Yes
, tablets have become important tools in education today, typing
on the computer is still a crucial skill for students to learn. ... Writing
on the computer can actually improve a student's skills because the process
becomes more fluent as ideas flow freely through the fingertips and onto the
screen.
Why is keyboarding important?
There are many reasons why keyboarding is preferred
over the “Hunt-and-peck” method of using a computer. Touch typing enhances
accuracy as you harness muscle memory in the fingers to assist with spelling.
So what do we mean by muscle memory?
Once you have mastered the fingering on the
keyboard, and consistently use the same finger for a letter, you automatically
remember where the finger goes without conscious thought.
Typing
When it comes to typing, it’s also clear that
students need some skills in this area.
Using a hunt and peck method requires a lot
of brainpower. We want our students to be thinking about how to convey
their ideas, not wondering where the letter “s” is.
The fact is though, people generally end up gaining
some sort of fluency with handwriting. It might be messy but most adults are
not super slow writers.
Is the same true for typing? I don’t think so.
Example: I’ve sat in front of a number of doctors
who are looking up and down from the keyboard to their screen as they slowly
type notes with two fingers. These are highly intelligent people. You’d think
if typing came “naturally” then they would have picked up a better method (just
sharing a general analogy here; we know many doctors are proficient typists).
Surely it would be better for professionals like
these to be spending more time listening and relating to you while considering
your medical situation, rather than trying to hunt for letters?
So here’s my point: a basic standard of
keyboarding skills is required and it doesn’t always come naturally.
That being said, I can touch type very well, yet was self taught.
