Why do we teach keyboarding?

This We Believe About Keyboarding

In this technologically advanced age, every student should have the opportunity - and actually be expected - to develop solid keyboarding skill. (Solid keyboarding skill is comprised of perfect technique and a minimum keyboarding speed of 40 WPM with 90 percent accuracy.)

  1. Solid keyboarding skill can only be developed if proper keyboarding technique is utilized. Perfect keyboarding technique includes the following:
    • Body is centered with the keyboard.
    • Back is straight.
    • Chair is placed the proper distance from the keyboard so that elbows hang at the sides of the body.
    • Feet are placed for balance.
    • Fingers are curved and resting on home row keys.
    • Both thumbs are resting on the space bar.
    • Only one finger at a time leaves the home row to "reach" or "curl" for another key.
    • Wrists are lifted slightly off the keyboard.
    • Hands stay still while keying.
    • The correct finger is used to strike each key.
    • Eyes stay on the copy, not on fingers.
  2. Students in Utah's schools should be introduced to proper keyboarding no later than the 3rd grade. Proper keyboarding should be reinforced in 4th and 5th grades. Intense keyboarding instruction to build speed and accuracy should be provided in 6th grade.
  3. All computer users should input information at a speed that is at least two and a half times the speed of hand writing.
  4. Creativity and composition are, in reality, thwarted by inefficient use of the keyboard.

(Adapted from Nebo School District's "This I believe about keyboarding in Utah's public schools".) 

Why We Teach Keyboarding

As you prepare to teach keyboarding skills to your students, it is necessary to understand why keyboarding is an important skill for them to learn. When you understand why keyboarding is needed, you will be more motivated to teach with dedication and enthusiasm. Explore the following quotes and links to expand your understanding about why keyboarding is taught in our elementary schools:


Why We Teach Keyboarding Links to an external site. - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

(Click on the right hand side of the slide above to advance to the next slide.)

More Links to Explore

USOE created a video to help communicate to parents why correct keyboarding is important.

Keyboarding is part of the Utah State Core Curriculum Links to an external site. and the Common Core Standards Links to an external site..

District formative and summative assessments require students to be able to enter writing samples through the computer keyboard.