Keystrokes

I remember taking typing class way back in high school, a suggestion by my mom 'so I could type my term papers in college'. Yeah right! All the rows of desks with typewriters on them, when your choices were pica or elite type size, all caps or not, and that was about it. The backspace key took you a space back, but it sure didn't erase anything! I thought it was a fun diversion from literature and biology and algebra, but was skeptical that I would actually use it some day.

Thank goodness for the evolution of the typewriter into the computer! Our sixth grader just took 9 weeks of 'keyboarding' in middle school. We were impressed that they were teaching a good practical skill at such an early age (11). Until we heard the method. She had to memorize the rows of keys out of a textbook and write them down (yes, write with a pencil) over and over. This went on for 9 weeks, I don't think she ever saw an actual keyboard, and now that the short course is over, she doesn't know anymore about the mechanics of typing (sorry - keyboarding) than she did before.

But then we were really excited when our 3rd grader came home saying she was learning to type! She proceeded to show us the proper hand position she had learned, and described how the timed exercises worked. My faith in the education system is restored. Of course, this is at the previously mentioned Oakland Elementary, can't say enough about their methods!

Nowadays typing/keyboarding is a part of most folks' lives, some more than others. I am glad I took typing in high school, little did I know that I would be typing for a living at this point in my life. And then to pick a hobby (blogging) that keeps me here in this computer chair even more hours.

This is how I feel after a week in this chair:

Evolution

Now, it's Saturday and time to get up and out!