Why motivation plays such a big role
Learning to touch type does not happen in a week. To train muscle memory, children need to practise 10 to 15 minutes every day for about 20 weeks. That is a long stretch. A marathon. We cannot expect children to keep that up with dry exercises and rows of letter combinations. Children are easily distracted. And if they do not enjoy what they are doing, they drop out. Motivation is therefore more than a nice bonus. It is exactly the nudge that helps children complete the whole course successfully.
We took our inspiration from video games, popular Netflix series and other forms of entertainment that keep children hooked. What makes them want to play just one more level? Or quickly watch that next episode? We built those elements into our typing course. Some call it gamification, but for us it is above all this: we combine learning with fun, so children look forward to carrying on every day.
What does that look like?
✅ An exciting spy story that runs through the whole course
✅ Missions children genuinely want to complete
✅ Characters such as Mr. I and Miss J who take them along on the adventure
✅ Typing games that reward their progress
✅ Exciting assignments that keep things varied
Motivation makes the difference
At Scholengroep 13 they did not simply want to take our word for it that TypeMission works. The headteacher did not just hand the course to her pupils, but decided to try it herself first. She told us she was super enthusiastic.
We see that experience often. As soon as children lose themselves in the story, as soon as they want to finish missions and are curious about what comes next, they keep practising. That creates rhythm, muscle memory and ultimately a typing diploma they earn with pride and pleasure.
Why motivation always remains the key
Motivation is not just a nice word. It really is the factor that makes children want to carry on. Thanks to that motivation, we have taught more than 100,000 children in the Netherlands to touch type over the past 12 years. Not because they had to.
But because they wanted to. And that is exactly the approach we use in Flanders too. Because every child can learn to touch type, as long as they feel motivated to persevere. And that is precisely where we at TypeMission put all our attention.