Keyboarding Skills Lesson Plan: ZType Game

Lesson Procedure:

1. Invite students to brainstorm why keyboarding is an important skill to master. Prompt them to think about the many ways we use keyboards in our daily lives.
2. Invite the two volunteers (see Preparation) to two different computers. One student models the proper position for typing: eyes level with monitor, wrists flat, fingers curved, both feet flat on the floor, back straight, and fingers on the home row position (left hand fingers on the letters A S D F; right hand fingers on the letters J K L ;). The other student is to model incorrect typing posture and hand/finger positioning. Make this fun by having the volunteer exaggerate bad positioning: crouch over keyboard so not eye level with monitor, one foot tucked under the other leg on the chair, wrists tilted up, fingers on the wrong keys, etc.
3. Ask the class which student is demonstrating proper typing position and have them identify why it is correct (e.g., back straight, wrists flat, etc). Then have them correct the student modeling the bad positioning by telling him or her what to change. For example, one student may say, sit up straight. Another may tell the volunteer to straighten his/her wrists. They should keep making suggestions until the volunteer’s positioning is the same as the correct model. Follow up this activity by asking why proper posture and hand/finger positioning are important. Students should recognize that correct posture and positioning prevents injury and helps them be more efficient at typing.
4. If possible, have all students sitting at individual keyboards. Display an image of a keyboard on the whiteboard. Superimpose your hands on the keyboard with your fingers in the correct positioning on the home row saying aloud where each pair of fingers are placed as follows:
   • pinkies on A/;
   • ring fingers on S/L
   • middle fingers on D/K
   • index fingers on F/J
   • thumbs on spacebar
   Students are to model the same at their individual computers and keyboards. Ask students if they can guess why the letters F and J have raised bumps on them. If no one knows, explain that the bumps help them find the correct home row positions without having to look down at the keyboard.
5. Open ZType so the class can see the game. Tell them that ZType is a fun, fast-paced game that will help them sharpen their keyboarding skills. Model the game by playing one round for the class on the whiteboard.
6. Now have students play the game independently. Walk around the classroom as students play to monitor their postures and hand/finger positions. Correct as needed. If students are looking at the keyboard as they play, place a cloth or manilla folder over their hands to prevent them from looking.