In Grades 5 and 6, students begin each Technology class on a typing program for about ten to fifteen minutes. Some students love it, others hate it. Some call it a waste of time, and I'm not just talking about students, here. Some parents and teachers alike feel that in today's age of using devices like tablets and smartphones, keyboarding skills are not only outdated, they are unnecessary. Some schools, even, have gone so far as to eliminate touch-typing/keyboarding in the curriculum because "...the kids already know how to type." (Trubek, 2011)
I would argue the opposite - that not only are keyboarding skills useful, they are absolutely necessary in our ever-changing digital world. Demands on our students to use computers for wonderful assignments posted in Schoology, Khan Academy, WordSmith, online math textbooks, and Google Drive are increasing. My tutorials (study halls) are filled with students typing their latest assignments for writing class, writing book reviews and summarizing current events. They do not know how to type efficiently and quickly, and this hampers their progress and productivity.
Typing correctly and ergonomically also prevent a number of maladies associated with prolonged time spent in front of a computer. Carpal tunnel syndrome, bulging/herniated discs, sore necks and backs can be alleviated by learning proper positioning, posture and habits.
I am not a proponent of Common Core Standards for myriad reasons, however I was pleased to see so productivity tools and multimedia elements included in the ELA Standards. [Aside: I do believe it's extreme to expect grade 6 students to be able to type three single-spaced pages in one session.] If students are going to find success as creators of and contributors to digital media, our responsibility as educators is to scaffold these experiences and make sure they are prepared to take them on, not be impeded by a technicality such as locating the appropriate keys on the keyboard.
For more information, click the links below.
Resources:
Grade 5 Typing Program
Grade 6 Typing Program
Common Core ELA Technology Skills Summary
Trubek, Anne. "Out of Touch with Typing | MIT Technology Review." MIT Technology Review. N.p., Aug. 2011. Web. 11 Sept. 2014.
"Teaching Keyboarding: More Than Just Typing." Education World:. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2014.
I would argue the opposite - that not only are keyboarding skills useful, they are absolutely necessary in our ever-changing digital world. Demands on our students to use computers for wonderful assignments posted in Schoology, Khan Academy, WordSmith, online math textbooks, and Google Drive are increasing. My tutorials (study halls) are filled with students typing their latest assignments for writing class, writing book reviews and summarizing current events. They do not know how to type efficiently and quickly, and this hampers their progress and productivity.
Typing correctly and ergonomically also prevent a number of maladies associated with prolonged time spent in front of a computer. Carpal tunnel syndrome, bulging/herniated discs, sore necks and backs can be alleviated by learning proper positioning, posture and habits.
I am not a proponent of Common Core Standards for myriad reasons, however I was pleased to see so productivity tools and multimedia elements included in the ELA Standards. [Aside: I do believe it's extreme to expect grade 6 students to be able to type three single-spaced pages in one session.] If students are going to find success as creators of and contributors to digital media, our responsibility as educators is to scaffold these experiences and make sure they are prepared to take them on, not be impeded by a technicality such as locating the appropriate keys on the keyboard.
For more information, click the links below.
Resources:
Grade 5 Typing Program
Grade 6 Typing Program
Common Core ELA Technology Skills Summary
Trubek, Anne. "Out of Touch with Typing | MIT Technology Review." MIT Technology Review. N.p., Aug. 2011. Web. 11 Sept. 2014.
"Teaching Keyboarding: More Than Just Typing." Education World:. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2014.