Handwriting first, then keyboarding
What a relief to see the pendulum swing to a renewed focus on “basics” and foundational skills for numeracy and literacy in the early years.
These need to be made more explicit in the current framework, ensuring that handwriting will be taught and practised in the K-4 years to promote fine motor control; moving to printing instruction in Grades 1-3; and further instruction toward an uncluttered, connected script in Grade 3.
Keyboarding can wait! Better handwriters become better keyboarders since they will have developed the crucial neuropathways/circuitry/memory for automaticity of letter recognition. This facilitates reading, too!
Little fingers need to be engaged in the material, analogue world with legacy formats of literacy.
There are no shortcuts to the brain via visually mediated simulations through digital devices. Paper and pencils, in other words, please!
Hetty Roessingh, professor, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary