The best way for students to learn to keyboard is by having a lot of experience keyboarding.
That sounds self evident, yet for a lot of years, we have seen "keyboarding" as a stand alone subject, one that is taught by a computer teacher using direct instruction. To create students who are comfortable keyboarding, a lot more practice is needed than that provided by once a week computer class.
According to Perminger, Weiss, Weintraub 2004: Keyboarding is a process that involves three phases
COGNITIVE PHASE: The student relies on visual feedback. The learner looks at their fingers or at the screen immediately after hitting a key.
ASSOCIATIVE PHASE: The student relies on kinesthetic cues, looking at the screen periodically.
AUTONOMOUS PHASE: The student relies primarily on kinesthetic feedback.
Our job is to move students through these steps, realizing that like any other skill, growth can only happen with frequent practice. NYS stresses form over accuracy and speed, so teachers need to help students functional strategies for typing.
