TITLE: Using the Document Camera to Teach Keyboarding

TITLE: Using the Document Camera to Teach Keyboarding

CATEGORY: Other (Computer Skills)

GRADE LEVEL : 2nd Grade

TOPIC: Teaching the correct figure position(home row keys, etc…) to budding keyboardists, as part of our state’s Standard Course of Study

MATERIALS NEEDED:

*File folder for each student, copy of keyboard for each student, copy of left and right hand for each student, crayons in 9 different colors (1 color for each finger, plus 1 color for the thumb), pencils, glue, document camera and projection space

ESTIMATED TIME: 4 30-minute sessions

DOCUMENT CAMERA USE: The teacher will model for the students which keys to color using the document camera. The teacher will also model correct finger placement for the students, and the correct way to make capital letters. The students will color the keys with the proper color as the teacher demonstrates with the document camera.

OBJECTIVE: Students will color-code a keyboard and handprint sheet to identify the keys that each finger types on a keyboard. The completed handprint and keyboard sheet will be put into the file folder and become a “File Folder” laptop computers that students will take home to use when practicing their spelling words and keyboarding.

SESSION ONE:

Distribute a keyboard sheet and handprint sheet to each student. Have them lightly print their name in pencil on each sheet so that you will know which sheet belongs to which student.

Introduce the lesion: “Today we are going to learn about typing on the keyboard. You already know that the letters on the keyboard are in a strange order. In the next few lessons, we are going to learn which fingers should be used to type certain keys. When we finish, we will create a File Folder laptop computer that you can take home with you. This way, you can practice keyboarding at home.

“Let’s start with our thumbs. (have everyone hold up the thumbs on both hands) The thumbs are used for the biggest key on the keyboard, the space bar. Let’s color the thumbs on both hands yellow. (Demonstrate with document camera) Next, let’s color the space bar with that same color, yellow, to show that our thumbs work the spacebar. (Demonstrate with document camera) WALK AROUND TO MONITOR PROGRESS.

“That’s the only key the thumbs are used for.

Next, let’s look at the keys the left pointer finger is used for” (Model by coloring the left pointer with the new color, then the F key. Show the reach up to R and down to V, and color those in. Show the extra keys, T, H, and B that the figure is also responsible for, and color in. Model for students using document camera, and monitor their progress.) Have students think about why these fingers are used by so many keys.

Repeat procedure for the right pointer finger with a new color.

Have the students practice some simple words that use these 2 fingers (hum, gum, fun, run, turn, nut, hut, etc….)

WRAP UP SESSION: Have students demonstrate their knowledge of which finger works each key by asking questions, “What finger is used to work the space bar?” etc….

COLLECT MATERIALS AND STORE UNTIL NEXT LESSON

SESSION 2:

Distribute sheets back to correct student, along with 3 new colors to be used today. Work on the 3 remaining fingers on the left hand. Follow same color procedure using the document camera. Practice words that use the left hand (fat, beef, dear, get, dad, sad, etc…) Remember to show the SHIFT key.

SESSION 3:

Distribute sheets back to correct student, along with 3 new colors to be used today. Work on the 3 remaining fingers on the right hand. Follow same color procedure using the document camera. Practice words that use the right hand (pop, jump, kiln, pump). Remember to show the SHIFT key. Have students practice making the capital letter that begins their name.

SESSION 4:

Distribute materials, including glue and file folder for each student. Have the students glue the completed handprint to the place where a laptop screen in located inside a file folder. Next, have them glue the keyboard in place in the file folder. Let dry. You may want to laminate to make the folders last longer.

Take students to computer lab, or use real laptops, to practice their fingering skills. Use their spelling words for the week, if available.

NOTE: It sometimes helps to distribute the colors one at a time (only have 1 color at a time on the table for the students). This helps eliminate coloring a key with an incorrect color. My students are fascinated watching your hand move under the document camera when you color. They pay attention to what they are learning, which makes their keyboarding skills increase.