About this Daily Classroom Special
Bits & Bytes combines technology objectives, activity ideas, web sites, and
resources in an effort to make it easier for everyone to incorporate technology into their instruction. Bits & Bytes is maintained by Barbara Smith, Magnet Coordinator at Harvard
Elementary, Houston (TX) and Teachers Network web mentor.
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K-5
2.C Demonstrate touch keyboarding techniques for operating the alphabetic,
numeric, punctuation, and symbol keys as grade-level appropriate.
"What's the use of having a machine capable of working at lightning
speed if the
information it needs trickles in like molasses in January?" (from
"The Most Crucial Computing Skill" by Erik Sandberg-Diment/ Science
Digest/ January/ 1984)
Print a paper copy of a keyboard for each student. Have students
color the keys according to which finger types on them. (Example:
4,5,R,T,F,G,V,B should all be the same color, because the left index
finger types them.) Outline the keys for homerow (ASDFJKL;) in a bright
color or with a marker.
Periodically, have students take out paper keyboards, and practice
the correct fingers to use for words or letters you dictate.
Be sure to "catch" students using correct keyboarding when it is their
turn at the computer!
Web Picks
3D Mazes in Java
Students will use arrow keys to navigate through maze.
Keyboarding Appendices from The Evergreen Curriculum, a project from
Saskatchewan Education
Great collection of activities to encourage students to use their
keyboarding skills.
Suggestions for Organizing Keyboarding Classes
Keyboarding Puzzles
InfoWeb - Keyboarding - TOC
Simple keyboarding lessons for grades K-4.
Untitled
Document (History of Typewriter)
History of typing and machine developments.
Edu-Key
Source for unbreakable keyboarding covers.
Elementary Keyboarding
Well-written rationale for teaching keyboarding.
Dvorak Keyboard
Alternative keyboard.
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