Need statistics to convince my students they should learn to touch-type.
September 11, 2013 8:50 AM Subscribe
Please help me find statistics to convince my high school students they should learn how to touch-type.
I'm a high school teacher in an urban district. I have a group of 11th and 12th graders for 45 minutes, once per week, and I've decided to use the time to teach them how to touch-type using TypingWeb. They are mostly hunt and peckers, anywhere from 1 to 20 wpm, most closer to 1 wpm.
Problem: They are pretty resistant to learning to type - they don't see the point, they don't want to learn, and they want to keep hunting and pecking even on the touch-typing lessons.
Question: I need statistics, anecdotes, or other info that might motivate them to learn to type.
Silly example #1: People who can type over 50 wpm are 299010101% more likely to graduate from college.
Silly example #2: Video clip of Michael Jordan saying he never would have succeeded in basketball if he hadn't learned to touch type as a child.
Can anyone help me? I've searched around on google and google scholar for examples like that, but I'm having trouble finding anything substantive. Thanks!
I'm a high school teacher in an urban district. I have a group of 11th and 12th graders for 45 minutes, once per week, and I've decided to use the time to teach them how to touch-type using TypingWeb. They are mostly hunt and peckers, anywhere from 1 to 20 wpm, most closer to 1 wpm.
Problem: They are pretty resistant to learning to type - they don't see the point, they don't want to learn, and they want to keep hunting and pecking even on the touch-typing lessons.
Question: I need statistics, anecdotes, or other info that might motivate them to learn to type.
Silly example #1: People who can type over 50 wpm are 299010101% more likely to graduate from college.
Silly example #2: Video clip of Michael Jordan saying he never would have succeeded in basketball if he hadn't learned to touch type as a child.
Can anyone help me? I've searched around on google and google scholar for examples like that, but I'm having trouble finding anything substantive. Thanks!
Is "urban district" code for something? I mean, are these students expected to graduate, go to college and enter some kind of professional career? Because typing at least 40wpm is the minimum for efficiently writing college papers and professional reports and timely emails. I don't think you can really move on down that road without basic typing proficiency. It's a kind of technical literacy these days.
(And I don't think it needs to be touch, but I do think it needs to be fast and accurate.)
posted by DarlingBri at 8:59 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
(And I don't think it needs to be touch, but I do think it needs to be fast and accurate.)
posted by DarlingBri at 8:59 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I learned to touch type by accident, just through typing a ton because I needed to for study/work.
Is it practical to insist that essays are handed in as typed copy only?
If not, can you set competitions in class to see who can type out a piece of text the fastest, with prizes?
posted by greenish at 9:00 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is it practical to insist that essays are handed in as typed copy only?
If not, can you set competitions in class to see who can type out a piece of text the fastest, with prizes?
posted by greenish at 9:00 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
(And I don't think it needs to be touch, but I do think it needs to be fast and accurate.)
Then again, you can't really be fast or accurate without eventually learning not to look at your fingers.
posted by fifthrider at 9:01 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Then again, you can't really be fast or accurate without eventually learning not to look at your fingers.
posted by fifthrider at 9:01 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd like to see these statistics as well. I type A LOT slower when I do it the "right way" -- home row, et cetera, than I do when hunting and pecking.
I did very well in college and grad school. I work in an IT-based profession, and I have been successful in my career in spite of the fact that I have never typed the "right way."
posted by tckma at 9:02 AM on September 11, 2013 [9 favorites]
I did very well in college and grad school. I work in an IT-based profession, and I have been successful in my career in spite of the fact that I have never typed the "right way."
posted by tckma at 9:02 AM on September 11, 2013 [9 favorites]
DarlingBri, I think "urban district" is code for poor underclass. This group may not be socialized to care about career skills in the same way as middle class students.
posted by 3491again at 9:02 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by 3491again at 9:02 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: How do they see themselves using computers in the future? Are they aware of how prevalent computer use is among middle class careers, and how those jobs require typing emails, reports, etc.? Do they have college aspirations, and do they understand that college requires writing multi-page papers on a regular basis? It may be that their only experience with computers is filling out the occasional form online and their impression of computer work is "press a button or two in order to bring up the right screen."
