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=KEYBOARDING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL=

Not all elementary students have the ability and wisdom to properly type on a computer. No matter what teachers and parents might say, it is clear from observing the elementary students many could benefit from instruction and advice about how to properly place their hands on the keyboard and type.



**KEYBOARDING RESEARCH AND RESOURCES**
 I have always had an interest in keyboarding. It is the primary form of input for computer today and it is still chiefly taught at the high school level. What about the students in the earlier 8 grades? What should they do while they are waiting to go to high school where they can learn how to type? Would you believe that there are actually courses at the secondary level entitled "Keyboarding 2"? How long does it take to learn to type?  Typing is important and everyone should be able to type at least 40 words a minute. This sort of speed allows the user to flow with a train of thought as it comes. It doesn't mean that 40 wpm will be attained in typing class, but if students are given a solid foundation in keyboarding, their speed will develop as they keyboard their ways through life. Does this mean that 8 year olds should type at 40 wpm? No. They should be provided with the basics of keyboarding and then learn to type faster than they can write (typically 11 wpm). This will allow them to have an efficient way to enter their thoughts and writings into a dynamic electronic format. Editing and revising are necessary for improving writing and are much easier to do in a word processor than on paper.

-Leigh Zeitz, Ph.D. University of Northern Iowa ([|http://ci.coe.uni.edu])