[LM_NET] ELEM: Is keyboarding necessary?

[Sylvia Jacquard <sjacquar@CA.INTER.NET>]

Dear LM-Netters:

For the last few years students at our school have been getting a unit 
on keyboarding (usually lasting about 3 months, once a week for about 
15 mins.) at grades 3, 4, and 5. This year the grade 5 teacher has said 
that he thinks that students become fast enough hunting and pecking and 
that it isn't necessary to teach them keyboarding.

I have always felt that considering what students are and will be 
expected to do on the computer, we are doing them a disservice if we do 
not give them the opportunity to learn keyboarding.  But I also know 
that the amount of time given to students at these grades is in most 
cases probably not enough to have this skill stick. Does this mean that 
there is no point in doing it at all?

Also, the grade six teacher wants her students to have a one month 
refresher at the beginning of the year before they go on to other 
things. How effective will this be?

I would love some opinions on these questions.

Thanks,

Sylvia Jacquard
Librarian
Coldbrook and District School
Coldbrook, NS

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