If they truly don't have the understanding of how important typing is in these situations, give them an assignment to type out a 1-page memo. If they get done early, they can use the rest of the class time as they wish (homework, independent web browsing, whatever). Let them discover the importance of typing as a skill through this kind of experience, perhaps even on a semi-weekly basis.
posted by philosophygeek at 9:04 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
If they truly don't have the understanding of how important typing is in these situations, give them an assignment to type out a 1-page memo. If they get done early, they can use the rest of the class time as they wish (homework, independent web browsing, whatever). Let them discover the importance of typing as a skill through this kind of experience, perhaps even on a semi-weekly basis.
posted by philosophygeek at 9:04 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I don't have stats, but let me tell you - the ability to type well, fast, and accurately is an asset to a whole lot of jobs. Transcribing things, typing out hand written notes, etc. is just part of the job in so so many jobs, including ones you maybe wouldn't think of.
The job market sucks out loud these days, and any upperhand they can get, including just being skilled at typing, is invaluable. So rather than showing them touch type stats, show them stats on how epically awful the job market is so that they understand that they need to set themselves apart in any way they can. Maybe this is round about and depressing, maybe this is a bad idea, but I don't think you're going to sell them on the awesomeness of touch typing just for touch typing's sake.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 9:10 AM on September 11, 2013
The job market sucks out loud these days, and any upperhand they can get, including just being skilled at typing, is invaluable. So rather than showing them touch type stats, show them stats on how epically awful the job market is so that they understand that they need to set themselves apart in any way they can. Maybe this is round about and depressing, maybe this is a bad idea, but I don't think you're going to sell them on the awesomeness of touch typing just for touch typing's sake.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 9:10 AM on September 11, 2013
Best answer: Ask them who wants to learn how to touch type. I doubt many will. Why? Because it is boring.
The average essay is 2,000 words. An amateur touch typist can achieve 40 wpm. That's 50 minutes of typing. Someone who does not touch type can achieve about 20 wpm. That's a loss of 25 minutes each time they write an essay. But you don't just type essays. You type to use search engines, put stuff on facebook etc. If one assumes people will type 1,000 words per day - a conservative estimate - what do they save?
Let's assume they are 18 and they live to the age of 80. That's 22,630,000 words. At 40 wpm they will spend more than 9,429 hours of their life typing.
At 20 wpm they spend double the amount of time typing. Double the amount of time doing something they find boring.
By learning to touch type, they are giving themselves, basically, the equivalent of four working weeks to do whatever they want. Every year. Not typing. For life.
In summary: er, YOLO. Don't spend it typing.
posted by MuffinMan at 9:10 AM on September 11, 2013 [18 favorites]
The average essay is 2,000 words. An amateur touch typist can achieve 40 wpm. That's 50 minutes of typing. Someone who does not touch type can achieve about 20 wpm. That's a loss of 25 minutes each time they write an essay. But you don't just type essays. You type to use search engines, put stuff on facebook etc. If one assumes people will type 1,000 words per day - a conservative estimate - what do they save?
Let's assume they are 18 and they live to the age of 80. That's 22,630,000 words. At 40 wpm they will spend more than 9,429 hours of their life typing.
At 20 wpm they spend double the amount of time typing. Double the amount of time doing something they find boring.
By learning to touch type, they are giving themselves, basically, the equivalent of four working weeks to do whatever they want. Every year. Not typing. For life.
In summary: er, YOLO. Don't spend it typing.
posted by MuffinMan at 9:10 AM on September 11, 2013 [18 favorites]
I never got along with typing software. Is ASCII art still a thing? When I went to school, we had an entire year of classes on typing, on typewriters. In 1993. I think they thought we would all work as secretaries - we also had to write formal letters and copy. Apart from the tedium of a teacher yelling out ASDFJKL; and stretching from the home row, we had a lot of fun with typing out ASCII art. We also had speed tests and such but that was actually quite stressful.
