WHO SHOULD TEACH KEYBOARDING?
“We’ve had a full-time elementary keyboarding teacher in our district for close to 15 years,” Craig Nansen, technology coordinator for Minot (North Dakota) Public Schools told Education World. “We did a lot of research before implementing that plan. At that time, [we brought in an expert in the field] to help us implement our elementary keyboarding program.” That expert “made a believer out of me,” Nansen said. “I used to think anyone could teach keyboarding. He showed us that a lot of research had gone into the order of introducing the keys to develop motor skill memory. Most software programs and elementary teachers ignore this research and introduce the keys in a manner that allows them to spell words or play games. I cringe during these discussions but keep my mouth shut and my keyboard keys still.” “Most K-8 teachers have no vocational certification in teaching keyboarding,” agreed Carla Cruzan, “and students need feedback. The software responds to the key pushed. It doesn’t know
