Wondering how many folks out there have managed to go paperless or nearly paperless since last April 22nd. And wondering about what kind of effects it is having on their teaching and the way they think about learning.
Leave a comment and tell us what you've been up to.
30+ Years of Ed Tech – 2024: AI Slop
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Continuing my annual series of selecting one educational technology that
became significant that year. I’ve covered AI in a few previous entries,
but this ...
I would love to go totally paperless. The year I did my master's project on going green in the classroom we saved over 1800 sheets of paper from our classroom alone. Unfortunately we can't get the computer cart as often this year. We do however, use copy paper that has been printed on one side instead of using notebook paper 95% of the time. I was able to hand back 2 packages of notebook paper to each student that was unused at the end of this year b/c of all the scratch paper we use. We also recycle used paper, aluminum cans, water bottles, batteries and magazines at our school.
ReplyDeleteI've gone to almost complete electronic submission of work since I have a tablet to ink up the papers electronically, but I still use handouts when I want the kids to read actively with pen in hand.
ReplyDeleteI have been paperless for a year with one group of students. We have been challenged to find the work arounds! I let the Principal's team know I was doing this and negotiated it with the students. My own re-education in the matter has meant there is a flow on effect into my other classes so I use little paper. iChat, my subject based blog, email when desperate, the school's learner management system and Twiducate have been the foundation blocks of my approach.
ReplyDeleteI've been paperless since January, and the effects have been marvelous. My morale has gone up since I don't have to spend hours in front of a copier. My kids are more organized since they don't have to lug binders full of papers around. Additionally, my students have been able to use critical thinking skills when faced with digital problems (i.e. browsers not working with certain programs, google errors, remembering password, etc). They have been much more collaborative helping each other through computer glitches, sharing documents to study for tests...). I presented my findings at a state-wide technology conference and found (surprisingly) that most teachers aren't doing this. People keep asking me how long I think I can do this. The answer is: I can't imagine NOT doing it.
ReplyDeleteI made it a point to upload project handouts as PDFs this year. Instead of printing it out and handing out due dates and resources to students, I either created a PDF handout, or posted it to our class calendar. I think the students appreciated having project materials easily accessible in the same place. Some would print them out, and others would just save it to their computer.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, our school FINALLY got a mobile laptop cart. Our tech teacher did not add any word processing, which forced us to use Google docs, which is AMAZING! I either had student send files via blue tooth or put them in a class Dropbox. It made our lives much easier because we didn't have to worry about printers, ink, and "did I hand it in?" Like Mrs. White, said, I can't imagine NOT doing it.
I've slowly transitioned into the paperless world. I've discovered that my classroom design had to totally change. I can no longer be a traditional teacher...lecture format. I have to be more Montessori like. Therefore, it has created an environment of independence and true differentiation. My students love it! The parents...still coming around.
ReplyDeleteI estimate I'm about 80% paperless now. I teach middle school science and we are note booking, which is where the vast majority of paper usage is in my classroom. We use 3 notebooks a year. Right now, because of the curriculum we're using (its an adoption year, and I'm the loudmouth in the room requesting a more digitally based curriculum) I do occasionally run copies of worksheets/handouts to use during lessons. However, I'm the teacher our office manager worries about because I have some of the lowest copier numbers in the building.
ReplyDeleteDigitally, I use Rubistar to post rubrics for projects, Glogster, Powerpoint, and Prezi for presentations, Cartoon It for the fun stuff, etc. The students love it because it gives them a more creative outlet for getting assignments completed. I love it because I don't have display boards all over my room.
Our district does not allow web based email accounts, however, I am going to talk to our tech department about accessing Google Docs so I can get more assignments to me that way.
Alternately, I will be using a new LMS in the fall; Schoology looks like Facebook and functions like Moodle. I can give and collect assignments, create quizzes/tests, send announcements and updates and keep everyone on task, including the parents. The lesson differentiation possibilities are endless. I'm excited about it and think it may be the thing that takes me over the top in my quest for a paperless personal universe.
Wish me luck!
It's very happy if we deserve to be. But some people have so many problems that they face in the present.
ReplyDelete