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Enginseer68 t1_ix2ug4s wrote

And most can’t even touch type LOL

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Midgetforsale t1_ix3netb wrote

I learned to touch type in high school back in like 2003. To this day, I still think of it as the only class I ever took in high school or college where I apply what I learned from it on a daily basis. The class was called "Keyboarding" lol and the teacher, Mrs. Black, was super mean and strict. But dammit, I learned to type well.

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Hedgey t1_ix4d1sd wrote

Same! Back in 2005 for me, senior year. My teacher was Ms. Kimball. With out a doubt the most useful class I ever took. Even after college coming into corporate life and not understanding how so many people can’t touch type.

Also explains why many people can’t get used to small form factors and other layouts

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GeneralRane t1_ix53mnr wrote

It's such an essential skill that I just think of it as "typing." Every time I see "touch typing" mentioned, I wonder why people need to look at a keyboard.

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TryingToBeUnabrasive t1_ix878ir wrote

Wait, you mean most people look at their keyboards? Even amongst the under 50 crowd?

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Vacuophile t1_ix4ztcu wrote

I had keyboarding in middle school. I loved it and was doing well, but halfway through I got a fracture in one of my finger bones and couldn't continue the class. They still gave me credit so I didn't have to take it again (it was mandatory) and I had to take it again in high school because I actually wanted to learn how to touch type.

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AliAlex3 t1_ix3o9fk wrote

Wait, how common is it to touch type? Thought a lot of people could do it?

Edit: fixed typo lol

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rojafox t1_ix3p4w6 wrote

Here I sat thinking it was very common. I took typing my freshman year of high school, the goal of the class was touch typing (they would cover your hands and keyboard near the end of the class)

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horse-enjoyer t1_ix45qwp wrote

most people in my school learned how to touch type when they were in 3rd grade but can't touch type because the school gives you an ipad in middle school

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HadouKang t1_ix3wgmn wrote

In Elementary school (mid-2000s), we had a computer literacy class where most of it was just using the Mavis Beacon typing program. God I hated it so much, but looking back, it was super effective in teaching me to type properly with the home row and whatnot.

They didn't explicitly cover our hands like the other commenter, but touch typing came pretty naturally when drilling in the "correct" finger for each key. The bar for passing was pretty low too, only 35 wpm haha.

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kaysn t1_ix42tul wrote

We had dedicated 2 years worth of computer literacy in middle school. The goal was to have everyone be a touch typist by the end. Correct hand placement, type using all your fingers and at least 40 WPM after the first year. Then 75 WPM in the following year. During exams, we'd be tested one by one typing passages with our teacher (Mr. Dwight) checking our hands, checking we don't glance down, and making notes. He'd actually tap our wrists with a ruler, when we dropped it. Saying we'd regret bad posture as we grew older.

Still remember my teacher's words in class, "type like you are playing the piano in a concerto".

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HadouKang t1_ix442xj wrote

Wow that sounds intense! I can't imagine an entire class typing at 75+. Most people I know type around 40-50 wpm.

The piano analogy really makes sense though. Because I learned piano before I learned typing, float typing was the default position for me. Never needed wrist rests.

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kaysn t1_ix49139 wrote

He was very strict in class. But was somehow a favorite. Was a huge proponent in teaching Excel and HTML coding in class not just basic computer knowledge. And that he was really into PC gaming. And in early 2000s, it was a surprise to see an adult be passionate about technology that wasn't working in tech.

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Schievel1 t1_ix75clq wrote

Ah yes the 2000s where schools thought teaching children how to touch type equals teaching children how to use a computer :D

My schools didn’t have enough computers, so we learned touch typing on typewriters in computer class…

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Schievel1 t1_ix755u1 wrote

I am a programmer and half of my colleagues can’t do it

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yashptel99 t1_ix4s1hx wrote

LoL. I learned touch typing because I wanted to justify buying a mechanical keyboard.

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TanookieTyler t1_ix6qi0s wrote

Same but I really wanted the Das that didn’t have any lettering.

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CultofCedar t1_ix49mpr wrote

Wow I didn’t even know touch typing was a thing. Thought people just knew minus old people poking keyboards. To be fair I do vaguely remember my middle school computer science class consisted of typing games so guess I was on the right track.

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Bearbot128 t1_ix4ilcg wrote

I cant touch type but still hit 110wpm

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MrsGrover10816 t1_ix6mugb wrote

I only have 9 fingers so I don't touch type either! I'm still pretty fast, though

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nudemanonbike t1_ix4fdtp wrote

I bought blanks for my first keyboard to force myself to learn how to touch type. I had some experience with it but there were still growing pains.

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