This paper explores the issue of how, when, and where to teach keyboarding at the elementary school level through a review of the keyboarding literature and descriptions of three studies conducted with fifth grade students in the laboratory school at the University of Wyoming. The literature review briefly summarizes findings on the following…

To determine if initial keyboard training resulted in more effective use of capital investment, two groups were tested: one received keyboard training using a manual typewriter, the other trained in word processing on a computer. Keyboarding was tested before and after and student attitudes were surveyed. Concluded that keyboard training is cost…

Eight students enrolled in keyboarding at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri in Spring 1985 participated in a comparison of computer-assisted keyboarding instruction and instructor-assisted keyboarding instruction. Half were given instructor checkpoints at specified intervals; half did not have this regular, planned interaction with…

Describes results of a questionnaire concerning such questions as where is the first keyboarding/typing class taught, length of this class, what equipment is utilized, and what students in kindergarten through eighth grade are doing with microcomputers. The author then makes suggestions for improving the curriculum for keyboarding in elementary…

Describes the use of keyboarding instruction, without the use of computers, to improve the spelling skills of first grade students. Improvement in various ability groups is discussed, changes in student attitudes are described, and recommendations are given for teachers using the "Keyboard Success" text. (LRW)

Compared the ease and efficiency of the Qwerty and Dvorak keyboards by analyzing five popular lists on high frequency words to determine differences in fingering for the keyboards. Found that more high frequency words and more characters are typed on the Dvorak keyboard home row, and therefore children should be taught to use the Dvorak rather…

The primary purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether children ages 5 through 8 could learn keyboarding skills. A secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between typing skill development and motor proficiency. A sample of 24 children was randomly selected from a group attending a summer school enrichment program. The…

The concept of individualized instruction has been discussed for more than 60 years. Some individualized instruction techniques that have been implemented over the years with varying degrees of success are ability grouping, nongraded schools, special classes for exceptional children, tracking (academic versus vocational), remedial classes, and…

This investigation of the effect of typing skill on using a word processor for composition hypothesized that students who had learned keyboarding skills would: (1) write longer essays when using a word processor; (2) revise their essays more when using a word processor; (3) feel more positive about typing when using a word processor than students…

A study compared the typing speeds attained by students who learned to type on typewriters with the speeds attained by students who learned on computers in order to determine whether the medium of instruction has any effect on achievement. Data were gathered on the speeds of 585 students from west central Indiana high school business teachers. Of…

This practicum addressed the problem of fourth grade students who watched their fingers and used the "hunt and peck" method while answering questions in curriculum-based software. The following objectives were established: at the end of the 15-week practicum period, all of the 22 targeted students will demonstrate at least 80% accuracy in correct…

One group of secondary keyboarding students was taught on typewriters and switched to microcomputers after six weeks, the other used microcomputers first, then typewriters. Using computers, students showed faster completion times and fewer typographical errors. Transfer from computers to typewriters slowed times and increased errors. Overall,…

This study compared two software programs for teaching keyboarding to students in grades four, five, and six and compared speed achievement when students were grouped by sex. One program was an educational game. The other used traditional psychological motor skill development theory as applied to typewriting instruction. Results are reported and…

Error analysis of 260 timed writings by secondary and postsecondary beginning and advanced students found that, regardless of the level of instruction or the type of equipment (electronic typewriter or microcomputer), an inordinate number of errors were associated with home key rows. (JOW)

A 1980 survey of 9,000 high school sophomores with 3 follow-ups over 6 years revealed that high school typing courses led to greater employability and earnings for non-college-bound students and was of equal benefit to students of lower socioeconomic levels. One course sufficed for white males; white females benefited more from more than one…