Technology Services

Keyboarding at a Glance

KEYBOARDING At-a-Glance (K-5)

Overview

In 2002 Keyboarding was identified as an area in need of improvement due to inconsistent (yet necessary) skills of our students and inconsistent instruction practices. After researching and piloting Keyboarding methodologies, the Herzog method of instruction was adopted in 2004 and implemented in the 2^nd semester of 2^nd grade. Different from historical "home row" instruction, Herzog teaches the keys in order through 10 days of 30-minute sessions and "allows" students to look at the keys as they learn their position on the keyboard. The method then relies on integrated and meaningful keyboarding opportunities with the regular curriculum and discourages routine drill and practice. Specific keyboarding outcomes (Words per minute and accuracy) were developed for each elementary grade level and in 2007-2008 re-teaching of the Herzog method was provided for some students not at grade level. The 2008-2009 school year will be the first year that all grade levels use and support the Herzog method and will eliminate the need for Type to Learn's drill and practice software (old method).

Technology Plan Goal Addressed

• Goal #1: Integrate Technology with Student Learning Initiatives
• Goal #2: Support Continuous Improvement through the Development or Acquisition of New Applications
• Goal #3: Maintain System Integrity

Existing Elmbrook Environment

2008-2009 All elementary grades will use and support the Herzog method of instruction and classroom integration

Grade level outcomes to be reported at the end of 1^st semester and 2^nd semester:

**2^nd grade instruction does not start until at least 2^nd quarter.  Reporting should begin 2^nd or 3^rd quarter for 2^nd grade.

Because of its limited requirement for instructional time (10 days, 30 minutes each day), re-teaching has been found to be the most effective method to support students struggling with keyboarding. During the winter/spring of 2008 a before-school class  was offered to identified students below grade level at each elementary school. Each class had between 12-27 students and saw improvement in speed and accuracy by 90% of participating students.

Goals

• 80?% of all students reaching proficiency by the end of 2008-2009 school year
• 60% of all students participating in the support classes reach proficiency by the end of the school year
• All teachers understand the Herzog method and provide ample opportunity for their students to reinforce their keyboarding skills through meaningful and relevant work
• Discuss the role of keyboarding at Middle School including pre-assessment of skills, intervention strategies, responsibility of 6^th grade Computers Class, and consistent opportunity to key

Resources Needed

• Integrator support for initial instruction, awareness training for 5th grade teachers, and identification of struggling students for support classes
• Classroom teachers to provide meaningful opportunities to keyboard relevant information
• Adequate access to resources - Alphasmarts, lab computers, or laptops

Primary Contact(s)

Chris Thompson, x1163 or Building Integrator

Key Dates/Timeline for Implementation

• Awareness training of 5^th grade teachers in Sept ‘08
• Training of new 2^nd grade teachers in Oct '08 on instruction
• Data analysis after 1^st quarter for identification of struggling keyboarders and after 2^nd quarter to evaluate proficiency levels across the system

Key Talking Points

• Through the Herzog method keyboarding skills are developed through meaningful and relevant opportunities to keyboard in the regular curriculum. Opportunities could include journaling (personal, scientific), writer's workshop, rekeying current events articles, or synthesizing notes or weekly classroom events.
• In 2008-2009 all elementary students will have been instructed on the Herzog method, eliminating the need for the use of drill and practice software.