Mike Farmer, Senior Lecturer in ICT Education (UCE)

An extract from "A Handbook for those who Assist in Early Years Settings; Supporting Information and Communication Technology" by Gina Farmer and Mike Farmer David Fulton, London (2001).

I have spent a long time debating with others and myself of the importance of teaching keyboard skills. I write this with two fingers (one on each hand) and Ihave written books in the same way staring at the keyboard and hoping that the words that emerge are the same as those I have tapped in my dropped head pose. Yet, even though I possess confidence in myself that I will continue to type quickly and confidently, it is a superficial confidence. I would love to have the skills of the touch typist whose magical fingers fly accurately over the keyboard and produce text that has all unbelievable accuracy in a fraction of the time of my efforts.

Keyboard Crazy seems to not only answer many of the questions raised in the debates, it adds value to them. It not only develops keyboard skills but adds the potential value of developing literacy, numeracy and PSHE skills. Keyboard Crazy is an exemplar of the role of ICT within the Foundation and Primary curriculum, where it should not only be important in its own role but also provide support for the rest of the curriculum. Keyboard Crazy is a superb literacy tool that can be used imaginatively to support a large number of literacy objectives. It can also be used as a numeracy tool the same way that a normal keyboard is used. In addition to these remarkable achievements, it can be used to support ICT skill development AND it doesn't need connectivity, electricity or a computer.

This is a remarkable resource that I recommend any Foundation or KS 1 classroom should adopt. It is an open-ended resource and your imagination is the only limitation to its use.

More publications by Mike Farmer:

Using the Internet in Secondary Schools (2nd edition) by Eta de Cicco, Mike Farmer, James Hargrave, Kogan Page, London (2001)

Activities for using the Internet in Primary Schools by Eta de Cicco, Mike Farmer, Claire Hargrave, Kogan Page, London (1999)