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From Renee: Mavis Beacon – Where are you when we need you??
Mavis Beacon – please, please come back!
It’s true: I am firmly entrenched in middle age, but I can still out-cycle my 13 year old daughter and I can still type 80 words a minute with just one error – that’s about 40 wpm faster than some high school seniors I recently tested. Kids are taught keyboarding early in their school careers today. However, there appears to be little or no emphasis on accuracy, proper fingering or speed. In what Ross refers to as “Generation Text,” young people let their thumbs do the talking, texting madly and constantly, and can’t even rely on spellcheckers which don’t understand the abbreviated language of texting and IMing — I won’t even go there!
Okay then, call me a curmudgeon, but if someone can’t type faster than I can dictate, they should invest in a copy of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing v. 20. She’s still out there, and the software today, which used to be so popular in the early 80’s is perhaps even more important today. Everyone needs to know how to type actual complete words on a QWERTY keyboard – it’s just the reality of the grown-up world.
While they are at it learning to use more than their thumbs to type, young folk should print out the Microsoft keyboard shortcuts, laminate them and stick them to the wall next to their monitors as well. Why shouldn’t everyone who uses ANY kind of computer know the basic keyboard commands for daily functions such as copying, cutting, selecting and pasting? (perhaps when cutting and pasting is added to the iPhone I fear – maybe that’s what it will take for young users to take this seriously).
Technology gives us the tools to be more efficient, but as with all tools of any trade, you really have to learn how to use them.
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I’ve had 60 years at the keyboard and still going. Some advantages of keyboarding/typing …smooth sailing through Navy Boot Camp typing the Chief’s notes and typing speed that got me out of the typing pool and into the Staff Legal Officer’s office taking his dictation on a typewriter. Then, on to Navy’s court reporting school and reporting general courts martial using a Stenomask. Those lawyers had it so easy that I finished my hitch and went on to undergrad and law school. At one time in my career I could easily type 100 wpm. Wow, I’m glad my typing teacher gave a wack with a ruler if your fingers weren’t on the home keys.
Comment by Jim Grennan — May 9, 2009 @ 8:40 am
Typing does seem to be one of the most under-rated skills out there in today’s economy. I learned how to type as a child using a videogame that resembled Space Invaders except you fired laser blasts by typing words or sentences. I’ve long since forgotten the title, but the program worked. Maybe it’s time for someone to publish a re-booted version for the 21st century =).
Comment by Peter Huang — May 14, 2009 @ 10:01 am