What is keyboarding?
Learning to keyboard is an important skill. Keyboarding is defined as the correct finger placement on the keyboard.
Touch Keyboarding
One of the main goals of the 7th grade computer class is to learn to operate the computer keyboard by touch. Learning touch keyboarding will enable students to use the computer as a writing tool in an efficient manner. Keyboarding skills are essential for any career and are extremely important for success in school and personal life.
Learning to keyboard will take time and effort.
It is important for each child to learn correct finger placement while not looking at the keyboard. This needs to be automatic and rapid. The proper keyboarding techniques that we will follow are listed below. In class, students will practice keyboarding daily. The goal is for all students to type 25 WAM by the end of the semester. While your child will be exposed to keyboarding at school, extra practice at home would be very beneficial. There are links below to online keyboarding practice.
Proper Keyboarding Techniques 1. Sit up straight. Keep feet flat on the floor. Sit directly in front of your keyboard.
2. Sit the correct distance from the keyboard. Slant forearms at the same angle as the keyboard.
3. Place fingers on the home row keys in a curved position. Home row keys are: A S D F J K L ; Keep wrists low, but not resting on the keyboard. Keep your eyes on the monitor.
4. Fingers should strike with swift, sharp taps and return to the home row keys. The wrists should remain almost motionless. Say the letter silently to yourself as you strike the key.
5. Press the Space Bar correctly. The Space Bar is the most frequently used key on the keyboard. To use it, press quickly with the right thumb while the other fingers remain in home position. (Left handed people may press the Space Bar with the left thumb). Pressing the Space Bar after each word and twice after a period should become automatic.
6. Shift to uppercase letters by pressing the Shift Key with the little finger. Hold it in place while the other hand types the letter to be capitalized, and then release both keys to return to home position.
7. Press the Enter Key with the right little finger.
