19pm

yep - with the School Edition you can select any texts you want, and even create your own...

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Permalink Reply by Vicky S on August 5, 2010 at 8:27pm

Only problem is I have no budget & I teach in a computer lab. We're a small school but I have probably 75 kids that I would want to use this with if I could control the text. Without a budget it's out of my price range this year.