I was walking around our schools technology-lab watching my students work diligently on the computers. While checking each station, I saw a peculiar thing. Many of my kids had their hands in a ball with one finger sticking out on the keyboard. With this ”finger” they were pushing the keyboard buttons, one letter at a time. Of course, I am referring to the “Hunt n peck” syndrome. It’s a phenomenon. ;)
Most of my 13 year olds are not skilled at typing. You would think with technology being so popular, kids and adults would know how to type. A lot don’t!
I remember back in the late 80s… being a Hunt n peck myself, the frustration of not being able to find the “w” on a keyboard drove me to take a typing class at my ole’ high school. The school offered an adult-ed. class in typing for a low cost. Taking that course saved my life. Well, that is a bit dramatic. Let me express it helped fix my typing frustrations. I can now find the “w.”
It is odd typing is not a common skill learned in school. Typing is still considered an “elective course” at the secondary levels. Learning how to type should be mandatory with today’s “techie” market. Don’t ya think?
Here are two links that can help you learn how to type online:
- This site offers a typing test, online tutorials, and can lead to full typing certification: http://www.learn2type.com/.
- For a beginning typist, this site has tutorials, download typing software, and speed tests: http://www.topsy.org/keyboarding.html
Thought ~
Make typing fun. Practice typing topics you enjoy such as your favorite recipes or poems.
October 13, 2007 at UTC3510UTC p20070031UTC13:
If we are truly considering technological fluency as a necessary skill than typing and other basic computing behavior should be a mandatory skill. Yet… we do have to be careful at what level coursework is mandated.
Will your kids need to take a full course in typing? Or will you teach this at home along with the use of birth control and how to cook?
October 13, 2007 at UTC4110UTC p20072431UTC13:
I want to be able to provide the education that I am capable of providing and allow our educated specialists to instruct in coursework I will not be capable of providing. Ex: I can teach my kids how to balance their checkbook and do laundry, I cannot teach them Math Analysis or AP Calculus. This is where the mandate of coursework becomes a burden, students only have so many hours in the day. I feel similarly with PE. Why are students who participate in 4 or 5 varsity sports still made to take physical education during the school day at some schools? Talk about waste of time!!!
And I digress…
October 13, 2007 at UTC4810UTC p20071431UTC13:
Great links. I’ll get my cousin caught up with the 21st century. Thanks.
I agree wholeheartedly that typing should be a mandatory skill taught in schools. You could possible put two together, a typing and texting class. Then again the students might be able to teach me more about texting than I could teach them.
October 13, 2007 at UTC5110UTC p20074831UTC13:
Thanks for the comments. Yes, I agree with your perpectives. Typing should be mandated; but the second you do that, PE instructors will jump to say PE classes can reduce obesity problems, and improve health… which can be true. It is a difficult call. I do think learning to type leads to better academic and occupational careers. It is an essential skill.
October 13, 2007 at UTC3610UTC p20072831UTC13:
Paul
I agree with your comments and where I teach all students (preferably 9th or 10th grade) take a computer class where they have the opportunity to learn the keyboard or to improve their keying skills. Students learn valuable computer skills that help them throughout their high school years. Some students never learn to key using proper technique because they do not have the discipline, but at least they learn computer skills they can use in high school and beyond. Some students choose to test out of the class.
October 13, 2007 at UTC1810UTC p20072531UTC13:
Totally my case! I remember being taught and it never quite stuck, I think I’m an odd case because I use 6 fingers! It’s always frustrating because it takes while t retrain your motor skills (by the way this happens in the spinal cord believe it or not!).
Thanks for the links, I’m going to give it a shot maybe I;m not too late. I strongly agree it’s a huge plus to learn it well at an early age and it would make your life easier.
October 14, 2007 at UTC3110UTC p20071731UTC14:
This is SO interesting…I agree. My school has a typing program to help students with typing, but it isn’t mandated. I would agree that computer/typing course should be mandated for elementary school students, so they have the skill before middle school. Hopefully someday, people will start to realize the benefits of it or realize that students need this skill.
