Independent School Educators' List (ISED-L): Re: Is Typing Speed Important Anymore

I would like to add two points to the discussion.

I attended an ergonomics course a few years ago and the professor mentioned=
that touch typing was better for users ergonomically. The two finger tech=
nique (which requires having to look down at the keyboard frequently) ultim=
ately puts strain on the neck and shoulders that over time (repetitive stre=
ss) will cause physical problems.=20

One of the areas that I would like to see more fully researched is whether =
proofing on the computer screen is equivalent to proofing on a sheet of pap=
er. I came across some research that suggested that some people have diffic=
ulty depending on their level of spatial ability and for those users it is =
not an equivalent process. Those low spatial ability users would miss error=
s on the screen that they did not miss on paper. I did not have time to pur=
sue that research, but the report of the study that I found did make me won=
der.

Linda Jacobs Swarlis, Ph.D.
Director of Information Services and Library

56 S. Columbia Avenue
Columbus, OH 43209
614.252.0781 ext. 129
FAX: 614.252.0571
lswarlis@columbusschoolforgirls.org
www.columbusschoolforgirls.org

-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators [mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.=
EDU] On Behalf Of Bigenho, Chris
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:15 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Is Typing Speed Important Anymore

As a kid, both speed and accuracy helped me as well. I hated to use the wh=
ite out or the correction tapes. Remember the typewriters that had a correc=
tion ribbon? I longed for one of those as a kid. But then, the last time I =
saw a typewriter was at a living museum in East Texas and I don't think we =
are really talking about typing.

Today, with the advent of the computer, auto correct (yes, sometimes it can=
be a curse), spell check etc., speed and accuracy have a different relatio=
nship. You can actually increase your speed by using these tools. Increased=
speed at the cost of decreased accuracy is a reality and generally not a p=
roblem.=20

As for using the correct "keyboarding technique"- who really cares when stu=
dents are typing 40 to 60 wpm with their own technique. Yes, if you catch t=
hem early, you can help them develop an efficient technique. However, it is=
the end result that is important. Is what they are writing really worth ca=
pturing in text? That is to say...do they have anything worth capturing for=
others to read? Is what they are writing providing a clear window to their=
understanding?

If we use our class time on higher level thinking skills rather than whethe=
r they used their right index finger to type "y" or their left little finge=
r to type "z" (I think that is correct), we can help make sure they have so=
mething to say that reveals their understanding. I have seen incredible 2-f=
inger typists and had a student a couple of years ago who was amazing with =
only his right index finger. So amazing that I had him try it without watch=
ing the keyboard- yes, he could do it and was somewhere around 40 words a m=
inute. However, it was what he was writing about that was most interesting.=
=20

Now with all that said, I would argue that today, one of the most important=
skills we could be teaching (in this arena) and reinforcing is that of pro=
ofing work. It was already stated that most students (and adults) write the=
ir first draft on the computer. Unfortunately for many, it is the ONLY draf=
t. If writers proofed their work and had peers proof their work, the need f=
or accuracy of "typing" the first time would be minimized. Tools employing =
AI and natural language recognition allow writers to focus on clarity and a=
ccuracy of thought, freeing them to explore rather than feel constrained by=
rules of the old world. I imagine there are some who would be appalled by =
the number of typos and misspellings my computer corrected as I crafted thi=
s message. However, the tools allowed me to focus on the creative and cogni=
tive processes rather than the mechanics of capturing my thoughts...and for=
that, I am grateful.

Chris Bigenho
Director of Educational Technology
Greenhill School
4141 Spring Valley Road
Addison, TX=A0 75001
Ph. 972-628-5479
Fx. 972-628-5279
bigenhoc@greenhill.org
www.greenhill.org
=A0
Blog: http://bigenhoc.wordpress.com/
Twitter: bigenhoc
AIM: chris bigenho
Yahoo: chris_bigenho
Skype: chris_bigenho
Tapped In: ChrisWB
Delicious: http://delicious.com/bigenhoc
Diigo:bigenhoc

-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators [mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.=
EDU] On Behalf Of Brian Lee
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:38 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Is Typing Speed Important Anymore

Typing speed and accuracy sure helped me write my papers in the middle of
the night before my paper was due. Without typing speed and accuracy, it
would take the student twice as long to write the paper.

Brian Lee
Manlius Pebble Hill School

> From: Keith E Gatling <keith@gatling.us>
> Reply-To: A forum for independent school educators <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.E=
DU>
> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:18:33 -0500
> To: <ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
> Subject: Is Typing Speed Important Anymore
>=20
> Think about it. The model of typing from dictation or someone else's
> handwritten first draft is largely dead. Most people are typing "out of
> their heads" for their first drafts anyway, and any editing done by anoth=
er
> person is done from a draft that is already typed.
>=20
> We don't test kids for writing speed, so is there a reason to even test t=
hem
> for typing speed anymore? Sure, the kid who types faster will be able to =
get
> their work done faster, but so will the kid who writes faster. Isn't it
> enough to just give kids the basic skill of proper keyboarding without
> having to measure their speed anymore?
> --
>=20
> keg