Evening star., 1952-12-27
Electric Typewriters
To Train New Typists
Seen as Education Aid

NEW YORK, Dec. q (NANA) .
Use of electric typewriters to
train beginning typists has been
hailed throughout the country as
"a new educational technique. One
manufacturer of electric type
writer's has instituted a series of
teachers workshops wherein the
latest techniques in electric
typewriter instruction are ex-
plored.
The first workshop group for
characterization teachers was
started almost two years ago. In
addition. during this past summer,
the company has co-operated with
I57 colleges and. universities in
bringing to teachers the latest
techniqueS in the use of electric
Itypewriters.
Initial research into the use of
electric typewriters as an educa-
tlonal tool was maze two years
ago under the direction of Pro-
feSSor John L. Rowe of Teachers
College. Columbia University. AT
conclusion of his six-week expert
mental tipping class. he reported
that, results were gratifying" be-
cause all the students using elec-
trio typewriters attained rates
that would be considered superior
even after a full year of instruc-
ton"
Learning is Simplified.
The experiment also established
the fact that 1t is much easier to
change from the electric to the
manual machine. because learning
on an electric typewriter is simpli-
fled since some problems, such as
carriage-return technique, are re-
moved and the students can de-
vote more time to actual tipping
Further research at the Ossin.
ing High School in New York bore
out Professor Rowe's findings
There, classes were taught on elec.
trio typewriters situated in the
same room with manuals. Electric
typists achieved so per cent
greater speed and accuracy. and
when put on manuals, could oper.
ate them better than the student.
who had trained on them.
In one International Busines.
Machines Corp. workshop, ir
Boston, a beginning typist with
no previous training joined the
class of 20 teachers. AT the enc
OF the five-week session, after
having been trained solely on the
electric typewriter, the student
transferred to manual machines
and had speed, on the manual
OF As words a minute.
Used in ClaSsrOOms.
In such widely separated areas
as Kenosha, Wis, Salt Lake City
Utah. and New York City, entire
Iclassrooms have been fitted with
electric typewriters. This trend
in modern schooling has come
about because experiments have
shown that electric trained typists
are better prepared to compete
successfully with experienced
typists when job-hunting.
The teachers workshops are
compMmented on the student
level by teaching aids made avail
able to schools. These include
wall charts, brochures, a guide
to correct typing practices which
has been printed in a convenient
booklet form, as well as the film,
Electric Typing Time"
All these advances in teaching
techniques are expected to be a
boon to the businessman. With
typistS' salaries two-thirds higher
than prewar. electric typewriters
have helped take up the slack by
bringing production closer to
wages. Now. with a shortage of
help in the Office field becoming
more and more apparent, the
schools have introduced these new
teaching methods to turn out
more better-trained typists faster
than ever before.