This practicum addressed the problem of fourth grade students who watched their fingers and used the "hunt and peck" method while answering questions in curriculum-based software. The following objectives were established: at the end of the 15-week practicum period, all of the 22 targeted students will demonstrate at least 80% accuracy in correct…

Discusses benefits of keyboarding instruction for elementary school students, emphasizing the integration of keyboarding with language arts instruction. Traditional typing and computer-assisted instruction are discussed, six software packages for adapting keyboarding instruction to the classroom are reviewed, and suggestions for software selection…

Discusses using word processing programs with beginning writers, including story illustration and keyboarding. An approach to student writing with computers is outlined, highlighting planning, goals definition, and teacher and student aims. Sample student assignments and a sample writing task card are provided. (PEN)

A practicum used the Keyboard Familiarization approach (introducing students to the location of keys on the computer keyboard) to integrate the computer into a traditionally taught first-grade spelling program, using laminated copies of the computer keyboard. After completing basic drill and practice sessions on the laminated keyboard, the 23…

Describes a study of elementary school students grades three though six that compared two methods of keyboarding instruction, one that used a tutorial computer program and one that involved the teacher and lesson plans. Results indicate the more teacher-intensive method was more efficient and effective than the computer program. (LRW)

Forty developmentally delayed and 40 non-delayed kindergarten children completed an alphabet matching task and a spelling task using 2 different computer input devices: a traditional computer keyboard and a touch-sensitive computer screen. The touch-sensitive screen generally improved the performance of both groups. (Author/JDD)

Focusing on the use of word processing software programs as instructional tools for students learning writing composition, this collection includes 14 research articles and position papers, 16 reports on lesson ideas and projects, 5 articles on keyboarding, and 18 product reviews. These materials relate to teaching writing through the process…

This collection of articles focuses on the use of word processing software programs as instructional tools for students learning writing composition. Section 1 discusses the use of word processors as a composition tools within the process model of writing instruction and includes articles entitled "Should Students Use Spelling Checkers?,""A Recipe…

Describes study of 9- to 11-year-olds conducted in Great Britain that was designed to analyze the means by which elementary school children familiarized themselves with a large database. Types of error and frequency of occurrence are examined, query formulation is discussed, and the importance of keyboard skills is addressed. (nine references)…

The article reviews word processing software and software to build keyboarding skills, as used with students needing to improve their mastery of the writing process. Criteria for selection of word processing programs are discussed and specific word processing programs are compared. Instructional suggestions are offered. (DB)

Designed to assist teachers who are not familiar with computer applications in elementary education, this guide provides information on personal skill development, computer terminology, software organization and evaluation, and troubleshooting. A tentative set of computer education objectives is outlined, and examples and strategies for effective…

Illustrates how the use of an appropriately designed keyboard can help with the learning of a set of symbols for transcribing English and at the same time provide learners of English with a picture of its phonological system. Although the computer has an instrumental role in the development of the idea, it is not essential for its implementation.…

Discusses the need for and the problems with teaching keyboarding to elementary school students, and the types of software necessary for meaningful instruction. (JC)

Discusses the problems of teaching very young students to keyboard well enough to use a computer effectively in composition. Suggests that there is sufficient software to teach keyboarding as young as the fourth grade, and that teachers who have typing skills can teach keyboarding to their students. (JC)

Describes microcomputer-based hardware, software, and adaptive devices that are available to help disabled students based on experiences in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Highlights include speech synthesizers; devices for computer monitors that bypass the need to use a keyboard; switches sensitive to light, movement, and air; and word…