As much as I hated typing class apart from the art games, I am so grateful in my everyday life that I can type properly.
posted by wingless_angel at 9:12 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
As much as I hated typing class apart from the art games, I am so grateful in my everyday life that I can type properly.
posted by wingless_angel at 9:12 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Instead of calling it touch typing maybe you could call it keyboarding?
posted by mareli at 9:17 AM on September 11, 2013
posted by mareli at 9:17 AM on September 11, 2013
Best answer: As someone who can touch-type at a decent speed, it's always awkward seeing people playing the hunt-and-peck game. I have seen people take 15 minutes to compose an email that would take me 3. If these people ever want a job that involves computers, they'd better learn to type at a decent rate. If they want to go to college, likewise. If they want to look stupid, they can keep hunting-and-pecking, because it really looks stupid to me, and it looks stupid when you can't keep up with everyone else.
posted by Slinga at 9:17 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Slinga at 9:17 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
I've decided to use the time to teach them how to touch-type
Why? Surely you must have reasons. Convey those reasons to your students. When they say, "we don't see the point", what is your response? If you tell us the reasons, we can help you think of ways to convey the message to your students, but it is very hard for other people (us) to come with justifications for a course of action that you have decided to take.
posted by Tanizaki at 9:18 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
Why? Surely you must have reasons. Convey those reasons to your students. When they say, "we don't see the point", what is your response? If you tell us the reasons, we can help you think of ways to convey the message to your students, but it is very hard for other people (us) to come with justifications for a course of action that you have decided to take.
posted by Tanizaki at 9:18 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
If they're typing that slowly, I would guess that almost none of these students have a computer at home. I never learned to touch type (I chose woodshop as an elective instead), but can manage 40wpm with my own personal typing style because I have been on a computer both for fun and for work almost every single day for 20+ years now. I wonder if it would help if you could come up with exercises that didn't emphasize perfect touch typing form, but rather speed and accuracy? Like that you would grade the end result and how quickly they did it, regardless of whether they used the proper "hands on the home keys" position to get there.
For the actual statistics you were asking for, Wikipedia has a good summary. And based on my own personal experience I would say that a lot of temp agencies require a 40wpm minimum.
posted by MsMolly at 9:27 AM on September 11, 2013
For the actual statistics you were asking for, Wikipedia has a good summary. And based on my own personal experience I would say that a lot of temp agencies require a 40wpm minimum.
posted by MsMolly at 9:27 AM on September 11, 2013
Not quite an answer to your question, but there are also a TON of games out there designed to teach typing to kids. Typer Shark, the games feature on "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing"...I myself learned to type by playing the typing-heavy (though not text-only) computer games of the early 1990s - Space Quest, King's Quest, and so on. Maybe add some incentives for doing anything likely to increase typing speed, regardless if they're doing it "right" or not? Like - whoever gets up to 20 RPM by next week gets movies tickets; here are some resources you can choose from; GO.
posted by pretentious illiterate at 9:30 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 9:30 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Tell them that touch typing will enable them to text faster and that you will hold a contest at the end of the unit to see who has the fastest fingers in the class.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 9:42 AM on September 11, 2013
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 9:42 AM on September 11, 2013
There have been many times in my life during which being able to type quickly and accurately has been what kept me fed and my rent paid, regardless of what other experience or education I've had. It's an easy skill to demonstrate to any temp agency, and if you compare the wages you can earn as a skilled typist to the amount of time required to learn, there are very few skills that offer as good a value.
I know that's boring, but it beats the hell out of having fast food work or sign spinning as my last ditch option.
posted by asperity at 9:54 AM on September 11, 2013
I know that's boring, but it beats the hell out of having fast food work or sign spinning as my last ditch option.
posted by asperity at 9:54 AM on September 11, 2013
To flip things around, I never cared much for gym. No amount of statistics or anecdotes would have changed that and as such I never really put any effort into it. No job I was remotely interested in would have cared how well I did in gym. Oh I knew that being active was healthier, but that didn't make football any more fun. Fortunately, all I needed in gym was a minimum amount of participation; improvement was optional.