October 14, 2007 at UTC1410UTC p20074431UTC14:
It is a required class in Lawrence, kansas. the kids can “test out” if they can type fast enough. Every kid by 8th grade has to have it. Although, in high school. I got a D- in typing so I’m not a big fan of the class.
October 15, 2007 at UTC3810UTC p20072631UTC15:
Hey, thank everyone for the great comments. I do think that typing should be mandated. This way it would force students to develop essential skills with the computer. A lot of classes teach software uage, but forget that many students can’t type fast enough because they don’t know how. Later, when they get into college or a job, this skill will be vital. For example, many tests are essay timed on the computer. I will hope for the best.
October 15, 2007 at UTC4010UTC p20070531UTC15:
Interesting point. I think it really makes sense to mandate keyboarding from a young age. Our world is obviously going towards the computer and there will be no going back.. Providing all children with this skill early on will only make it easier to effectively include applications that require typing in the classroom and will provide young people with a skill they will no doubt use for the rest of their lives.
October 16, 2007 at UTC3610UTC p20074131UTC16:
It’s just like anything. If you don’t learn how to do it correct from the very beginning it will be harder to change down the road. I actually never took typing in school…however, I had a mom who taught me the proper fingers so even though I was very slow I used the correct fingers. I type a lot faster now, probably because I have to type so much. It is an invaluable skill that will benefit kids if they know how to do it correctly.
November 21, 2007 at UTC2811UTC p20072530UTC21:
I just found your blog today, and I’m glad to see you are writing on this issue. It has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time.
When I was in junior high, typing was a required course for all seventh-graders. Even though in one semester our typing speeds were minimal (25 wpm average), I took one semester in high school (elective) which later enabled me to get a job a s a receptionist and have a skill to support myself. I later went back to school and got a college degree while working as a secretary during the day (with a college level typing course under my belt). I type 70 wpm and it has been perhaps the skill which has helped me most in every area of my life. I’m a teacher, as well as a prolific writer. If I couldn’t touch type, and quickly, I’d be far less successful. It’s a life skill right up there with addition, subtraction, and multiplication.
When I moved to the Middle East, I was suddenly confronted with keyboards in different formations of letters. I had to reteach myself to type on a differently-arranged keyboard (it took several months). French and German keyboards both have different arrangements than English keyboards, as well as different from each other. I am also confronted with Arabic keyboards which have a different arrangement (and western letters also marked on the keys, but neither in a French, nor English arrangement).
Eileen
Dedicated Elementary Teacher Overseas (in the Middle East)
elementaryteacher.wordpress.com
December 6, 2007 at UTC4512UTC p20071231UTC06:
Wow Eileen… You have skills! I am impressed at the many languages and speed in which you type. It is such an important skill to have with technology being required in just about every career field. I am glad you support my ideas for the need of typing to be a mandatory course learned at the secondary levels. Without it, many of our kids will enter todays market and will not be ready for many jobs that require typing skills. As you know many entry level college exams (essay portions) are typed and timed. Learning how to type well is so important.
PS_ Oh, I am not the fastest typist. Maybe 40 wpm if I am lucky. lol
December 15, 2007 at UTC1212UTC p20071531UTC15:
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce
July 25, 2008 at UTC5407UTC p20083831UTC25:
I remember how I hated taking typing class in high school. However, looking back, I have to say its been one of the most beneficial classes and skills I picked up during that time. It teaches an invaluable skill necessary in today’s workforce. This hasn’t been mentioned, but the typing class I took also taught us proper formating guidelines when it comes to letters (business vs personal), envelopes, resumes, etc. While we were honing our typing skills we were also learning how to format letters, resumes, and other documents that people use on a daily basis.
December 3, 2008 at UTC4712UTC p20085331UTC03:
I agree with Nunya Beezniss. Taking computer skills IS stupid!!! IT SHOULD BE BANNED!!!!!!!!!!!!! X(
December 3, 2008 at UTC4812UTC p20083931UTC03:
Bloo is AWESOME! I am in computer skills right now…SHHH!