Re: Elementary Keyboarding
Becky Bartlett (bartlettb@rs6000.verona.k12.wi.us)
Thu, 25 Jul 1996 17:49:13 EDT
As a business educator turned computer coordinator, I have been teaching
students to "touch type" for 9 years. I believe that third grade is an
excellent level to start students on the keyboard. They have the manual
dexterity and are eager to learn how to use computers (I've heard of first
graders starting keyboarding but think that is pretty early). Daily
sessions are very important. Remember that touch typing is really a basic
skill. It involves training that brain and fingers to coordinate things
together (like riding a bicycle or doing a layup in basketball). For
younger students, 20-30 minute sessions are fine. Be sure to change
activities frequently. Don't just give them a typing program or lines to
practice--how boring. When starting students on the keyboarding, there are
two important factors. Daily time on the keyboard and good typing
technique! If both of these are consistent, accuracy and speed will
develop. Students can work up to 15-25 words per minute within six weeks.
At 02:37 PM 7/23/96 EDT, you wrote:
>Steve Schnyders <sschnyd@remc7.k12.mi.us> wrote:
>> I will be teaching keyboarding to 4th and 5th graders in a lab
>> setting. We will have a combination of LCII's and LCIII's with very
>> few CD ROM Drives. I am looking for good keyboarding software for this
>> age level.
Jo Ann Lynn <jalynn@magibox.net> replied:
>At our school we are considering keyboard instruction for our lower
>grades. I'd appreciate some feedback regarding number of class meetings
>per week, length of class, beginning age, and results (do they learn to
>type by touch? what speed is your goal? etc). I'm new to the list and
>in a newly created position at my school. As a rookie tech.
>coordinator, I hope to learn a lot from your collective experience. TIA
Becky Bartlett :-)
bartlettb@verona.k12.wi.us
Distance Learning Coordinator
Verona Area School District
700 N. Main Street
Verona, WI 53593