My suggestion would be to talk to the students and find out what they want to do with their lives after they are finished with high school. Ask them about their interests too. But be practical, most people know what they are capable of in terms of employment prospects. If a student's career goal is being in construction, a barber, an actor, a mail carrier, military, sales, etc. then touch typing is going to be a harder sell than if they think they have a chance of getting, or even want, an office job.
posted by Green With You at 9:56 AM on September 11, 2013
My suggestion would be to talk to the students and find out what they want to do with their lives after they are finished with high school. Ask them about their interests too. But be practical, most people know what they are capable of in terms of employment prospects. If a student's career goal is being in construction, a barber, an actor, a mail carrier, military, sales, etc. then touch typing is going to be a harder sell than if they think they have a chance of getting, or even want, an office job.
posted by Green With You at 9:56 AM on September 11, 2013
Can you get them "Typing of the Dead"?
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:57 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:57 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I am a writer and I have worked with other writers and designers all my live-long days. My boss doesn't touch-type. Not every writer I've worked with touch-types. They are pretty fast typists with their experienced hunt-and-peck approach.
My kids who just graduated high school (urban district FTW!) and went through "keyboarding" classes don't touch-type. I don't know why, I think it's like my brothers who were taught cursive but just never wrote in cursive even though it's much faster than block printing. My son who is off at college now presumably typing papers is pretty fast with his hunt-and-peck approach. He's not going to be doing transcription, he's going to write. They're different and require different skills. I would prefer that he touch-type, but he doesn't. I don't think it will hold him back.
posted by headnsouth at 9:58 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
My kids who just graduated high school (urban district FTW!) and went through "keyboarding" classes don't touch-type. I don't know why, I think it's like my brothers who were taught cursive but just never wrote in cursive even though it's much faster than block printing. My son who is off at college now presumably typing papers is pretty fast with his hunt-and-peck approach. He's not going to be doing transcription, he's going to write. They're different and require different skills. I would prefer that he touch-type, but he doesn't. I don't think it will hold him back.
posted by headnsouth at 9:58 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
If they ever find themselves in a situation where their time on the computer is limited (internet cafe in a foreign country; public library; your home computer is not working so you have to go over to a friend's house to borrow theirs), being able to type at a decent clip can make the difference between being able to finish what they need to do, and not being able to finish in time.
A person who didn't finish typing their resume in the allotted 30 minutes and now has to reserve another session and wait an hour for a computer to be available is a really sad person.
posted by Jeanne at 10:06 AM on September 11, 2013
A person who didn't finish typing their resume in the allotted 30 minutes and now has to reserve another session and wait an hour for a computer to be available is a really sad person.
posted by Jeanne at 10:06 AM on September 11, 2013
Point out that when getting into conversations on dating sites, if they can't type fast enough that hot person they're trying to chat up will get bored and leave.
posted by Sophont at 10:07 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Sophont at 10:07 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
Question: How is their reading? If they are taking their words letter by letter instead of thinking about the whole word, they may have bigger issues on their plate.
If these students don't have computers at home and are way behind academically in general, statistics like
"People who can type over 50 wpm are 299010101% more likely to graduate from college."
probably won't mean much to them. This sort of statistic would be based on a correlation. It wouldn't be a causal thing. People who touch type may also be more likely to have a computer at home, have more books at home, and grow up in a different socio-economic situation.
If you want them to become more interested in typing, they need content that has a reward now. This can mean typing funny jokes, using a sillier typing program, having them practice talking to each other with online chat usernames, or providing tangible incentives.
Example: When they can type this 52 word passage in one minute, reward them with a dollar.
