Objective: To introduce students to proper keyboarding techniques including correct finger placement and posture.
Purpose: It is important to know correct typing position and to be able to type efficiently and painlessly (ergonomically) for accuracy and speed. Research has shown that students who keyboard correctly will be able to get work done almost three times as fast those without the skill. They will also e-mail and IM faster. They will be able to focus on thinking and not on getting a product on paper!
Grade levels: 5-6
Standards
NETS: 6 A, B
TEKS: 2 B, C, and F
Materials needed:
o K -W-L Chart (Know-Want to Know-Learned)
o Teacher-created keyboarding presentation, YouTube video, or other videos about keyboarding. Great keyboarding videos can also be found on the WatchKnowLearn website found at
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Category.aspx?CategoryID=5408
o Blank"keyboard with hands" handouts. Print enough handouts so that each student has one. (blank keyboard printouts can be found on Internet)
o Enlarged blank "keyboard with hands" poster
o Colored marker, pencils, or crayons
o Enlarged “Correct Posture” poster
o Computers with keyboards
o Website: Dance Mat Typing -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
o computers
o Internetaccess
Time frame: 2-30 minute sessions
Procedures:
Off Computer Activities
o Step 1: KWL Chart - have students state what they Know about keyboarding. Ask students what they Want to learn about keyboarding. Chart students’ responses.
o Step 2: Show keyboard presentation/video. Discuss presentation/ video. Q & A
o Step 3: Color code “home row” keys on blank “keyboard with hands” handout. Finger colors should coincide with key colors. (for example: color pinkie fingers and keys 'a' and ';' red, color ring finger and keys 's' and 'l' blue, etc.)- TD (Teacher directed)
o Step 4: Discuss correct keyboarding posture. Students will practice sitting in correct keyboarding posture.
On Computer Activities
o Step 5: Students will be introduced to proper hand placement on home row keys and practice hand placement. (Teacher Directed)
o Step 6: Students will demonstrate correct keyboarding posture. (IP- Independent practice)
o Step 7: Student will open up word document and as teacher calls out 'home row' letters, students will 'key' letters.
o Step 8: Open web browser and key in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/ :(Dance Mat Typing) –
o Step 9: Practice home row keys – Level 1/Lesson 1
Closure:
o Step 10: Recap the lesson using the K-W-L Chart and solicit students’ responses under the "Learned" column. Record the responses.
