Tips for Keyboarding Success

"You would not sit a child down at a piano and use a software package to teach piano playing. Similarly, children are taught to play sports with a coach and much guided practice. The coach provides motivation, reinforcement, and corrective action."
~Margaret J. Erthal, Who Should Teach Keyboarding and When Should It Be Taught?

Technique
Technique is the single most important part of elementary keyboarding instruction. If technique is the focus, speed and accuracy will come.
"While most kids and adults can learn to hunt and peck on their own, real typing speed depends on proper technique."
~Michael J. Himowitz, Baltimore Sun

Follow-Up
Follow-up keyboarding instruction, including continuous technique reminders, is vital after the initial 20 days of keyboarding instruction.

Teachers
A live teacher is vital to keyboarding success, particularly when developing proper posture, positioning, and fingering. Keyboarding lessons are most effective and fun when the teacher is fully invested and closely monitors student technique. Software can support the teaching of keyboarding, but only after initial, teacher-led instruction.

Principals
Principals play a huge roll in the success of keyboarding instruction. They should take the lead in helping teachers schedule their keyboarding instruction.

Parents
Parent communication about keyboarding is important. Parents need to understand that knowing how to use a computer is not the same as knowing how to keyboard correctly and effectively. Keyboarding goals and expectations should be made clear to them, and they should know how developing strong keyboarding skills will benefit their children.

Educational Technology Specialist
Educational Technology Specialists can offer support to teachers by holding keyboarding training session, assisting with keyboarding instruction schedules, and offering help with keyboarding curriculum and software.

Links:
Keyboarding Home
This We Believe About Keyboarding
Why Teach Keyboarding?
District Keyboarding Program
  Keyboard Chatter
  Keyboard Craze
  Keyboard Connection
  Keyboarding for Kids
  Keyboard Mastery
  Keyboarding Activities
Tips for Keyboarding Success
Keyboarding in Brain Boosters
5th Grade Keyboarding Assessment
Keyboarding Core Curriculum
Literacy and Keyboarding
USOE Keyboarding Website

Documentation:
USOE Keyboarding Movie
Middle School Stand-Alone Schedule
Middle School Embedded Schedule
Keyboarding Data for Middle Schools
Middle School Keyboarding Curriculum Comparison

Keyboard Images/Handouts
Colored Keyboard
Colored Keyboard Finger Families
Colored Keyboard Finger Families
Black & White Keyboard
Blank Keyboard
Black & White Keyboard (Windows)
Laptop Keyboard (Windows)
Black Keyboard (Chromebook)
White Keyboard (Chromebook)