"I have finally learned how to type in the most efficient way possible. Not only can I type all the words correctly, I can type them with the same finesse that Usain Bolt has when he runs a one hundred meter dash. I demand respect and I have totally earned this dollar."
posted by donut_princess at 10:08 AM on September 11, 2013 [12 favorites]
If these students don't have computers at home and are way behind academically in general, statistics like
"People who can type over 50 wpm are 299010101% more likely to graduate from college."
probably won't mean much to them. This sort of statistic would be based on a correlation. It wouldn't be a causal thing. People who touch type may also be more likely to have a computer at home, have more books at home, and grow up in a different socio-economic situation.
If you want them to become more interested in typing, they need content that has a reward now. This can mean typing funny jokes, using a sillier typing program, having them practice talking to each other with online chat usernames, or providing tangible incentives.
Example: When they can type this 52 word passage in one minute, reward them with a dollar.
"I have finally learned how to type in the most efficient way possible. Not only can I type all the words correctly, I can type them with the same finesse that Usain Bolt has when he runs a one hundred meter dash. I demand respect and I have totally earned this dollar."
posted by donut_princess at 10:08 AM on September 11, 2013 [12 favorites]
I learned touch-typing the old fashioned way, on an old MANUAL typewriter with a teacher drilling us. I was mind numbingly boring, but BOY am I glad I learned. I now type about 100 wpm and I get so much work done!
I can't think of a job out there that doesn't require that someone use email and word processing for some part of it.
Most of them are using the little screen on their phones for emails and texts, they haven't yet understood that when they go out into the world and they NEED to type, that touch-typing is the way to go.
Here's a link to an article that talks about the need for typing.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:12 AM on September 11, 2013
I can't think of a job out there that doesn't require that someone use email and word processing for some part of it.
Most of them are using the little screen on their phones for emails and texts, they haven't yet understood that when they go out into the world and they NEED to type, that touch-typing is the way to go.
Here's a link to an article that talks about the need for typing.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:12 AM on September 11, 2013
Do kids not IM anymore? My crazy typing skills (90+ WPM) are pretty much all owed to IMing frantically as a teenager.
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:12 AM on September 11, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:12 AM on September 11, 2013 [6 favorites]
I had a job as a messenger for a law firm once when I was right out of school. Late on one particular day, I had to hand carry some papers to a Federal judge. When I got there, it was late, and most people in the office had gone home. I handed the papers to the woman who was still there, who turned out to be the judge. She popped the paper in a typewriter, typed some stuff on the form, signed it, and handed it back to me. Then she looked at me and said: "Typing was one of the most useful classes I had in high school", and we both laughed. Because, as women, we were both taught typing with an eye on secretary as a stereotypical job for women, but the world had turned, and with the advent of new careers for women and computers, touch typing well was still a useful skill to have, no matter what career you ultimately had, even a Federal judgeship in a building in the shadow of the White House.
posted by gudrun at 10:23 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by gudrun at 10:23 AM on September 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
They are pretty fast typists with their experienced hunt-and-peck approach.
Right, which is why I said "I don't think it needs to be touch, but I do think it needs to be fast and accurate" but the OP is saying these kids are at 1 - 20 wpm, which is not any kind of keyboard literacy. I agree "keyboard literacy to a rate of 40 wpm" is a much more valuable skill than traditional touch typing but it doesn't sound like these students are there.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:26 AM on September 11, 2013
Right, which is why I said "I don't think it needs to be touch, but I do think it needs to be fast and accurate" but the OP is saying these kids are at 1 - 20 wpm, which is not any kind of keyboard literacy. I agree "keyboard literacy to a rate of 40 wpm" is a much more valuable skill than traditional touch typing but it doesn't sound like these students are there.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:26 AM on September 11, 2013
Best answer: Not to bag on high schoolers but I'm not sure any type of statistics or other reason-based arguments are going to convince them. I'd probably go a different route and try trickery mixed with bribery. Find typing games and give prizes to the winners. If they feel like they're getting away with screwing around for 45 minutes during school (!) they might be more into it.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 10:35 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by hapax_legomenon at 10:35 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd focus on getting them to be faster and more accurate typers, without necessarily requiring touch typing. It's easier to show the benefits of fast typing than specifically touch-typing - talk about how long it'll take them to write a 20-page essay in college at 5 wpm vs. 80 wpm, or something. How long it'll take them to type notes in college/HS on a laptop (can they keep up with the teacher talking? SUPER important). How long it'll take them to write reports/etc in their future careers, emails to friends and family, etc.
