During Tuesday's lecture, we looked into various educational software. I was reminded of how my elementary school provided a short typing workshop for students in the 4th grade. I don't remember much about it but I do remember that that was the first time I was taught and required to type in the correct way. If I had been taught how to type in 4th grade, prior to much exposure to the internet, I wonder when students today begin to learn to type. I serve as a bible study teacher in my church's elementary department and we have many 1st and 2nd graders who have Facebook accounts and know how to search for videos on Youtube and other such websites. My friend's daughter learned how to look at pictures and videos on her mom's iPhone before she was 2 years old. With children's exposure to technology and the internet starting at such an early age, when would it be appropriate to teach students how to type? If the educational system is running on the same schedule as when I was in grade school, students will be learning how to type properly years after they have familiarized themselves with the keyboard. This may make it difficult for students to fix their old two-finger typing habits.
I wonder... when would be a good time to teach computer related activities to children? Is it more beneficial or detrimental for children to be exposed to so much open information (internet/Google search) at such a young age? Cause let me tell you, when you Google search "Easter", you not only get cute bunnies and religious images but you also get half naked girls dressed as the Easter bunny. I'm sure most will agree when I say that children should NOT be exposed to such things, especially when all they were looking for are images regarding the Easter holiday.
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