Guidance for Wisconsin Districts
As the Wisconsin State Standards for English/Language Arts outline keyboarding proficiency and the Forward Assessment requires a certain level of skill, it is more important than ever that conversation occurs at the district level regarding keyboarding instruction and assessment.
English/Language Arts
Production & Distribution of Writing
Grade 3 students:
With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
Grade 4 students:
With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.
With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.
Grade 5 students:
With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting.
With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting.
Wisconsin Forward Exam
The Forward Exam is a computer administered assessment and includes multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and a writing prompt in the ELA section. View the Forward Exam FAQ information for additional clarification on keyboarding requirements.
Who can teach keyboarding in WI?
Keyboarding taught in the 7-12 grades must be taught by a licensed business education teacher (250 or 251) OR a business education teacher with a specific license for keyboarding (previously typewriting) (265).
Keyboarding taught in grades lower than 7th grade must be taught under one of the following options:
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a business education teacher licensed for K-12
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a licensed elementary teacher instructing their own students
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a team consisting of a business education teacher licensed for grades 7-12 and the classroom teacher
If a business teacher is team teaching with the elementary classroom teacher, no additional license is required.
How fast should kids type?
As a general rule, keyboarding speeds should be measured as “5 words per minute (wpm) x grade level”. Therefore, a student in third grade should have a goal of at least 15 words per minute.
Gaining pedagogy on HOW to teach keyboarding
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Team teach with a business and information technology educator
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Utilize current district business and information technology staff for in-service or professional development
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Work with a business and information technology educator from another district to provide regional in-service or professional development
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Take skill coursework from a local technical college
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Take pedagogy coursework from a university (summer offerings are currently being developed)
Integrated keyboarding instruction strategies
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Set aside a regular time for keyboarding (ideally 15 to 30 minutes/day for five to six weeks), THEN:
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USE these techniques while in front of any computer
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Have students type their social studies assignment or spelling words for the week
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Include a five minute “warm-up” using a keyboarding game before “getting down to keying in a paper”
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Have students compose A to Z lists (ie. Animals, girls names, etc.)
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Rotate and develop stories from “Story Starters…”