Successful Keyboarding Instruction Is Your Initiative a False Start? - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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?

• 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

Why is Keyboarding Important?

A successful keyboarding initiative begins by first recognizing that keyboarding skills aren’t

taught.

They are

developed.

KNOWLEDGE

• Information or awareness
• Gained through education or experience
• Includes facts, concepts, theories
• Acquired fairly quickly

Knowledge vs Skills

SKILLS

• Abilities to perform tasks well
• Developed through experience and

practice/repetition

• Includes both mental and physical tasks
• 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!

• Gathering information
• Basic understanding
• Actively thinking
• Large gains BUT

inconsistent performance

Cognitive (verbal-motor stage)

• Putting actions together
• Internalizing basic technique
• Conscious effort
• Recognize and feel errors
• Small gains and disjointed

performance

Associative (motor stage)

• After much practice
• Unconscious smooth

performance

• Few errors and great speed
• VERY difficult to FIX errors

Autonomous (automatic stage)

Stages of Motor Skill Learning

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?

“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

Leigh E. Zeitz, Ph.D.

University of Northern Iowa

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?

• Efficiency
• Focus
• Health – better posture
• Improved employability
• Improved communication and writing skills

Direct benefits of keyboarding instruction

• More enthusiasm in learning the skill
• Greater progress in spelling
• Increased reading comprehension
• Increased vocabulary
• Improvements in self-esteem and efficacy

Other benefits include

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

The Goals

• Reduce negative impact of sustained use
• f technology
• Produce better results with proper form

and technique

Ergonomics and Good Technique

Why do we focus so much on accuracy in the beginning?

• 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

Emphasize accuracy over speed

Remember…

If students are making too many mistakes, they need to slow down!

SPEED won’t improve your ACCURACY, but ACCURACY will improve your SPEED

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

SPECIFIC: Students work towards specific goals MEASUREABLE: Each grade has different goals to be measured ACHIEVABLE: Students must be able to attain these goals REALISTIC: Students must be able to attain them TIME-BASED: Establish a time period. During the process,

evaluate and make adjustments as necessary.

• 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 Grades K-2

• 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 Upper Elementary

• 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

Common goals and expectations Middle School

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

• Words Per Minute (WPM)
• Programs with built-in evaluation features
• Allow students to track their progress
• Never forget proper form and technique

How do you know if student are meeting the goals?

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?

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