BGSU Classroom Technology E-Mag Summer 2020 | Page 21

The results fell right in line with my initial hypothesis. My class of second graders showed an average growth in typing speed of 1.2 WPM, my class third graders an average growth in typing speed of 3.4 WPM, and my class of fourth graders an average growth in typing speed of 4.4 WPM. This data showed me that the online keyboarding instruction and practice through Typing Club was much more effective for my fourth graders than it was for my second graders. This is likely due to several factors such as fine motor skills, academic readiness, developmental maturity, and reading ability. My plan is to continue using Typing Club for my students, but to switch my second graders to the “junior” set of lesson plans which will hopefully be more developmentally and academically appropriate for that age group.

I would highly encourage all teachers to consider integrating keyboarding skills with other classwork, as typing on a computer is a skill that will be required for a majority of the jobs that the students of today will be applying for in the near future. Even starting students as young as second graders with basic keyboarding skills can set them up for future success!

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