The Issue:

Should students be able to test out of keyboarding and how would the testing work?


My Comments:

I have participated at a number of schools in testing students for a Keyboarding class exemption. I have used Mavis Bacon, Typing Tutor, Typing Master Pro, and more. The most important part was not the software that was used, but the conditions of the test.

 

Students were graded on the following.

 

Touch Typing - All the tests I participated in required the student to have their hands covered.

                        (A piece of printer paper taped to the keyboard works nice, is light and inexpensive.)

 

Posture -  Proper technique on the keyboard and in the chair.

                (Students with bad posture will end up with motion problems such as carpal tunnel.)

 

Stamina - All of the tests were a minimum of twenty minutes and I recommend at least thirty.

                (If their hands and wrists do not have this much strength, how will they finish that college paper?)

 

Keyboarding Speed - Minimum of forty words per minute, recommended - forty-five words per minute.

                (This was always the most contentious issue. Be strong, it is best for the students.)

 

Keyboarding Accuracy - The speed is worthless without accuracy. Here the minimum should be at least 95%.

                (My friends who come from the typewriter era believe in 98 & 99%.)

 

If you do not have the software, you can have them use Microsoft Word and type out of a book. The only disadvantage is checking for errors. You can use Word to count the characters to find words per minute.

 

I believe that we all need to be very careful to make sure our students are ready for the world out there. There are more and more jobs each year that require computer work. Letting students leave high school without touch typing skills is hurting their chances for a successful, high paying career.

 

Dirk D Dykstra