![]() ![]() Students are placed in skill-appropriate lessons and given individualized goals and remediation based upon initial pretests and formative testing as they progress through the program. Technique and ergonomics are addressed from the beginning and reinforced throughout the curriculum. It is designed to guide the student and support the classroom teacher through the keyboarding skill development process. Sunburst Digital’s Type to Learn software provides a research-based interactive learning environment for K-12 keyboarding learners. Efficiency is expanded if keyboarders type short letter clusters and words as single units instead of groups of individual letters (e.g., er, ing, the, my). Learning key location requires a sequential introduction of the keys along with a great deal of repetition and reinforcement to develop the kinesthetic memory traces leading to keyboarding automatically. Mastering keyboarding involves learning technique (physical positioning and movement), ergonomics (safe and comfortable keyboard interaction), and key location. Efficient keyboarding skills allow students to emphasize concept development instead of focusing on key location. Student writing develops faster through word processing because it facilitates the review and revision learning process. It has evolved from a transcription typing skill where secretaries typed handwritten letters into a generative typing skill involving composing original thought at the keyboard (Cooper, 1983). ![]() This can be a problem because only a small proportion of classroom teachers have any formal preparation for teaching keyboarding (Sormunen, 1991). While business teachers are primarily responsible for teaching keyboarding at the secondary levels, in 2005 over half of the keyboarding teachers at the elementary level were classroom teachers (Rogers, 2006). This early introduction reduces bad habit development and provides additional benefits that include improvements in spelling, writing, and reading comprehension. While the most popular grade levels are 3rd and 4th grade, recent years have seen successful introduction into even kindergarten classes. Typically taught at the middle school and high school levels, Rogers’ study (2006) of Wisconsin schools showed that 85% of their schools introduce keyboarding at the elementary level. 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. Even during preschool years, children use computers and must be guided towards efficient keyboarding habits. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Computers-in-Education from the University of Oregon. He maintains the Keyboarding Research website and database at writes numerous blogs on technology and education at His recent research focuses on building communication skills in elementary students through keyboarding. Zeitz has written 7 books, including Keyboarding Made Simple: Learn the Best Techniques for Keyboarding Like a Pro, authored over 60 articles and given over 100 presentations on three continents about technology and education. He was a technology coordinator for six years at Price Laboratory School, and has taught at all grade levels from first through twelfth grade, plus several universities.ĭr. Zeitz is a technology innovator himself, continually exploring new ways to make learning more exciting and relevant. Zeitz, Ph.D., an Associate Professor for Instructional Technology, Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Northern Iowa. Type to Learn integrated valuable input and feedback from teachers, students, and renowned keyboarding instruction expert Dr. ![]()
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