Touch Typing – A skill for all pupils?
This is a very vexed question. It is ironic that as the number of computers increases, the number of people actually touch typing is probably falling. Why?
- Touch typing is a motor skill. If you look at your hands you will be learning a different skill; typing with your hands in the right position, but still looking at the keys
- The main problem with touch typing is that it is a long process and loses its impact if the learner is using a hunt and peck method to type work in the meantime.
- You need the following; a good piece of touch typing tutor software; plenty of intensive practice; motivation to keep on using the skill.
A good TT computer program has; good notes explaining the rationale; a good on screen layout that prompts the correct key-press; a strucured set of exercise that lead from placing the fingers on the home keys to the use of the whole keybaord.
One piece of software that is recommended is English type. It acts as a very good tutor. It also explains well in text and audio why you should not look at your hands. It is available from http://www.englishtype.com
The BBC has an on line typing tutor;
Dance Mat Typing;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
This has a good ‘about’ sections which should be essential reading. The presentation is gimmicky and cluttered, but it’s free and on-line so does not need installing on your computer or network.
A tip – really good touch typers type at a steady rate. The temptation for some learners is to type too fast. They tend to rush through the parts they can do easily and then slow down for the trickier parts. The best way is to learn to type slowly but evenly as if to a beat. As you practice you can speed up. Accuracy, not speed, is the important issue when you start learning.
Touch typing for all pupils?
If a class is learning to touch type, they need to have sufficient experience, which means a cluster or network of computers to use. They also need to keep away from using the keyboard for other purposes. This is the hardest challenge!
It seems that we are able to predict pupils’ likely success with touch typing by pretesting them on a simple handwriting speed and neatness test. Quick and neat writers are likely to work quickly through the exercises. Slow writers with poorly formed letters are likely to struggle with touch typing.
revised 9.9.2007
