Why aren’t children taught to type at school?
Discussion
I was taught in primary school in the late 90s. We had to go to the computer room and share 1 computer between 3.
Probably because kids have such a huge access to computers and keyboards are on nearly all mobile devices that they learn through life anyway, rather than being specifically taught.
Probably because kids have such a huge access to computers and keyboards are on nearly all mobile devices that they learn through life anyway, rather than being specifically taught.
You might just as well ask why kids at school aren't taught how to change a wheel, or re-wire a plug, as they are just as useful life skills as being able to type. I suspect that the majority of kids these days have access to a keyboard and will reach a fairly able level of proficiency through experience. Anyone looking to take up typing as a profession will surely look into taking specific lessons on how to type.
DIW35 said:
You might just as well ask why kids at school aren't taught how to change a wheel, or re-wire a plug, as they are just as useful life skills as being able to type. I suspect that the majority of kids these days have access to a keyboard and will reach a fairly able level of proficiency through experience. Anyone looking to take up typing as a profession will surely look into taking specific lessons on how to type.
It's a workplace skill (same as English and Maths etc) required by most employers nowadays. Why not cut RE lessons and teach stuff that will benefit the country ?You may as well say "why teach English at school after all we pick it up from our parents don't we?"
MikeStroud said:
In my view schools should teach many things including typing. Why let everyone learn their own "two fingered" low wpm method instead of getting us all to 60wpm?
Surely as most jobs involve typing nowadays national productivity would increase as a result.
While roles may involve the need to type, ie use email, write reports, etc. The speed of which will make nearly zero difference as it’s not copy-type rather more thought-type.Surely as most jobs involve typing nowadays national productivity would increase as a result.
I don’t touch type but can easily manage 46wpm when I’ve tested myself using formal online testing applications - but again irrelevant unless working in a copy environment which is a vastly small arena
I was taught in early secondary school at age 11-13.
I also practiced myself because what I learned then was poor. I could do about 25 words per minute. I now type at around 95-100 words per minute and am a touch-typer. My colleagues hate it as they say it sounds like machine-gun fire (and I'm a heavy typer) and puts them off.
How I like to annoy/confuse the further is turn around to talk to them and continue to type what I was typing with no let-up in speed
I also practiced myself because what I learned then was poor. I could do about 25 words per minute. I now type at around 95-100 words per minute and am a touch-typer. My colleagues hate it as they say it sounds like machine-gun fire (and I'm a heavy typer) and puts them off.
How I like to annoy/confuse the further is turn around to talk to them and continue to type what I was typing with no let-up in speed
Dave. said:
At my previous place of employment, we had a few school leavers and work experience kids in.
They couldn't write for s
t, and didn't know the difference between a USB connectors and an Ethernet connectors.
Thick as pig st, zero common sense, and unwilling to learn or do anything.
That's because the better educated kids wanted nothing to do with your previous Employer! You saw the bottom of the barrel. They couldn't write for s
t, and didn't know the difference between a USB connectors and an Ethernet connectors.Thick as pig s
t, zero common sense, and unwilling to learn or do anything.
Most kids nowadays can use a keyboard very effectively; they have plenty of skills from using WhatsApp etc. and can use a mobile to type very quickly.
That said, typing is being replaced by voice anyway so on the grounds that all but the really dumb can type from an early age nowadays and the increasing ability to simply tell the computer what you want it to type, it is utterly pointless to teach it at school. It happens naturally now via a willingness to use Social Media to communicate.
gregs656 said:
So said:
But they won’t. They will learn to type with four or five fingers, using poor technique that is slow, inefficient and potentially damaging.
Not my experience. How old are your kids? I bet they are proficient typists before they finish secondary school.
So said:
So, based on your experience, how do people learn to touch type on their own? I.e. using all their fingers and not looking at the keys.
Same as learning anything else; practice. I developed touch typing on MSN messenger, no conscious effort. I just spent a lot of time typing - the keys don’t move after all.
Your kids will be great typists.
Schools don’t teach it because it would be a waste of effort.
gregs656 said:
So said:
So, based on your experience, how do people learn to touch type on their own? I.e. using all their fingers and not looking at the keys.
Same as learning anything else; practice. I developed touch typing on MSN messenger, no conscious effort. I just spent a lot of time typing - the keys don’t move after all.
Your kids will be great typists.
Schools don’t teach it because it would be a waste of effort.
gregs656 said:
So said:
But they won’t. They will learn to type with four or five fingers, using poor technique that is slow, inefficient and potentially damaging.
I bet they are proficient typists before they finish secondary school. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff