Keyboarding instruction should ultimately be part of the language arts program

Learning and practicing keyboarding skills is not enough; children need to consolidate their skills by using them for writing tasks. Keyboarding instruction should be part of a language-based program that assumes that students are developing language skills and that keyboarding will be used in the context of language arts skills development. This approach assumes that keyboarding is a means to an end and should be introduced as students begin word processing and other communicative computer activities.

Goal:

All exiting grade 5 students will know the value of keyboarding and demonstrate its proper use by developing proficiency in being able to:

• Compose and edit a paragraph using proper keyboarding techniques
• Use the arrow keys and proper keyboarding techniques to make revisions on a document

Methods:

Grade 3 (INTRODUCTION):
All third grade students receive an introduction to pre-keyboarding skills.

Grade 4 (INSTRUCTION):
All fourth grade students receive keyboarding instruction for 20-30 minutes a day over a six-week period. This instruction can be delivered using one of three methods:

• Use the Keyboarding Video Series produced by IT (30-30 minute lessons used in conjunction with the AlphaSmart Keyboards and PAWS textbooks)
• Use the AlphaSmart Keyboards and PAWS textbooks with teacher directed instruction (as opposed to the video series)
• Use computer workstations with keyboarding software, such as UltraKey OR with PAWS Books and software such as AppleWorks or MS Word

Grade 5 (REVIEW and REINFORCEMENT):
All fifth grade students receive keyboarding review (for instance, a 4-6 week period [20 a day]; 10 min. weekly all year, etc.) and reinforcement through the elementary curriculum in grade 5. This instruction can be delivered in one of three methods listed under Grade 4.

Assessment:

MMSD has developed an Elementary Keyboarding Assessment, using the UltraKey-Skill Level 9 as the assessment tool to determine a student's level of keyboarding proficiency. This assessment will be used for determining a grade of minimal (1), basic (2), proficient (3), or advanced (4) on the Elementary Report Card.

Updated: August 14, 2007 12:27 PM
Editor & Publisher: Paula Srite, psrite@madison.k12.wi.us
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