Abstract:
This thesis is comprised of two primary sections, an action research proposal and a
journal ready article. The journal ready article presents the findings of the action
research. Based on direct classroom observations, discussions with elementary school
teachers, and a review of the literature, I have discovered when a lack of keyboarding
instruction is provided, students often use a "hunt and peck" method of typing. The
purpose of the action research study was to describe the influence of a software program,
Type to Learn 3, on third-grade student keyboarding skills and student perceptions of
keyboarding. In addition, students' selection of keyboarding activities from the software
program and the students' intelligences, were examined to identify possible relationships
between them. As delineated in the action research proposal, a class of 19 third-grade
students used the keyboarding software program, Type to Learn 3, for 45 minutes each
school day during a 3-week period. As described in the journal ready article, data were
collected from keyboarding skills tests, attitude surveys, student interviews, progress
reports available through the computer program, and a keyboarding skills checklist. The
results of the study showed that students' keyboarding skills improved in both speed and
accuracy, and students' perceptions toward keyboarding were positive. Results were
inconclusive when trying to determine whether students' selection of keyboarding
activities related to students' multiple intelligences. The findings of this study were
communicated to the learning community through a PowerPoint slide show presentation
during a faculty "Share Fair." Feedback from the presentation supported revisions in next
year's class schedules to provide keyboarding instruction to third-grade students.