Along with learning a foreign language I think the ability to touch type would be a great skill to have!
As I sit here in Spain struggling away to learn Spanish, and tapping away slowly at the Mac keyboard for hour on end I am refreshed from my frustrations not secure in my knowledge of pre 1066 English History, the mating habbits of hundreds of animals that I will never see in my entire life, and an inability to read a mag because I was crap at Geography (but I knew GPS was going to come along!)
Found this article in the Telegraph really interesting, especially given my background with Pitman Training many many years ago!
All children are given endless hours of coaching in how to use the most common computer applications, such as Windows, spreadsheets and PowerPoint, all of which are likely to have moved on significantly by the time current primary school pupils enter the world of work.
Yet they are taught how to use these programs without being taught the most basic computing skill of all – typing. It is the modern-day equivalent of teaching a child to do joined-up writing without ever showing them how to hold a pencil.
Almost all computer applications can be quickly learned ‘on the job’ when children eventually start work, but learning to touch-type is a skill which takes several weeks to master and, like holding a pencil, once bad habits set in (such as two-finger typing) they are almost impossible to undo.
Regardless of the career a child takes up when they leave school, a high percentage of them will use a keyboard in their daily work, and all of them are likely to use a keyboard in their leisure time. Touch-typing would help every child throughout their lives – so why are our schools so blind to this?
Well in my day you only got to touch type if you did commerce in a secondary modern!
Yes I agree with teaching “touch-typing” at school but only if they learn to write properly first 🙂
because schools are still using 1950 techniques
mmm interesting!! this should be part of their computer class!! they must learn such stuff, true
I think all Business Majors in College should have to take Golf-Many business deals occur on golfcourse
I so agree – I was Pitman trained as well and have never regretted it especially now – am always on the computer!!
I did learn touch typing in school. There are applications to help adults learn and they work!
Here’s a free one. Don’t know how good it is: http://www.learn2type.
I was given a class on touch typing at school way back in the day! I remember it specifically because it tracked how many letters I got right and wrong and would give me a % score!
RT @MyAppleStuff Would love your thoughts on this: http://bit.ly/i22FP Why aren’t children taught to touch-type at school? I agree 100% 🙂
because it might actually be useful??? Not nearly airy fairy enough….
We teach our kids how to touch type 🙂
Just been to Spain most expats r not nice people they treat us like shut
“airy fairy” ? that’s a new term for me but i get it – I think. luv it!!
In high school (US), I had a semester of “business/secretarial” learning which included typing –way, way back when being a so-called secretary was one of few jobs for women. I thought that class would land me a job when I graduated. What a joke! But, at least I can type!!! However, I’m wondering if too much “pecking time” on iPhone will defuse my touch- type speed/skills at some point??? 🙂
LOL would mean in this context ‘lacking substance’ the point being that schools currently focus on courses that have little substance or use/value.
Ah the good old days eh LOL.
My typing is worse the more I use the iPhone for sure
I took typing in 9th grade as an elective. Best thing I ever did!
But touch type on what? Mobile phone keypads, touch screens, desktop keyboards, laptops… All have a very different style.
My son was taught to type in 6g. When he excelled on the traditional keyboard, he also learned Dvorak.
They are in our public school. Starts in 4th grade.
We teach ours from grade 1. I think it’s a great age to start them. It works really well.
Impressive where is that? Australia?
I was taught to touch type – and instant messaging came out a few yrs after I learned. I was the fastest IMer ever.
We learned touchtype on IBM Selectric typewriters in high school in the 70s but it was an elective (yes I AM a Dinosaur)
We didn’t have such a course when I was in elementary school (in the ’80s). Our schools were too poor to even have a few reliable working computers, let alone enough for ever student in our classes to have access to one. I learned to type on vintage typewriters and old instruction books at home.
I agree with the touch typing issue. It went out with typewriters. That 110 wpm comes in handy on blog day.
too true.Touch type then they can take dictation for their parents. HA great idea..now where is my assignment.*yells kids!*LOL
The typing skills thing is an important issue but are school IT lessons IT as a subject or IT as a set of raw skills?
i.e. Am I a teacher of a subject called IT or an instructor delivering skills training? Very different!
Agree, I would say IT was a subject, touch typing was a ‘life skill’ for the 21st century, relevant to more than IT
Then we need to create a curriculum that has space for IT skills as well as IT curriculum. At present, TType wld squeeze it.
everyone i know had typing classes. I had them 15yrs ago. My kids have had them (and still have them).
I was taught typing in middle school in Texas. That was around 1995 or so. “)
Couldn’t agree more!! None of my children has formal keyboard skills despite expensive education! None of our students either!
maybe their hands are too small.
HS is where I learned to touch type, but they don’t teach a lot of stuff they used to
it just isn’t the same these days is it 🙂
No & not mstly I like it, but sm things discarded may still be useful
agree, i always felt a ‘life skills’ course would be a good idea
So have I. How to interpret a bank statement, balance a (virtual) chkbk, live on a budget, etc.
A lot of people don’t teach it because they think it won’t be needed in the future. I teach it….started today to 6th grade.
I was just having this conversation with a friend of mine who is a business teacher on line. We both have children in the 5th grade. We were both wondering why they have dropped the typing (as well as many other quite helpful life skills) from the school.
Funding was the answer for our school….but to me that is no excuse…. much time is wasted on unnecessary subjects, etc.
Anyway, my friend has decided to volunteer at the school to offer a typing class. She’s my hero.
Just my 2 cents,
Mellisa McJunkin
Digital Information Broker
That sounds great. Would be interested to hear how she gets on-
I went to an all girls school and was horrified that from the age of 15 onwards, I had to learn touch typing – how sexist I thought. Little did I know how useful it would be.
When I was a skint student I earned money by temping and now I’m one of a few journalists at the Beeb who can type fast and accurately without even having to look at my keyboard.
I tred to get into an all girls school once ….
Seriously, that is a great ‘story’ thanks!!
Interested in what it is you do at the Beeb???
Hi Chris,
Long time no speak lol. I just read the above article, and I couldn’t agree more. Being Blind, I was taught to touch type when I was seven years old. I must admit that I hated every minute of it but I am so pleased that I can do it now.
Hi James
Good to hear from you. I have seen your status message on Skype a few times, you seem happy.
Let’s catch up soon. Thanks for the comment, I imagine it has turned out to be more than useful for you.
Good question. That’s how I learned to type as a blind person. I used a typewriter before I ever had a computer.
Was that at a regular school, or a bind school can I ask?
That was a regular school. I was mainstreamed, thank GOD! The times I did spend at the Oregon School 4 the Blind = depres …