There's a Hotkey for That: Teaching Efficiency in Computer Use

Let's face it, adults spend a ridiculous amount of time in front of a computer. To prepare students to take on the "real world," it's imperative that we teach them how to work efficiently on their computers.
The quicker students can locate relevant information, share it, or use it (in whatever manner their profession requires), the more effective they will be in their careers. After all, the sooner employees can create something, the more time they have to polish and refine their work in ways that will help it make an impression on its audience. That will help workers build equity, close deals or earn a promotion.

In order to help my students maneuver efficiently and effectively on the computer, I teach my students the art of hotkeys. I teach them the basics like how to copy, paste, print, find, cut and quit. Then, I add more sophisticated maneuvers like how to shuffle through their open apps, open/close a tab in the internet, employ google search operators, cycle through their open tabs, highlight text, and spotlight search.

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I tell the students that every time they don't have to reach for their mouse, they save time. And time is money. Often, they shrug their shoulders and whine about how silly that is--not the statement time is money, they accept that as gospel--they don't care enough about their mouse use to want to learn new hotkeys. So I pitch the importance of hotkeys in two ways.
First, I use math. I have them consider how much time they spend on a computer each day and how much time they spend maneuvering the mouse. Then I show them how much it saves to know how to hotkey (I'll use an example at the front of them room). Afterwards, I have them calculate how much they save in a sitting, a day, a week, a year, a lifetime of computer use! I say, "What would you do with that time? You'll have it, your neighbor who didn't learn these things won't."
Secondly, I use an example. I ask them to remember the last time an adult asked them for help using technology and to remember how frustrating it is to watch them as they slowly open a browser or an app and take forever to ask their question, that--more often than not--they could have answered themselves if they knew how to use Google. Everyone identifies with this example. Then I tell the students that I experience that everyday when I walk behind them as they use their computers in class!

These examples pique students' interest enough to get them to use more hotkeys. The challenge manifests itself in how to get students to keep using hotkeys. I've done this by including them as "extra-credit" questions on my tests. But, the most effective way to get students to improve their hotkey usage is to create peer-pressure amongst those who are getting it, and those who are still reaching for their mouse. I can create that atmosphere in a classroom, but I wish I could do it across an entire grade or an entire school. Imagine how efficient those students would become in completing homework--especially in schools with 1:1 programs where the hotkeys are the same for each student.

In my opinion, this lesson is even more important for teachers than it is for students. In addition to creating a culture for learning hotkeys and efficiency, teachers themselves can limit their screen time and spend more time teaching, mentoring and building relationships with students--and that's the mark of a great teacher.