Several years ago I had the privilege to teach a high school keyboarding class in a private school in Kansas. What I discovered was truly amazing. I had one particular student from Pakistan that was already proficient in keyboarding before the course began. When I questioned him on his ability, he explained that in his country that keyboarding was taught in 3rd grade! 3rd grade!!!
So that brings me to this question, when is the appropriate age to teach keyboarding? Children are now using computers at toddler ages. So, if they aren't taught, they will teach themselves. These self-taught methods are inevitably a hunt and peck method. Can we then adequately unteach these poor habits and reteach proper keyboarding techniques for speed and accuracy? Is this a problem?
Having reviewed 3 of the available freeware online sites, I may have stumbled across some important games to put before children.
1. Keyhero.com is a site for older children/adult who already have keyboarding skills. It tests for speed and accuracy and then flags areas for improvement and posts high scores.
2. Learntotype.com requires an account sign-up to begin, but waives this requirement for K-2. However, within this kids version, keyboardingtyping skills are not taught only mouse, arrow key and letter search and find skills tested.
3. Freeonlinetypinggames.com was the gem mining find of the night. This site has a specific kids secion that offer some great graphic and sound enhanced games, but most importantly this site offered a tutoring link. This link specifically teaching hand placement and keyboarding lessons. One note of caution, the script font used in the typing tone music game made it hard to tell which letters were which.
So that brings me to this question, when is the appropriate age to teach keyboarding? Children are now using computers at toddler ages. So, if they aren't taught, they will teach themselves. These self-taught methods are inevitably a hunt and peck method. Can we then adequately unteach these poor habits and reteach proper keyboarding techniques for speed and accuracy? Is this a problem?
Having reviewed 3 of the available freeware online sites, I may have stumbled across some important games to put before children.
1. Keyhero.com is a site for older children/adult who already have keyboarding skills. It tests for speed and accuracy and then flags areas for improvement and posts high scores.
2. Learntotype.com requires an account sign-up to begin, but waives this requirement for K-2. However, within this kids version, keyboardingtyping skills are not taught only mouse, arrow key and letter search and find skills tested.
3. Freeonlinetypinggames.com was the gem mining find of the night. This site has a specific kids secion that offer some great graphic and sound enhanced games, but most importantly this site offered a tutoring link. This link specifically teaching hand placement and keyboarding lessons. One note of caution, the script font used in the typing tone music game made it hard to tell which letters were which.
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