Purpose:
- Students will identify and use common keyboard shortcuts in the preferred Windows/Mac/Chrome Operating System.
- Students will understand the benefits of using keyboard shortcuts to improve efficiency and utilize keyboarding shortcuts in future classroom activities.
Procedure:
Learn & Practice Keyboarding Shortcuts (15 minutes)
Give students a Keyboarding Shortcut Cheat Sheet with the Explanation column left blank. Allow students 10 minutes to fill in the Explanation column as they try out different shortcuts. Use the provided Shortcuts Teacher Key to help students complete any missing information.
Creating Bingo Cards (10 minutes)
- Provide students with a digital or printed bingo card template (provided)
- Instruct students to fill in their Bingo cards by writing keyboard shortcuts in random squares (they should only write the shortcut e.g., "Ctrl+C”. Not all shortcuts will be used by each student.
Playing Bingo (30 minutes)
- Teacher will call out what a shortcut does (e.g., "The shortcut that lets you save a document")
- Students need to identify the correct shortcut (Ctrl+S) and mark it on their card
- First student to get 5 in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) calls "BINGO!"
- For the final round, consider playing "blackout" where students need to fill their entire card.
Learning Wrap Up (5 minutes)
-
For an exit ticket, use one of the following:
- List 3 keyboard shortcuts you learned today and what they do
- How will using keyboard shortcuts help you work more efficiently?
- Which shortcut do you think will be most useful to you and why?
Variations:
- Challenge students to find and learn 3-5 additional shortcuts not covered in class
- Create a Shortcut Speed Challenge where students race to complete a series of tasks using only keyboard shortcuts
- As quick keys are learned on the keyboard, use the Learning Lights Keyboard to turn off visibility to each quick key that has been identified. Ex: Turn off S key visibility after Ctrl + S as been identified as the Save key.
Time & Materials:
- Computers for each student
- Digital or Blank Bingo Cards
- List of common Keyboard Shortcuts
- Pennies or similar small object that students can mark their Bingo Cards (for physical cards)
- Small prizes for Bingo winners (optional)
Time Required: 60 minutes