Comments on: Is a paperless classroom possible?

By: Margaret Hunt

Margaret Hunt — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:26:41 +0000

Is a paperless classroom possible?

Yes, it is possible; we are moving into a direction where technology will be at the hands of every child and teacher. It will be a new experience and a challenge for teachers, students and parents. With the right training, it will be a great success. We as teachers are preparing our students for the future and the world is becoming more and more technological savvy so this will be a very good way to teach our children all about technology. There are a number of applications that we can use in the classroom to teach lessons such as: Digital Media, PowerPoint, Excel, Inspiration, etc. Each of these can keep our students informed as well as entertained while learning the information. This also gives the students the opportunity to create Power Points and Excel projects. Having the students do work with pencil and paper teaching needs to be left behind; we are in the 21st century where technology is taking over the world.

By: Jennifer Nemo

Jennifer Nemo — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:49:48 +0000

This is why I am torn on such issues. I think it would be incredible to have a paperless classroom. Most lessons done in the classroom should not require a worksheet to go along with it or make the students take notes. It would be amazing if all students had notebooks(the computer type) to take down notes or classwork. The students could go home and access their information from their home computer and do their homework online and submit it to the teacher via the digital world such as LIVETEXT. I am against unnecessary waste so having paperless classrooms would save so much energy and trees. Knowing that not all students have access to home computers would be challenging but I believe that a company out there would manufacture inexpensive computers for this purpose. Whenever there is a demand there is usually a response. But here is where I am torn. If we reduce the amount of paper being used people will lose their jobs and that is never good. This change may also create some jobs that we are not thinking of so this is a small concern. My biggest concern is what happens when the power goes out? If we rely too much on technology and put all our trust and information into it are we not reducing ourselves to dependent creatures? Although I enjoy and embrace all that technology offers, I like to live my life knowing that I can live without it. So if we place all our schedules and knowledge into a computer and teach our children to do the same is it a GOOD THING?

By: Alicia

Alicia — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:19:38 +0000

Yes! A paperless classroom is very possible. I definitely think it will be a challenge for teachers and parents who are accustomed to the traditional “pen and paper” ways of documentation, but it’s clearly the best thing for the future. Not only does going paperless help in the classroom, it also helps the environment. These days many companies are going green, it’s essential that school districts jump on the go green wagon as well. Going paperless will definitely spark exciting changes in the curriculum for students. Technology will make everything in the classroom so much more efficient. No more losing Johnny’s homework, or misplacing important documents, both teachers and parents will have greater communication with one another through email. The possibilities are endless!
I’m totally for going paperless; my only concern is how to make that great transition possible for all schools and students. How will schools get the funding to have up to date technology, and ensure that their students have the same resources at home? Serious changes would have to be made, and with the increasing shortage in teachers, how soon could this be done? It would definitely be an investment worth doing for our education system. Someday; I hope to teach in a technology-centered classroom that is both effective in its curriculum, and environmentally friendly.

By: Barbara Krzciuk

Barbara Krzciuk — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:19:38 +0000

I do hope to see paper in our schools used only to build origami projects. I have already joined the effort and avoid printing anything that can be stored, read, or delivered electronically. I do have one concern, though. Software tools that we are going to use to replace paper bring countless possibilities in formatting, color use, graphics. All these choices, however, are earlier pre-programmed for us by somebody else. For example, if we look at Inspiration graphic organizers, they are attractive, full of colors and possibilities, and exciting. But do they really reflect how a child organized information in his or her own brain? Could paper and pencil at least win the contest for this kind of “validity”?

By: Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:52:53 +0000

We are moving into an age where more and more things are becoming paperless. I think schools are a bit behind the times, because of the lack of internet access at the students’ homes. As was mentioned, there are some great tools out there that help teachers, parents, and students with classwork, homework, communication, etc. Class wikis and blogs allow students to have a form of an online agenda plus a place to put their work. Email is a great way to communicate with parents (although I do think there are potential issues there also). And in class paperless opportunities are endless: typing instead of writing, glogs instead of posters, the list goes on. The tools are at our fingertips, but now schools must find a way to reach those students and parents that cannot access the internet at home. I think that day will come and I don’t think it’s too far in the future.

By: Heather Tyminski

Heather Tyminski — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:27:59 +0000

I have to say a paperless classroom is very possible. I just took a class in college that was paperless and it taught me so much. Students love to get involved with technology and get engaged in learning technology. Technology is fascinating for students. Technology meets many students needs and learning styles. I can see the traditional way of learning becoming a lot less popular and technology becoming the new way of teaching. I do believe paperless classrooms will be much more successful. I think that students will create better quality work because it is more interesting to them. Students love to explore new things and technology is all around our students today. I think that paperless classrooms is a great possibility in the future and that it will be successful.

By: Theresa O'Byrne

Theresa O'Byrne — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:55:46 +0000

I think that paperless classrooms are the classrooms of the future. The world is going green and there is no reason that schools can’t do the same. Paperless classroom will also mimic the work environment many students will encounter. Businesses all over the world are doing away with paper and that trend will only grow. The whole point of education is preparing students for their future job placement. Some of the job’s our students will encounter have not even been invented yet. Although their jobs may not exist yet, we can predict that that job will be paperless.

By: Georgia Estes

Georgia Estes — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:37:43 +0000

Paperless is a concept that I cannot fully wrap my head around. Although I am fairly young- i have the old school mentality (probably because I have a weakness when it comes to technology). Since I have just gone through a technology integration class, I can certainly see the necessity of needing to get our kids in touch with technology, so that they can keep up with the rest of the world. As of now kids in the United States are behind when it comes to technology in the classrooms, mostly because there are lack of funds in many school districts. Do I think that schools can become paperless? Absolutely! Do I think it’s a good idea? not entirely.
Although i think it’s essential that kids become comfortable in every aspect of technology, I think that young children still benefit from creating things by hand-texture-size-shapes. I think NOT having everything at your fingertips teaches kids to be more creative and allows them to find alternatives to making things or exploring with just sitting in front of the computer.
That being said, computers are still essential in our classroom and our everyday life. I want to make sure that technology will always be in my classroom.

By: Bonnie A.

Bonnie A. — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:57:22 +0000

I have to say- I totally buy into the CONCEPT of a paperless classroom. I love the theory of it, and I can see it working with no problem (in fact, I have seen it working within NNPS, and as an ODU instructor have always used a paperless classroom).
Where I have a problem- and where I think we as a school district may need to shift our thoughts on how green we are- is in how we dispose of our used computers.
Many of our parents don’t have computers, or the computers they have don’t have internet access. So- kids are paperless at home, but parent’s can’t see their work once they walk out the door. The Digital Divide has evolved into the Participation Gap. This is something we as a school district really need to think about.
How green is it when our contract for computer replacement includes that the company we are purchasing from hauls off the old computers so we don’t have to think about them? Yes- they are most likely breaking down the components so they don’t clog landfills. But these are still good and useable computers- there has to be SOME way to get them into the hands of our community, so that as we continue to move forward as an excellent district, we don’t leave our parents and community behind for lack of access.

By: Tanesha Koonce

Tanesha Koonce — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:22:31 +0000

Wow! I plan on using all of these suggestions next year. I will also spend some time this summer developing my lessons around the classroom being paperless. I know it will be hard at first; but, I think we can set the standard in the beginning and the students will respond very well. Therefore encouraging parents to respond well also.