You don't really need to dwell on that part though, it's obvious that it's a useful skill (not critical but helpful in many areas in life), I think the bigger issue is that learning to touch type is really boring. You could just encourage a lot of typing somehow (IM-like system in class, typed assignments, etc?) and they'll improve naturally, or try some of those games for touch typing, or some other thing that gets them to type without that being the only goal of the exercise.
They tried to teach me how to touch type in school but it never stuck. I've typed a lot for fun (IMs, forums) and have a pretty decent wpm now - never tested it but I can type fast enough to write down lectures as the prof talks (paraphrased, but still). I know roughly where most of the keys are and I use all my fingers to type, but I still tend to look at the keyboard and I hover rather than touching the keys. I don't think you need to be a touch typer to have a decent wpm, although it helps of course, particularly for the super-fast typers.
posted by randomnity at 10:37 AM on September 11, 2013
You don't really need to dwell on that part though, it's obvious that it's a useful skill (not critical but helpful in many areas in life), I think the bigger issue is that learning to touch type is really boring. You could just encourage a lot of typing somehow (IM-like system in class, typed assignments, etc?) and they'll improve naturally, or try some of those games for touch typing, or some other thing that gets them to type without that being the only goal of the exercise.
They tried to teach me how to touch type in school but it never stuck. I've typed a lot for fun (IMs, forums) and have a pretty decent wpm now - never tested it but I can type fast enough to write down lectures as the prof talks (paraphrased, but still). I know roughly where most of the keys are and I use all my fingers to type, but I still tend to look at the keyboard and I hover rather than touching the keys. I don't think you need to be a touch typer to have a decent wpm, although it helps of course, particularly for the super-fast typers.
posted by randomnity at 10:37 AM on September 11, 2013
No statistics to give you but I'll go on record as saying that my typing class - where I learned to touch type - was the only realistically useful class I ever took.
posted by matty at 11:42 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by matty at 11:42 AM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
No statistics to give you but I'll go on record as saying that my typing class - where I learned to touch type - was the only realistically useful class I ever took.
Just wanted to second this sentiment. Also, I have two college degrees. Still think typing was the most valuable thing I was ever taught.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:13 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Just wanted to second this sentiment. Also, I have two college degrees. Still think typing was the most valuable thing I was ever taught.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:13 PM on September 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Why don't you show videos of people typing on keyboards? One touch-typist, one hunt-peckist.
Pose the questions as "Who looks dumber?" "Who wants to look dumber?"
posted by oceanjesse at 12:38 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
Pose the questions as "Who looks dumber?" "Who wants to look dumber?"
posted by oceanjesse at 12:38 PM on September 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I'd print out various entry-level job descriptions that spell out desired typing speed.
I'd also try to get the most enjoyable typing games and then add external prizes for accuracy and speed milestones.
Wikipedia has this to say (with cites):
I'd also try to get the most enjoyable typing games and then add external prizes for accuracy and speed milestones.
Wikipedia has this to say (with cites):
In one study of average computer users in 1998, the average rate for transcription was 33 words per minute, and 19 words per minute for composition.[2] In the same study, when the group was divided into "fast," "moderate," and "slow" groups, the average speeds were 40 wpm, 35 wpm, and 23 wpm, respectively.[3]posted by vegartanipla at 3:17 PM on September 11, 2013
An average professional typist types usually in speeds of 50 to 80 wpm, while some positions can require 80 to 95 (usually the minimum required for dispatch positions and other time-sensitive typing jobs), and some advanced typists work at speeds above 120 wpm.[4]
I taught myself to type using some typing program back when I was a kid. But what really really taught me was typing with my friends on AIM back in the day.
