Despite their tech-savvy reputation, Gen Z students are surprisingly falling behind in keyboard typing skills. Explore the reasons behind this decline and its impact on academic and professional success.
A report just released by digital natives known as Generation Z indeed has yet another challenge - keyboard typing abilities. Data from the U.S. Department of Education showed that the number of high school graduates taking keyboarding courses plunged from 44% in the year 2000 to just 2.5% in 2019, which exposes the growing problem of Gen Z's proficiency with traditional computer interfaces.
Failure in Typing Skills
One of the most marked impacts is keyboarding skills learned by younger generations. Students took 39% of assignments on Canvas, the web-based learning platform, between March and May 2024 directly on a mobile device in stark contrast to teachers, who completed their work over 90% of the time on computers. Most Gen Z students are really bad at basic keyboard typing, and still, some of them are watching their hands, which leaves an impression that they lack confidence in their familiarity with physical keyboards. This reduction in typing skills is very worrisome because keyboard skills remain a necessity in most academic institutions and workplaces.
Causes of Typing Failure
There are several causes behind the falling state of keyboard typing skills amongst Gen Z:
- Growing reliance on touch-screen portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, which vary in the kind of keyboarding techniques used
- Formal instruction in typing has been less and less part of many school curricula, anticipating students would teach themselves through the use of portable devices.
- Increasingly, tasks and functions are done on mobile devices rather than computer devices, so the opportunity to practice on physical keyboards.
- Voice-to-text and predictive text technologies also diminish reliance on routine manual typing in most communication contexts.
- Due to these technological shifts and changes in educational parameters, the outcome is a generation that can swipe and tap more readily than resort to traditional methods of touch-typing.
Impact on Academic and Professional Success
As standardized tests shift more towards computer-based formats, poor types will be at a significant disadvantage. Moreover, the increased focus on conducting digital tests renewed interest in typing curricula specifically in New York and Texas, which states had earlier implemented computer-based testing. According to Tim Dikun, COO of Teaching.com parent company of Typing.com, demand for typing instruction has risen in these areas. This trend reveals that keyboard mastery can directly affect academic achievement since, in case the students take longer to master the keyboard than the content being assessed, their academic performance may suffer.Efforts to Improve Typing Skills
There are attempts by some tutors to help Gen Z catch up with their peers who possess better typing skills. Programs can involve sponsoring typing competitions--such as Christine Mueller's "Key Bee" in Oklahoma City--and providing structured class time for students once they receive school-issued computers. Others in Gen Z are discovering that keyboard proficiency is essential and taking the initiative to teach themselves. For instance, 17-year-old Rueben Tasler told the Wall Street Journal that he's teaching himself to type ahead of college. It is expected that these efforts will bridge the gap in areas of proficiency between keyboard skills and those of mobile devices so that the students are definitely better prepared for work and academic environments that are still predominantly computer-based.
In Conclusion, Generation Z's struggle with keyboard typing skills is a surprising paradox given their tech-savvy reputation. However, this deficiency can have significant consequences for academic and professional success in an increasingly digital world. By addressing the typing skills gap through renewed formal instruction and self-guided practice, Gen Z can enhance their overall tech capabilities and thrive in the future workplace.
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About the Writer
Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
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