One of my first experiences with computers was in grade 6 and 7 when my teacher would take us to the school computer lab outfitted with Macintosh Plus computers. I have fond memories of login into Waterloo Macjanet and opening All-the-Right-Type. I was under the impression that computers were essentially glorified typewriters because all we did with them was practice our typing while donning placemats over our hands. At the time, those who were “good” at computers were those who could type more than 45 words per minute.
In the last couple years, I had the privilege of returning to elementary school as a grade 6/7 teacher after teaching high school math and physics for many years. Although I have since returned to teaching senior Math, it was great to see how the computer lab has changed over the years with increased laptop carts and bring your own device (BYOD) programs. I was amazed that of my class of 27, all but one brought in their own personal device. These 11 and 12 year olds were already familiar with Google Apps for Education (something I had just learned a few years prior) and they could effectively acquire, interpret and present a variety of information. There were still the usual frustrations, notably student’s forgetting passwords and wifi connection issues, but the students were truly engaging with technology in ways I would have never dreamed 20 years ago.
As I reflect upon how cursive writing has gone by the way of the Dodo, what other skills are the 21st learner not being taught in place of developing their skills in technology? What are some greater consequences of such an early adoption of devices in the classroom? I will admit, I am a strong advocate of technology in the classroom and believe we need to keep working towards greater accessibility within our classroom walls but I continue to be wary of any unintended consequences such adoption will have on our student’s general well-being, ability to learn and, overall social development.
Hi Bryn,
I used to love All The Right Type. I remember doing this in highschool in Computer Science. I don’t remember much else about that class actually lol
I feel like students aren’t getting the option to learn how to type as much anymore but they still need it. Many students I see are using hunt-and-peck and I cringe that one day they will be typing papers for University in that fashion because “typing” is a skill that’s assumed and not explicitly taught anymore. We have a program on what’s left of our laptops at school called UltraType but it’s difficult to rationalize using the limited time and numbers of devices to teach typing, in my opinion.
Thanks for jogging my memory!
As I read your post and you discussed ‘cursive writing’ I was taken back about 10 years…when I was in a grocery store the power went out just as the total was added up on the till (cash register). Because the till had no power, the person working the till did not know how to calculate the change that I needed.
At what age do we start using a calculator? Should we be teaching the times table or let students use calculators? Should students learn to draw graphs by hand before using a graphing program?
Christopher
Thank you for sharing your experience, Bryn. I grew up in India up until I was in high school so I probably missed the “All-the right-type” era that a couple of us have talked about in our experiences but I do remember using another typing software on my computer to help improve my typing skills. I remember I enjoyed typing so much with this software that this was my favorite thing to do every time I was using the computer at home. Within a few months, I was a better and faster typer than everyone else in my family. This is a skill that I have taken benefit from for my entire life and it is strange that everytime teenage kids are using computers without parental or other supervision, we presume that they must be wasting their time on something that is not going to benefit them. Perhaps, there are things that you can do for fun but you gain knowledge or skills at the same time.