HIT>KEYBOARD GRADE LEVEL?

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ORIGINAL QUESTION:
I am interested in what grade you think works best to begin formal
keyboarding instruction.  What experience have you had, problems encountered,
research you know of, etc.  Thank you.

 Gene Potoka      <gpotoka@calvin.wmich.fred.org>
 K-8 Technology Director at Sylvan & Millbrook Chr. Schools, GR, MI
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RESPONSES:
From: Madelynne Johnson <madelynn@helen.bush.edu>

We've been told not to begin keyboard instruction until 3rd gr.
--------------------------------------------------------From: Barbara Sanford
<bsanford@lilac.esd101.wednet.edu>

We start formally in our computer lab with 3rd graders, although some second
graders are experimenting.  We use a program called All The Right Type which
seems to have less "reading" than some others like Mavis which I find,
personally, to be a lot more exciting.
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From: LRIELL@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU

At our school we target grade 3 with keyboarding, but introduce it to kinders
and follow up on it in all grades K-6.
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From: Judy Ermlick <ermlick@oberon.pps.pgh.pa.us>

I piloted various programs--we settled on 4th grade cause 3rds didn't have
the finger span--we use a business certified H.S.typing teacher who comes in
for 5 weeks everyday instead of English--hope this helps.
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From: "Vanessa R. Toyokura" <toyokura@csn.org>

I'm a technical services librarian, but my mother has been an elementary
school teacher for over 30 years.  She has the opinion that as soon as the
students get their hands on the keyboard, they should be introduced to proper
keyboarding techniques.  Learning the hunt-'n-peck method first creates a
habit which she feels is almost impossible to break.  The students at some
point seem to be held back because they can't look away from the keyboard and
their speed is frustratingly slow.  It's roughly like depending upon fingers
and toes to help count, it may help the beginner grasp the basic concept, but
may become a liability over time.  Her 4th graders are expected to use proper
technique.  I suppose the question is how do we teach keyboarding skills
early without frustrating the learner and squelching the "fun" of computers.
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From: Mary M Woodard <marlow@tenet.edu>

In our district we start keyboarding in the 3rd grade.  It seems to work
pretty well there.
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From: Barbara Goldstein <barbarag@umd5.umd.edu>

       When I was a Media specialist in elementary school, we started the
students with keyboarding basics in first grade.  By the time they were ready
to leave at the end of fifth grade, the students were pretty proficient in
their skills.
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From: Joan Nolet Bennert <bennert@saturn.caps.maine.edu>

Hi.  We have been teaching keyboarding to 3,4,5 graders as far back as I can
remember. (on old Commodores) We used to use some awful programs that we not
user friendly, but the only thing available at that time.  When Mavis Beacon
came out we used that, but now we much prefer Type To Learn.  Our students
leave 3,4,5 typing at least 15 words per minute and some 30-40.  We did find
that this could not be an independent activity for most students.  So we
hired an aide to supervise and to make sure that students get to the
computers to practice.  She also helps with students using incorrect
fingering, etc.  Many schools for students with learning disabilities have
taught typing and much of the research I found was on those students.  It is
questionable whether we will always be teaching keyboarding because of the
development of voice activated computers, but it is our feeling that until
our school has them (many, many years down the road) we will teach
keyboarding.  Our findings are that for many students they are writing more
complex and longer stories and doing much more editing.  Hope this helps.
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From: Michelle Nelson <mnelson@orca.esd114.wednet.edu>

I have just been talking with primary teachers about this very thing.  Our
school currently teaches keyboarding at 4th grade with an Apple program.  We
are currently in the process at looking at software that works with Windows
on our new student network, and keyboarding is one of the first areas of
interest.  Our primary teachers also requested finding research in the area
of primary keyboarding because they think it might work with some kids but be
determined by language development and dexterity, etc.  Please post what
information you find.  Thank you!
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From: Sally M. Olivier    SRGED@ritvax.isc.rit.edu

I am a computer lab supervisor for a small K-12 private school in Rochester,
NY.  I have taught keyboarding to 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
 While familiarity with the keyboard is gained at the lower grades, true
mastery seems to escape them until 5th, 6th and 7th.  It's almost as if they
need to be able to write as well as they can read, before they can type
effectively.  There is also the issue of small motor coordination for the 3rd
and 4th graders.  I think starting at 5th or certainly 6th is best.  A daily
hit of fifteen minutes is about right.  Minimum standards or a variety of
exit level
goals works well, also.  I have used both Ultrakey and Type.  Let me know if
you want more detail about this.
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From: Thomas Neil Tomporowski       ttomporo@perham.cfa.org

Using the ERIC database, I conducted a sample search with
the term(s) "keyboarding and age and children".  You can conduct free ERIC
database searches via the Internet.  This may help you locate other citations
on your topic.  For directions, send your request to askeric@ericir.syr.edu
Thank you for using AskERIC!  We welcome any further questions you may have.
 Simply send them to askeric@ericir.syr.edu
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From: sjoneil      sinnfree.sinnfree.org

We begin keyboarding instruction here at the Byron School District in 3rd
grade.  As a 6-8 media specialist, this is the first year that we've had
students who have taken keyboarding since third grade, and we find a big
difference in what each class can accomplish computer-wise each year.
 Actually, I can't see what the fuss is at some places.  My children began
playing the piano in first grade, so they were certainly capable of
manipulating the keys and translating what they see in the music to their
fingers, and keyboarding seems to be easier for our middle school special ed
kids who have problems with handwriting.  One thing, even though they've had
three years of instruction, they still need review and practice each year, at
least at our level.
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From: "L. Phillips" <lphillip@ciao.trail.bc.ca>

I have taught keyboarding to grades 4 to 7.  I found that as children grew
older, they learned more quickly *but* the best student I had was in grade 4
and the poorest keyboarder was in grade 7.  I do think that keyboarding
should be taught as soon as possible because children like to use the
computer for writing.  I am currently teaching gr 3 (part time, library the
rest of the time) and I am going to introduce keyboarding to my class.  I
expect that a few will be ready and most will not, but I will leave it up to
them to stick with the program.  They will get the same program in grades 4
and 5.