Is there an equivalent here? If they can only communicate by typing, they will be motivated to type faster.
posted by nat at 4:13 PM on September 11, 2013
Is there an equivalent here? If they can only communicate by typing, they will be motivated to type faster.
posted by nat at 4:13 PM on September 11, 2013
I agree that bribery is probably your best bet here. Even the most logical, persuasive evidence is not enough to convince a stubborn teenager that something they don't see the value of is worth doing.
As an anecdote, the only gym teacher who ever got me to put any effort into gym class was the one who made a deal with me where I could leave once I legitimately worked out for 15 minutes. A modified version of that could work for your class-- the student with the best/most improved typing gets to leave early/gets free time on the internet/wins candy. Hopefully as they improve their skills they'll be more internally motivated.
posted by fox problems at 4:47 PM on September 11, 2013
As an anecdote, the only gym teacher who ever got me to put any effort into gym class was the one who made a deal with me where I could leave once I legitimately worked out for 15 minutes. A modified version of that could work for your class-- the student with the best/most improved typing gets to leave early/gets free time on the internet/wins candy. Hopefully as they improve their skills they'll be more internally motivated.
posted by fox problems at 4:47 PM on September 11, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions. "Urban district" is not exactly code, but in this case it means poor (>90% free/reduced lunch), and almost entirely minority students. Most of these students will at least attempt a 2 year college.
There will definitely be competition and bribery - that's a given. Feel free to make suggestions in that regard, but I think I've got that covered. I'd like to complement that with an appeal to their ambitions.
Part of the problem is that initially, they are *decreasing* in speed when learning to touch-type, since they've been hunting-and-pecking so long. I just want to convince them that it's worthwhile to spend some effort to get over that initial slowdown to switch to touch-typing.
I see some good ideas, anecdotes, and angles here that I can use to motivate them, so thanks!
I would still love to see some kind of statistics about how typing speed affects some measure of success (since they're upperclassmen, something to do with college would be nice) - maybe that study just hasn't been done yet!
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:08 PM on September 11, 2013
There will definitely be competition and bribery - that's a given. Feel free to make suggestions in that regard, but I think I've got that covered. I'd like to complement that with an appeal to their ambitions.
Part of the problem is that initially, they are *decreasing* in speed when learning to touch-type, since they've been hunting-and-pecking so long. I just want to convince them that it's worthwhile to spend some effort to get over that initial slowdown to switch to touch-typing.
I see some good ideas, anecdotes, and angles here that I can use to motivate them, so thanks!
I would still love to see some kind of statistics about how typing speed affects some measure of success (since they're upperclassmen, something to do with college would be nice) - maybe that study just hasn't been done yet!
posted by Salvor Hardin at 5:08 PM on September 11, 2013
Competition:
Can you get them playing Typer Shark or something similar? Have rewards for high scores, keep a high score list on the board, have acheivements to unlock?
Also, you could write encoded messages and give them the key. For example, move your hands a few keys over and up and type like you were touch typing. Give the kids the note, and tell them the key, such as, "Up one row and one key to the right" so that f=t, j=i, etc.
posted by frecklefaerie at 6:07 AM on September 12, 2013
Can you get them playing Typer Shark or something similar? Have rewards for high scores, keep a high score list on the board, have acheivements to unlock?
Also, you could write encoded messages and give them the key. For example, move your hands a few keys over and up and type like you were touch typing. Give the kids the note, and tell them the key, such as, "Up one row and one key to the right" so that f=t, j=i, etc.
posted by frecklefaerie at 6:07 AM on September 12, 2013
Best answer: Here are a few somewhat relevant studies via Google Scholar:
The impacts of career-technical education on high school labor market success
Analysis of 12 years of longitudinal data found that those who devoted about one-sixth of their time in high school to occupation-specific vocational courses earned at least 12% extra one year after graduating and about 8% extra seven years later (holding attitudes and ability in 8th grade, family background and college attendance constant). This was true both for students who did and did not pursue post-secondary education. Computer courses had particularly large effects on earnings eight years after graduating.
