-tictech message:
I feel that teaching good technique is always the right way to teach. A
student might be able to write, but I don't know any teachers who don't push
good writing habits. I remember some of my peers even getting flack in high
school for their poor writing. This would easily be the case for typing, as
well.
>1. They can't get over a certain speed - usually it is about 40-45 words a
>minute that way and most importantly
I completely agree. They may be able to perform, to an extent, but not to
their full potential. Pushing good technique will eventually bring them to
speeds they never would reach using just four fingers and a thumb. Yes, the
process to get there will be painful for them - breaking habits always is -
but they will (hopefully) appreciate it in the end.
>I think we should be thinking about getting them on Dvorak. The computers
>can do it without the keyboards being changed. It would be faster sooner
>for those that balk at the complex nutsy Qwerty system...
I'm positive there are more efficient keyboard layouts available, like
Dvorak. However, one thing I've learned from a few of my classes here in the
Informatics program is that changing an engrained technology is extreme
difficult, if not impossible. The Internet boom rode on top of the Qwerty
keyboard and users, as well as manufacturers, take Qwerty for granted.
Teaching our students a new keyboard layout would disable them once they got
into the real world, because nobody uses that kind of hardware. In our
society, it would be teaching them a useless skill... maybe like teaching
cursive? :)
One solution - which may not be feasible - is to teach them both Qwerty and
a more efficient layout. That way, students will still be able to integrate
into today's standards, but would be ready for the possibility that another
keyboard layout becomes popular. But, like I said, I doubt that would be
feasible.
: Alex Gregorio
: http://www.alexg.net
: http://www.funguas.com
: alexg@u.washington.edu
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