The “Keyboarding Without Tears” program will soon be available to Rochester Memorial School students. Despite the gloomy title, administrators are optimistic it will boost student confidence and scores before they take a brand new standardized test.

“It’s a little bit of a maudlin name and it doesn’t need to be,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elsie Frangos. “Because there are no tears.”

Students in grades three, four and five in district elementary schools will start using the online program next week. The school’s license for “Keyboarding Without Tears” lasts for one year. Frangos purchased the program using grant money.

Each child will receive a username and password. Lessons will be given to whole classes, on an individual basis and students have the option of logging on from home, too.

Speaking at the Rochester Memorial School Committee’s Thursday meeting, Frangos noted the program uses games and themes to build a foundation of skills needed to navigate touch screens efficiently.

“It’s a great way to build digital fluency, similar to how students used to benefit from typing classes of yesteryear,” Frangos said.

Later this year, students will take the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College Careers (PARCC) test, which replaces the soon-to-be obsolete MCAS test. Test subjects are aligned with the recently adopted Common Core curriculum.

As opposed to the MCAS’s paper and pencil approach, PARCC tests will be administered online.

“I think it will be a really nifty tool,” Frangos said of “Keyboarding Without Tears.”

When the program’s license expires, administrators will evaluate the program and decided whether or not to offer it again.

“We’re excited about that possibility,” she said.