Keyboarding as general education: post-school employment and earnings effects
This study reports on the post-school attainment effects of offering courses in typing and keyboarding as part of general education. The analysis was designed to develop models to analyse the effects of keyboarding on employment, earnings, further educational attainment and related distributional and cost-effectiveness issues. We assess these models empirically using national survey data from the federal government's High School and Beyond data set. Results indicate significant positive ramifications on all aspects cited above.
Evidence on the Need for Keyboarding as General Education
A 1980 survey of 9,000 high school sophomores with 3 follow-ups over 6 years revealed that high school typing courses led to greater employability and earnings for non-college-bound students and was of equal benefit to students of lower socioeconomic levels. One course sufficed for white males; white females benefited more from more than one course.
Keyboarding Coursework and Employment, Earnings, and Educational Attainment
This article reports on a study about the post school attainment effects resulting from student participation in typing and keyboarding coursework as part of secondary general education. The effects of keyboarding on employment, earnings, further educational attainment, and related equity and cost-effectiveness issues were examined. The models developed in the study used national survey data from the federal government's High School and Beyond data set for the 1982 graduating cohort of students. Results indicate significant positive effects on almost all aspects examined.
Keep in mind that data on what worked well for students in the 1980s may not be relevant now. Also keep in mind potential sampling biases of these studies (socioeconomic status, gender, etc).
I stand by my original statement that you probably still can't get them to care. Maybe stage a "typing olympics" or something at the end of the semester with competitions for fastest typer (regardless of method used), fastest 10-finger typer, most accurate blindfolded typer, most improved typer, keyboard key identification (draw keyboard and label keys accurately). Involve proper use of the number pad (also helpful for any kind of cashiering or accounting work).
posted by melissasaurus at 8:40 AM on September 12, 2013
The impacts of career-technical education on high school labor market success
Analysis of 12 years of longitudinal data found that those who devoted about one-sixth of their time in high school to occupation-specific vocational courses earned at least 12% extra one year after graduating and about 8% extra seven years later (holding attitudes and ability in 8th grade, family background and college attendance constant). This was true both for students who did and did not pursue post-secondary education. Computer courses had particularly large effects on earnings eight years after graduating.
Keyboarding as general education: post-school employment and earnings effects
This study reports on the post-school attainment effects of offering courses in typing and keyboarding as part of general education. The analysis was designed to develop models to analyse the effects of keyboarding on employment, earnings, further educational attainment and related distributional and cost-effectiveness issues. We assess these models empirically using national survey data from the federal government's High School and Beyond data set. Results indicate significant positive ramifications on all aspects cited above.
Evidence on the Need for Keyboarding as General Education
A 1980 survey of 9,000 high school sophomores with 3 follow-ups over 6 years revealed that high school typing courses led to greater employability and earnings for non-college-bound students and was of equal benefit to students of lower socioeconomic levels. One course sufficed for white males; white females benefited more from more than one course.
Keyboarding Coursework and Employment, Earnings, and Educational Attainment
This article reports on a study about the post school attainment effects resulting from student participation in typing and keyboarding coursework as part of secondary general education. The effects of keyboarding on employment, earnings, further educational attainment, and related equity and cost-effectiveness issues were examined. The models developed in the study used national survey data from the federal government's High School and Beyond data set for the 1982 graduating cohort of students. Results indicate significant positive effects on almost all aspects examined.
Keep in mind that data on what worked well for students in the 1980s may not be relevant now. Also keep in mind potential sampling biases of these studies (socioeconomic status, gender, etc).
I stand by my original statement that you probably still can't get them to care. Maybe stage a "typing olympics" or something at the end of the semester with competitions for fastest typer (regardless of method used), fastest 10-finger typer, most accurate blindfolded typer, most improved typer, keyboard key identification (draw keyboard and label keys accurately). Involve proper use of the number pad (also helpful for any kind of cashiering or accounting work).
posted by melissasaurus at 8:40 AM on September 12, 2013
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posted by melissasaurus at 8:57 AM on September 11, 2013 [3 favorites]