The surprising truth is that many Gen Zers don't know how to type with 10 fingers.

A recent Wall Street Journal report, citing data from the U.S. Department of Education, found that in 2000, 44% of high school graduates took a computer keyboarding course. That number dropped sharply to just 2.5% in 2019. Many attribute this sharp decline to the fact that Gen Z is so adept at using computers that it doesn't require formal instruction.

However, the reality is quite the opposite. Although schools provide laptops to students, they do not teach them how to type effectively on a computer keyboard.

To encourage keyboarding practice, Christine Mueller, a former technology teacher in Oklahoma City, organized the city's first "Key Bee" — a computer-style typing contest designed to encourage typing.

As a result, the fastest student achieved an impressive 91 words per minute. The average typing speed of fourth graders improved from a sluggish 13 words per minute to 25 words per minute.

A survey from the Pew Research Center found that the reason Gen Z struggles with typing despite being tech-savvy is because students naturally learn typing skills through constant use of devices. Many students have not used physical keyboards, but have mostly used tablets and mobile devices.

Samuel Daniel

Update 10 September 2024