Successful Keyboarding Instruction Is Your Initiative a False Start? Are You Prepared to Go the Distance? Marie Imbault and Kevin Rezac
Who knows how to touch type?
Why is Keyboarding Important? Most universally used means of communication • Built into almost every type of technology • Essential in most work environments • Required in high school and college/university • Used every day for coding •
A successful keyboarding initiative begins by first recognizing that keyboarding skills aren’t taught. They are developed.
Knowledge vs Skills KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Information or awareness Abilities to perform tasks well • • Gained through education or experience Developed through experience and • • practice/repetition Includes facts, concepts, theories Includes both mental and physical tasks • • Acquired fairly quickly Acquired over a long period of time • •
Knowledge vs Skills
Motor Skill and Muscle Memory Keyboarding has more in common with learning to play a musical instrument, dancing and shooting hoops!
Stages of Motor Skill Learning Associative •Gathering information •After much practice (motor stage) •Basic understanding •Unconscious smooth performance •Actively thinking •Putting actions together •Few errors and great speed •Large gains BUT •Internalizing basic technique inconsistent performance •VERY difficult to FIX errors •Conscious effort •Recognize and feel errors Cognitive Autonomous •Small gains and disjointed (verbal-motor stage) (automatic stage) performance Fitts and Posner Stages of Motor Skill Learning
Keyboarding: a coaching model • Access to the proper EQUIPMENT • Age-appropriate INSTRUCTION • Model proper TECHNIQUE • Attention to FORM above all else • Focus on ACCURACY (speed and automation will come) PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
When do YOU think keyboarding instruction should begin?
When to start: different beliefs Never: It’s not needed anymore • (9-12): Computer/tech/keyboarding course • (6-8): Formal keyboarding course • (3-5): Formal or semi-formal instruction • (K-2): Pre-keyboarding/familiarity •
TEKS for Technology Applications Grades K-2: Technology operations and concepts use a variety of input, output, and storage devices • use proper keyboarding techniques such as ergonomically • correct hand and body positions appropriate for Kindergarten- Grade 2 learning demonstrate keyboarding techniques for operating the • alphabetic, numeric, punctuation, and symbol keys appropriate for Kindergarten-Grade 2 learning
TEKS for Technology Applications Grades 3-5: Technology operations and concepts • use proper touch keyboarding techniques and ergonomic strategies such as correct hand and body positions and smooth and rhythmic keystrokes
TEKS for Technology Applications Grades 6-8: Technology operations and concepts • use keyboarding techniques and ergonomic strategies while building speed and accuracy
TEKS for Technology Applications Grades 9-12: Technology operations and concepts
What’s the rationale for starting keyboarding instruction in elementary school?
Leigh E. Zeitz, Ph.D. University of Northern Iowa “Keyboarding is an essential skill. Even during preschool years, children use computers and must be guided towards efficient keyboarding habits. Appropriate placement of keyboarding instruction in the elementary curriculum and reinforcement throughout their school years can provide the necessary foundation for the rest of our students’ lives.” A New Look @ Research-Based Keyboarding Instruction June 2008
Why we start in elementary school • Prepare students for computerized testing • Decrease achievement gaps • Ensure proper muscle memory is attained • Provide more opportunities to practice, practice, practice PROPER technique • Adhere to state curriculum standards
TEKS for Technology Applications “Because of student mobility, Texas has adopted curriculum standards that are to be used in all the state’s public schools.” Texas Education Association website – Curriculum Standards
Elementary Instruction Grades K-2: Pre-Keyboarding IF you begin… Students have some sight words • Students must use correct size equipment • Focus on… Ergonomics • Keyboard familiarization • Using multiple fingers • Learning left from right •
Elementary Instruction Grades 3-4: Formal Instruction Student have • Grown into regular size keyboard • Developed fine motor skills • Become more literate • Have the attention span
What benefits are there to keyboarding instruction?
Direct benefits of keyboarding instruction • Efficiency • Focus • Health – better posture • Improved employability • Improved communication and writing skills
Other benefits include • More enthusiasm in learning the skill • Greater progress in spelling • Increased reading comprehension • Increased vocabulary • Improvements in self-esteem and efficacy
Why do we focus so much on posture and ergonomics when developing keyboarding skills?
Risks of Poor Ergonomics “Poor typing posture can cause pain and other symptoms in your back, neck and shoulders, hands and wrists, eyes.” School Ergonomics Program Guidelines, Risks of Keyboarding Cornell University Ergonomics Web Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: $30,000 in health costs and lost worker productivity US Department of Labor OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Ergonomics and Good Technique
Ergonomics and Good Technique For elementary school students • Don’t look at the keyboard • Align eyes with top of screen • Follow the Staircase Rule • Use proper lighting
Ergonomics and Good Technique For middle school students • Follow rules from elementary school • Proper mouse position • Proper wrist position • Proper neck position • Proper copyholder position • Take breaks
Ergonomics and Good Technique Proper finger placement = more efficient typing Using all fingers = more productivity
Ergonomics and Good Technique The Goals • Reduce negative impact of sustained use of technology • Produce better results with proper form and technique
Why do we focus so much on accuracy in the beginning?
Emphasize accuracy over speed • Mistakes subtract from your total speed • Repetitive actions become internalized • Train your fingers and brain to work automatically • Speed will come with practice and time
Remember… S PEED won’t improve your A CCURACY , but A CCURACY will improve your S PEED If students are making too many mistakes, they need to slow down!
Accuracy Fuels Your Speed
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE PRACTICE proper ergonomics • PRACTICE proper technique • PRACTICE accuracy • PRACTICE words and sentences • PRACTICE at school and at home • TRAIN your fingers, body and your mind • PRACTICE until you can do it without thought •
Do you set specific goals and expectations for your students? And, do you evaluate them?
SMART Goals S PECIFIC : Students work towards specific goals M EASUREABLE : Each grade has different goals to be measured A CHIEVABLE : Students must be able to attain these goals R EALISTIC : Students must be able to attain them T IME-BASED : Establish a time period. During the process, evaluate and make adjustments as necessary.
Common goals and expectations Grades K-2 • Accuracy threshold: 90% • Speed threshold: 2 to 10 wpm • School: 1-3 sessions / 20-30 minutes • Home: 5 minutes daily GOALS: Familiarity with the keyboard and developing individual left and right hand skills
Common goals and expectations Upper Elementary • Accuracy threshold: 90% • Speed threshold: 15 to 25wpm • School: 1-3 sessions / 20-30 minutes • Home: 5 minutes daily GOAL: Develop basic typing skills
Common goals and expectations Middle School • Accuracy threshold: 90% • Speed threshold: 30 to 40 wpm • School: 1-3 sessions / 20-30 minutes • Home: 10 minutes daily GOAL: Develop intermediate formal typing skills
Dealing with discouragement • Lower speed expectations • Focus on technique • Explain how the brain and muscles learn • Allow them to move on and redo later • NEVER lower accuracy expectations
Evaluation How do you know if student are meeting the goals? • Words Per Minute (WPM) • Programs with built-in evaluation features • Allow students to track their progress • Never forget proper form and technique
A few additional thoughts… When students have access to a keyboard • Build in mini warm-up activities • Review posture and ergonomics • Monitor and correct form and technique • Encourage students to practice at home
What should you look for in a good keyboarding program?
Keyboarding programs features • Ad free • Customizable grading • Customizable goals • Engaging educational games • Age-appropriate learning environment • Easy home login
Thank You! Questions or Comments? Stop by Booth 1816 for our free poster and glasses Access resources and articles mentioned in this presentation.
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