Summary

Our curiosity and desire to address four recurring questions led us on a journey of learning.  We found a wealth of knowledge in historical documents and combined with our own experiences:

• We developed a new character sequence based on the QSO protocol, which allows us to tightly integrate QSO abbreviations and protocol into the curriculum.
• We developed a new Beginners Carousel curriculum to address the issue of class resets. Students begin whenever they wish and progress when they feel ready.
• We adopted the best of The Koch Method to introduce characters as single acoustic sounds.
• We slowed character speed down consistent with Koch’s recommendations and our mantra of preparing students to get on the air.
• We compiled our club’s most effective practices for increasing CW proficiency and incorporated them in every Beginners Carousel lesson.
• We developed a web-based, cross-platform training tool that functions on any PC, Mac, tablet, or smart phone – The LICW Practice Page.