There is lots of discussion about going paperless and using technology to help facilitate that process (Teachpaperless and Divalatte to name a few sources). As I was reading my fellow COETAIL student's blogs, I noticed that Martin, discusses using Google docs as a way to reduce paper use and to provide valuable feedback to students.
In my opinion, we can and should do a lot more to utilize technology to replace the need to use paper, whenever possible. Every day I see the waste as I walk by our school’s printer, filled with unclaimed work or multiple copies of student work, when one copy or an electronic version would suffice. Here are some observations:
Going paperless means NOT printing. It does not mean requiring the students and/or parents to print what the teacher did not print. For example, at the beginning of the first semester, my high school son told me that the teacher’s had posted the class syllabus online and did not print copies to hand out to the students (yeah). However, they were requiring him to print them at home and then return them with a parent signature (boo). That it NOT paperless! That same semester, I sent a tiny form (one-eighth of a page of paper) for parent signature confirming the parent and student viewed the online class syllabus. Next year, I’ll create Google doc for parents to utilize confirming their viewing of the syllabus.
Going paperless means teaching students NOT to print unless it’s absolutely necessary. If the directions are online or in a document they can use, then they don’t need to be printed. However, this means working with the students and telling them NOT to print and ensuring they can see the directions from wherever they are. I have one student in particular who wants to print EVERYTHING and often tries to print multiple copies of EVERYTHING. I’ve been working with him to break him of this wasteful habit.
Going paperless means changing the way YOU as the teacher do everything. I admit I am a paper lover. I like to grade hard copies of essays, I like to read actual printed copies of articles. I am working very hard to change the way I grade and read. I am learning how use the editing mode of Word more efficiently. (And it really makes sense for me to do this…I have terrible handwriting…so comments made via Word can actually be read by the students!) After reading Martin’s blog, I’ll be exploring Google docs as well.
Going paperless means using technology more INSTEAD of paper. Teachers should examine the projects and activities they assign and decide which can be changed from paper to technology based. For example, my health colleague Susan had the great idea of switching the “ME Project Folders” to “ME Project Voice Threads” , thus eliminating the need to print and cut up question, question answers, and photos. Now these projects are electronic and have the added benefit of being shared with family members living far away.
Going paperless means making smart choices regarding when to use paper. Sometimes it is fun to have students us giant pieces of paper for group projects or use paper and other materials to create old fashioned games.
Going paperless means doing things the make SENSE! Ever have a teacher who made you print a copy of your PowerPoint project…one slide per page?
Love the examples Laura! You hit the nail on the head with the first one - just reducing the paper the teacher prints, and then passing on the printing to the students does nothing. In fact, it usually means that there is more printing going on because the students just end up printing additional copies when they can't find their first printout. Teaching students not to print and helping them utilize digital copies is absolutely what we need to do (as you describe in your second point). Excellent points! Glad to see that you and Susan are doing your best to reduce the amount of paper waste that we see every day at school!
There is lots of discussion about going paperless and using technology to help facilitate that process (Teachpaperless and Divalatte to name a few sources). As I was reading my fellow COETAIL student's blogs, I noticed that Martin, discusses using Google docs as a way to reduce paper use and to provide valuable feedback to students.
Love the examples Laura! You hit the nail on the head with the first one - just reducing the paper the teacher prints, and then passing on the printing to the students does nothing. In fact, it usually means that there is more printing going on because the students just end up printing additional copies when they can't find their first printout. Teaching students not to print and helping them utilize digital copies is absolutely what we need to do (as you describe in your second point). Excellent points! Glad to see that you and Susan are doing your best to reduce the amount of paper waste that we see every day at school!
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