I can tell you from personal experience that much before 3rd grade, 
touch typing probably isn't possible, at least not on a standard keyboard.

Many years ago, I volunteered to do some keyboarding instruction in my 
daughter's 1st grade classroom.  (Having two gifted children, I didn't 
have a good grasp of what "typically developing" students looked like.)  
At first grade, the kids didn't have the finger span to touch type.  We 
focused on learning where the keys are, and pressing them with the 
correct fingers, but true touch typing wasn't possible.

-- 
Denis Anson, MS, OTR
Director of Research and Development
Assistive Technology Research Institute
College Misericordia
301 Lake St.
Dallas, PA 18612
Phone: 570-674-6413
Fax: 570-674-8054 



barbarasg8 at aol.com wrote:

> Hello group,

>  

> It would be helpful to hear how computer keyboarding is being taught 

> around the country, and who is teaching it? I come from a background 

> in occupational therapy and have taught touch typing to hundreds of 

> students from 1st - 6th grades. Based on what I've learned, teaching 

> young students at the second or third grade level is very practical. 

> At that age, children have not become habitual "hunt and peck" 

> typists. Because they are still learning to read and spell and can 

> benefit from using touch typing skills to practice word lists 

> and compose short writing assignments.

>  

> I see older students enter computer classes having already developed 

> typing skills that are inefficient and hard to remediable. Lack of 

> good habits and slower input make a big difference when students are 

> required to produce longer papers in high school, and afterword as 

> they compete in the workplace.

>  

> Another question about teaching/learning t_ouch typing_: how might it 

> contribute to ESL students at any age, or adults with LD and people in 

> adult literacy classes? 

>  

> I have been reading these emails for months but never contributed to 

> the discussion.

> Thank you for the opportunity.

>  

> Barbara Oliver, COTA/L

> Tulsa OK

> barbarasg8 at aol.com <mailto:barbarasg8 at aol.com>

>  

>  

>  

> -----Original Message-----

> From: cgrimaldi at lagcc.cuny.edu

> To: technology at nifl.gov

> Sent: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 2:09 PM

> Subject: [Technology 752] Re: Technology List topics for 2007

>

> Hi Mariann,

> I would also like to learn more about teaching our students make better

> use of their cell phones.  Most students have them but many don't know

> how to use their voicemail, pictures, downloading, etc., especially

> older students.

>

> The next topic I'd like to see discussed more is the issue of slow

> computer learners- either due to lack of experience, age, low literacy

> skills, lack of interest/need, no computer in the home.  

>

> Carolyn Grimaldi

> Center for Immigrant Education and Training

> LaGuardia Community College

> 29-10 Thomson Ave. C250

> Long Island City, NY 11101

> (718) 482-5067

> www.lagcc.cuny.edu/ciet/ <http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/ciet/>

> cgrimaldi at lagcc.cuny.edu <mailto:cgrimaldi%40lagcc.cuny.edu>

>

> >>> "Mariann Fedele" <MariannF at lacnyc.org <mailto:MariannF%40lacnyc.org>> 12/13/06 2:48 PM >>>

> Thank You, David!

> What would others on the list like to see in terms of specific topics

> discussed next year? If one that David mentioned is particularly

> interesting to you please feel free to second the motion.

>

> Regards,

> Mariann

>

> Mariann Fedele

> Associate Director,

> NYC Regional Adult Education Network

> Literacy Assistance Center

> Moderator,

> NIFL Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> 32 Broadway 10th Floor

> New York, New York 10004

> 212-803-3325

> mariannf at lacnyc.org <mailto:mariannf%40lacnyc.org> 

> www.lacnyc.org <http://www.lacnyc.org/> 

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: technology-bounces at nifl.gov <mailto:technology-bounces%40nifl.gov> [mailto:technology-bounces at nifl.gov <mailto:technology-bounces%40nifl.gov>]

>

> On Behalf Of David Rosen

> Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 11:30 AM

> To: The Technology and Literacy Discussion List

> Subject: [Technology 749] Technology List topics for 2007

>

> Hi Mariann,

>

> I would like to see the Technology list introduce our field to some  

> technologies in the context of their use/possible use in adult ed.   

> These might include, for example:

>

> 1) mobile phones

> 2) web-accessible PDAs

> 3) tablet PCs

> 4) e-books and e-book readers

> 5) wikis for writing projects

> 6) electronic white boards

> 7) inexpensive (under $500) multimedia (e.g. LCD) projectors

> 8) video Ipods with high quality video goggles (intended for video  

> but maybe useful for reading text?)

>

> David J. Rosen

> djrosen at comcast.net <mailto:djrosen%40comcast.net> 

>

>

>

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