At grade-level meetings from 02-01-06 to 03-22-06, besides collecting info from K-6 teachers on the obstacles that interfere with using technology effectively
in their classrooms, I've also been asking them for their thoughts on teaching keyboarding. Seventy-three out of seventy-five respondents answered "yes" to the question, "Do you think K-6 students should have formal keyboarding instruction?" The follow-up question, "If so, at what grade level should it be taught?" elicited varying types of responses. Some teachers identified specific grades (e.g. "grade 4), while others suggested ranges (e.g. "grade 2 - 4). Some simply said, "ASAP." When I considered the results, I counted each grade in a range as a "vote" for that grade. The three examples cited here would thus have been tallied as one vote for ASAP, one vote for grade 2, one for grade 3, and two votes for grade 4. The resulting graph is, I think, a fairly accurate representation of the range of opinion.
Teachers were also given the opportunity to comment generally on teaching keyboarding. In the following remarks,
text appearing in [brackets] was inserted to enhance readability -
otherwise, the words are the teachers' own.
“Students should begin keyboarding instruction by at least second grade.”
“Start it by grade two. If we expect handwriting and letter recognition, we can start keyboarding skills. Even if they aren’t physically able [to do true “touch typing”], keyboard knowledge, set up, etc, could be addressed.”
“I think there needs to be access to [typing] programs that students can work at their own level, e.g. Mavis Beacon. [Formal keyboarding should be taught] as soon as possible. Why start with bad habits? However, it isn’t high on the list for elementary students. Luckily, there’s still a semester at SAHS.”
“[Keyboarding should be taught] as soon as they’re able to type on [a] computer. Learning early about fingering will be easier before they build up a typing technique and then be asked to change in fifth grade or whenever.”
“Yes, [K-6 students should have formal keyboarding instruction] but we need a longer school day.”
“We’ve been teaching twelve lessons (the alphabet, two letters at a time) in grade five. Could be continued - should start in grade three or four.”
“I don’t know at what grade, but I think it should be taught by a trained professional - not every teacher has that skill. The old method, in my opinion, is no good (Dreamwriters).”
“[Keyboarding should be taught] as young as possible, but I still think there should be a special of ‘computer’.”
“No, it is too early for kids to leave writing mechanics focus.”
“I think it is very important, but not until grade six. I think we need to focus on developing writing skills (printing & cursive). Computers can still be integrated for subject areas. Developmentally speaking, are keyboarding skills a practical use of [K-6] student time? Has anyone connected physiological growth & brain development (brain-based studies) with what we’re asking kids to do?”
“[Keyboarding should be taught] early on - by fourth grade if they are using it in ways that would be beneficial for them…”
“Grade three home row, grade four [the] row above, grade five [the] row below, grade six the rest.”
“Basic hand position or asdfjkl; [should be taught at] third or fourth, full keyboarding at fifth.”
“[Keyboarding should not be taught] in third grade. I think fingers [and] small motor skills [are] still developing.”
“Yes, early enough so they don’t develop bad habits (hunt & peck). Previously the keyboarding was [taught] at fourth grade with a sing-song based program. By then this was too late for old habits.”
“Not sure. My daughter was in the first class that had the seventh grade laptops and is just doing keyboarding now as a tenth grader. I think it might have been easier for her if she had it before then. I wonder if they are really ready for formal keyboarding before then.”
“Before seventh grade — maybe third up.”
“Perhaps at every grade level if given appropriate appropriate software at each grade level.”
“With laptops in junior high, students should have training then if not sooner. [Keyboarding should be taught] at [grade] five or six, if this works well with them. Not as early as second grade.”
“As soon as students are expected to use the computer for word processing.”
“Wouldn’t hurt — but who’s going to teach it? I would need to be taught first.”
“Definitely [in] fourth grade they should be taught keyboarding. Their fingers are bigger, longer to stretch, etc. They should have some basic intro.”
“Studies have shown that formal training for keyboarding shouldn’t start before a child is seven.”
“K-3 [only] need to make a computer a friend!”
“As soon as children are physically able to reach the needed keys.”
“I think by third grade the motor skills are developed enough, as well as visual tracking. I wouldn’t go earlier.”
“[At the] K level [students should have an] introduction to [the] keyboard [and] use [it] for word processing to gain beginning skills.”