Interacting with technology is second nature to children these days. But, even though these digital natives are tech-savvy, they might not have the keyboarding and digital citizenship skills to make them stronger and more adept learners.
In a recent edWebinar, “Keys to Success for Digital Natives,” experts explained that digital natives still need to strengthen their technological know-how in this context, and offered strategies teachers can use to build these much-needed skills.
Eyes on keyboarding skills
Today’s children engage with screens regularly. But, explained Paula Heinricher, MS, OTR/L, keyboarding has taken a backseat to the interactive ways they access and respond to digital content.
Why keyboarding skills are KEY for digital natives
Related content: 4 tech skills every middle schooler needs
Yet, children who can negotiate the keyboard develop critical psycho-motor and academic skills. This requires a well-designed curriculum with scaffolded, age-appropriate lessons and instruction within a developmental framework. Heinricher urged selecting programs with grade-level licenses that meet the keyboarding needs of typically developing students in any given grade.
About the Author:
Michele Israel writes about the ideas and best practices that are shared in edWeb’s edWebinars so they can spread innovative and best practices to the education community. Michele owns Michele Israel Consulting, LLC , which serves large and small educational, non-profit, media, corporate, eLearning, and blended learning organizations to bolster products and programs. Her rich career spans over 25 years of successfully developing educational materials and resources, designing and facilitating training, generating communication materials and grant proposals, and assisting in organizational and program development. In addition to lesson plans and other teacher resources, Michele’s portfolio includes published articles covering a range of educational and business topics.
