Keyboarding

As a general rule, keyboarding speeds should be measured as “5 words per minute (wpm) x grade level”. Therefore, a student in ninth grade should have a goal of at least 45 words per minute.

Advantages of Touch Typing Skills

1. Speed A touch typist can easily reach typing speeds above 60 words per minute, while a hunt and peck typist would be hard pressed to reach 30 words per minute.

2. Accuracy One of the most important things to learn no matter how hard you type is to type accurately.

3. Time If you increase your typing speed from, say 30 words per minute to 60, you have effectively halved the time it would take you to do the same amount of work

4. Excellence Typing is a basic requirement for scholastic and professional excellence

5. Job Prospects Typing is not an optional skill anymore. Many employers require computer skills and a certain typing speed to even be considered for some positions. Learning to touch type, and to do so accurately, can be one of the most invaluable skills of your career.

6. Health Overall, touch typing is better for your health. You’re not hunched over looking at the keys, and using all of your fingers actually reduces the risk for repetitive stress injuries

7. Focus When you’re typing with two fingers, your focus is split between finding the keys on the keyboard and the work you are doing on the computer. Learning to touch type allows you to focus on one thing instead of two.

8. Editing If you spend your time staring at your keyboard, you are not going to notice spelling or grammar mistakes until well after you have made them. Touch typing give you the option of editing as you go.