KATE

Let's Go Paperless

Instructional Illuminations

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 "Students take out your paper and pencils; we are going to have a quiz." A teacher may make this statement seven to ten times a day to hundreds of students. That adds up to many papers that must be graded by the teacher, and class time wasted to return all that paper back to students. What a waste of paper, time and energy that is not necessary in the 21st century. It is time for schools to investigate the "paperless classroom".

The idea of paperless classrooms is getting easier to accomplish each day. Classrooms with projectors, wireless slates and virtual desktops that allow multiple users to share a single computer are making this new concept affordable. Teachers can use a free blog or web page to communicate with students and parents or schools may form a central Intranet for teachers and students that will eliminate memos and take home notes. Collaborative learning between students can take place using Google spreadsheets and documents which allow all students to have input on projects and learning.

Quizzes can easily be given to students using a personal response system with questions projected on a whiteboard and students clicking in their answers. The quiz is checked immediately allowing for instant feedback and the scores are automatically recorded in the grade book and paper is eliminated.  The use of whiteboard notebook software can replace pages and pages of note taking by students. Teachers can present notes in class via the interactive whiteboard and then post those notes online or save them as a file for students to reference later. Students may also read their textbooks online courtesy of e-books and textbook publishing companies.

According to Lisa Nielson a technology specialist with the New York City Department of Education, in her blog How I Lost 20 Pounds in One Month on the Paperless Diet , "going paperless not only helps the environment, it enables me to work much more efficient and effectively."  Not only does it liberate the teacher, the results have been seen in many classrooms. The use of a technology rich classroom can engage and excite students into learning. One teacher states that "students who have difficulty staying on task find it easier to focus on using technology. The learning is more meaningful, and students seem to retain the information better."

A paperless classroom does not mean zero paper at all but it does mean that technology gives teachers new options to educate 21st century students without them being weighed down with backpacks. While eliminating waste and maintaining an environmentally sound future for everyone, students' new classroom tools can become iPods, blogs, social networking and Web 2.0.

Related Lesson Plans, Activities, and Classroom Resources

• Teach Paperless
• Is the Paperless Classroom Possible?
• Paperless Classroom Becoming a Reality
• How to Create a Paperless Classroom

The Green Classroom: Teaching Students to be Environmentally Aware

Core Connections

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Reduce, reuse, and recycle!  Go Green!  These are both slogans that have become very popular in our world today.  The goal of these campaigns is to teach people to be good stewards of the Earth and its resources.  The concept of saving the Earth must be taught as well as practiced in the classroom.  Environmental education is very important because students need to understand their role in protecting the environment.  

One of the best ways we can teach our students about protecting the environment is teaching the importance of recycling. Recycling plastic, paper, glass, and aluminum can make a bigger difference than you would think.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television for three hours.  The EPA also states that recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough energy to power the average American home for five months.  When we do our part and recycle we really can make a difference.

Another way we can teach our students to be environmentally-aware is to teach them to conserve energy.  According to the Department of Energy “the United States uses nearly a million dollars worth of energy each minute, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.  With less than 5% of the world’s population, the United States consumes about one-fourth of the world’s energy resources.”  We need to be aware of ways we can help conserve energy.  Simple things like turning off the lights when you leave the room and leaving your classroom door shut can help save energy.

There are many other simple things teachers can do to model a green lifestyle.  Always check that all of the faucets are turned off and not dripping.  Bring a mug or reusable plastic cup to school instead of using disposable cups.  Put shades on your windows to reduce the heat from the sunlight.  Go Paperless whenever possible, have students e-mail their assignments, rather than turning them in on paper.  Encourage students to write on both sides of their paper.  Grow plants in the classroom.  Always encourage  students to pick up trash on the playground and parking lots.

An ancient proverb states “Treat the earth well:  it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.”   Today’s students will decide the future of our planet.  Are you doing your part to teach your students to be environmentally-aware?  

Related Links

• Think Green - An excellent source for Environmental Education.  This site has lesson plans and activities for students of all ages.
• Earth Day Network - This site contains information for Earth Day 2010 and includes teaching resources.
• EPA Teaching Center - Great resource for teaching.  This site has lesson plans and activities for several different environmental topics.

Related Lesson Plans, Activities, and Classroom Resources

• Reduce, Reuse, & Recycling - Smartboard
• Your Environment, Your Choice
• Dumptown, USA: Making a Ton of Difference
• Composting: Why Bother?