Typing is a vital skill that will serve you well in your future. It's a fundamental aspect of communication in the digital age.
As we discussed earlier, the average person spends around 8 hours a day on their computer or mobile device. Developing strong typing skills will make you more efficient and productive in this time.
In today's job market, many employers require applicants to have basic typing skills. In fact, a survey found that 75% of employers consider typing skills to be an essential requirement for most jobs.
Having good typing skills will also open up more opportunities for you to work remotely, which can be a great perk for those who value flexibility and work-life balance.
Why Typing is Important
Typing is a game-changer for students who struggle with fine-motor skills and find it painful to write by hand.
It's a highly accessible solution for students with dysgraphia, allowing them to practice spelling words and learn letter patterns without the physical discomfort.
Typing is also a great way to support learning and retention, as it involves kinetic elements that engage muscle memory and encode spelling as a series of key strokes.
This makes typing a preferred approach for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning difficulties, who can benefit from the multi-sensory experience of typing.
Supports Digital Equity
Learning to type is essential for students, and incorporating it into the elementary curriculum is a great way to support digital equity. By doing so, students from all socioeconomic backgrounds can master this important skill.
This makes it possible for students to have equal opportunities in the classroom and beyond.
Typing Words
Typing words can be a fun and effective way to practice spelling.
You can use a computer or tablet with a wireless keyboard to make it a multi-sensory activity that involves kinetic elements, which can support learning and retention of letter patterns.
Making flashcards or writing words out by hand can also work, but typing is often more convenient and accessible.
Typing is a great solution for students who struggle with fine-motor skills and find it painful to write by hand, such as those with dysgraphia.
It's also a helpful tool for students with autism and language-based learning difficulties like dyslexia, as it allows muscle memory to encode the spelling as a series of key strokes.
Benefits of Faster Typing
Learning to type faster will provide you with numerous benefits and more. Typing is still an essential skill, even with the rise of voice assistants.
Faster typing can help you complete tasks more efficiently. The great thing about typing is that it's not difficult to learn, and anyone can learn with dedication and practice.
As technology continues to advance, typing will remain a crucial part of our lives. Learning to type can be a valuable skill for many years to come.
Faster and more accurate typing can bring you a sense of accomplishment and pride. With a bit of dedication and practice, you can enjoy all the benefits that come with it.
Eases Frustration and Improves Accuracy
Learning to type can ease frustration, especially for students who are required to type for a project. They may quickly become frustrated and disengaged if they don't have the necessary keyboarding skills.
Teaching students keyboarding skills helps eliminate this hurdle, allowing them to focus on what they are learning. By doing so, they can complete assignments without feeling overwhelmed.
Learning to touch type also improves accuracy, which means you'll spend less time checking for mistakes and correcting them.
Increases Confidence
Having keyboarding skills can make a big difference in a student's confidence. Students who lack keyboarding skills can feel less confident in their schoolwork and education.
Typing can be a major obstacle for students who struggle with keyboarding skills, making it harder for them to express their thoughts and ideas.
As a result, students may choose not to engage in assignments that require typing, leading to lower confidence in learning.
Eases Frustration
Teaching students keyboarding skills helps to eliminate frustration caused by a lack of technical skills. This hurdle can prevent students from effectively focusing on what they are learning.
Students who are required to type for a project but lack keyboarding skills can quickly become disengaged. They may refuse to complete the project altogether.
As educators, we know how important it is to ensure that technical skills like keyboarding don't act as a barrier for entry in learning.
Better Accuracy
Learning to touch type can save you a significant amount of time by reducing the need to check for mistakes in your writing.
Some online tools can help you learn to type faster and also highlight your mistakes in the moment, allowing you to focus on reducing them.
The monkey type test is one such tool designed to improve both speed and accuracy through engaging typing exercises.
By learning to type with greater accuracy, you'll spend less time correcting mistakes and more time on the task at hand.
This means there's less chance that mistakes will sneak through into the final version of the document, saving you even more time and effort.
Learning and Career Preparation
Learning a good typing speed can prepare you for your future career, as most top professions require typing competency. From medicine to law, typing is a regular part of the job.
Having a high typing speed can give you an edge in your job search, as it's a valuable skill that employers look for. In fact, being able to type fast and accurately can put you at a big advantage when applying for a job.
As Josh Scott, a careers consultant, notes, it's essential to clearly state your word per minute (WPM) on your resume to impress prospective employers. This can lead to more opportunities and a better chance of landing your dream job.
Improves Test Scores
Early exposure to keyboarding tools and practice has a significant impact on students' performance in computer-based assessments. This includes factors such as text length, use of editing tools, and formatting tools.
Studies have shown that prior education and practice in keyboarding and computer skills can improve test scores in students. A 2015 paper on the 2012 NAEP computer-based writing pilot found that students who were proficient in keyboarding performed better in these assessments.
By teaching keyboarding skills to students, we can help them become more confident and comfortable using digital tools. This is crucial as more assessments and assignments take place in a digital setting.
Keyboarding is no longer just an "office" skill, but a fundamental skill required in most modern careers. By mastering keyboarding skills, students can become more effective and productive in their future careers.
Career Preparation
Learning to type can be a game-changer for your career prospects. Almost all top professions today require typing competency, making it a crucial skill to have in your toolkit.
From medicine to law, typing is a regular part of the job. Employers like to know that their employees can type properly because it will make them more productive and improve the accuracy of their work.
Working on your WPM will ensure that when you land your dream job, your slow typing skills won’t hold you back from meeting your full potential. Being able to type fast and accurately is going to put you at a big advantage when applying for a job.
Being able to type can help you find more and better opportunities when it comes to getting a job. You can learn to type at your own pace with self-study programs, making it a convenient and accessible skill to acquire.
Learning to type can also improve your computer-based test scores in students. Early and consistent exposure to keyboarding tools and practice has a notable impact on students' performance and test scores in computer-based assessments.
In today's digital age, typing is a skill that makes you look professional. The hunched-back, crooked neck, and poor posture approach that goes with the "Hunt-and-peck" method is not nearly as attractive.
Sources
- https://www.learning.com/blog/the-importance-of-keyboarding-for-students/
- https://www.typesy.com/the-benefits-of-keyboarding-the-key-to-your-future/
- https://www.readandspell.com/us/why-is-keyboarding-important
- https://www.typing.com/blog/can-gain-typing-fast-keyboard/
- https://www.skillsyouneed.com/rhubarb/benefits-of-typing.html
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